New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11

KIND WORDS AND PORTERHOUSE STEAKS
TSELESS-HOW HE WENT HUNTING.
Fran The Washington Post.

From The Washington Post
Ben the pqe that great FFark has as" cceny
distinguished himself n manner oo'm ia, sel iaktn
able and sagacous Since the pirate s Was
ton in life consisted in proving himself to De AN an
nort,,nies for dining on succulcnt steaks of the
| genus homo have been reduced TO mii n hi IVY
and his ambition Ben has never taken kindly 10
captivity and long brooding over his misfortune
r mnde nIm him m0f decidedly uncompanionabS
Unusual and extraordinary efforts were ere d ma"e
a son of the pirate but kind words and choice
porerhouse steaks never phased him: In su gn
and ungrateful manner he accepted what ne got n
and leered his thanks in the vicious manner ha-
bual him. After months Of earnest e9l' ny, by
attempt was practically abandoned. although they
| .rea tod the man-eater with as much dehca'e at
'' a few DAYS ago one of the keepers went to the
to sG Il nsp amb y the chnscd
sion on the face Of the brute The vicious dogeed
ar nc place 80 here was 10 a
feet satisfactory and geam OF aYss Ben Was
s,ttnr on his haunches gazing through the bars
of his cage the elk paddock across me creeK
| ben how do you feel to-day" said the keeper
The pirate for the first known time, gave his his
tail a friendly swish and actually blinKed MS
eyes in kindly manner and thtn as 81, Tc srIy
berng his situation again resumed and d'S npostrated
IT'S keopcr oeklv informed his associates Of
derod It nrst it was suggested that Ben was
snpie but his excellent appetite showed these
conclusions he incorrect That Gay: as ne ,han
t ,hS Ino J'I lion did in the adjoining cage After
| nrch deliberation It was determined to Keep a
close eye on the pirate and to d nois MS appear
The following day Ben seemed iei a,u riv ioa
the hours came and went. At night when 1t be-
time for him TO go to oea o h,i psrm The
next day the reverse hanpened. and one OF ne ne
keepers said he would make an aidav, .r far ar
| hour TIE mystery Of the changing moods OF INC e
| nitrate became greater. and after consultation II
yas decided that Ben should not be left alone 10Y
| n minute and his every action should De "a,smen'
| cred rofhing when the began TO climb up
from the horizon the pirate left his Sleeping apart,
| INV himself anon the ground. The Keeper kept
w,iching as II his life depended on the result, IN
| abnu, a. n 10 See ii any one was observing him.
| and apparently satisfied that the coast was clear
| noso close 10 tho iron bars Presently the keeper
him stick his great tongue ,hr6 p ha ,e hecn
| sovIs Zen next lay down with hts face near the
,o~. the Grain Of corn directly in front OF him He
| was evidently waiting FOR something 10 happeh.
pr.san.lv The watching keeper noticed three largo
ordin,ry rats leave the antelope house and slowly
MAKE their way toward the path that leads to me
| ,"oi ward Tho rats were in search OF food. and
they found some grains OF corn Una. niu , p,e.
: nav 10 The front OF the pirates cage moment
| later one. of the rats discovered the grain under
Bons nose He cautiously made Tor H. nhu JuS' ms Ss
| he was about to secure the corn snap went ,lo
| i,w. ~ IN. pirate and that rat went on a 'oyhSe
Of discovery down the gfeal thIoat on a' "a, "a
otter Tho capture and destruction OF the rat hAi
| hon so quick and noiseless that his TWO com,
| p1uions wcr. ignorant Of II. moment I,'l ~ ),
No approached the coveted corn ana disappearc',,
| through the same channel his predecessor ma.
| conc I'm less than two minutes me tnliu Idt
| shared thc-snme fate. The keeper rubbed ms eyes
| and pinch,d himself. 10 make certain that nc was
| awake -. o.. ,,o-. r.t, IN
| come and a. If convinced that his days run wa
| ond.i NJ. 20, up and walked around. wearing the
same conterrd expression on his face that canvas
| hack duck gives to cpcurc and u was IN" s''fn
cnr.ssIou that had frst attracted the attention OF
| IN. Keeper. The mystery was explained. oinVc
,ben The k.rpcrs are careful to see thht no corn Is
! scattered near the pirates cage. Tor they 90 NOT
| want him to eat rats.