The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
MUSICALE FOR ANIMALS
HOW THE VIOLIN AFFECTS CENTRAL
PARK zoo INHABITANTS.
Lions Were Rude, Elephant Joins in
the Monkeys Had a Picnic.
New York Herald.

linist PLAYED for two hours for the benefit
| of the inmates of the various cages, and
the result of the experiment is well worth
| recording. Prof. Henry +. Greims, the
well-known musician, provided the pro-
gramme, and the musicale began at
o'clock in the morning. Many of the ami
mails had never before heard the strains
of the violin, and their first impressions
| were in most instances remarkable The
| player stood directly in front of his wild
auditors. separated only by the iron bars.
and in several instances it was well that
| the bars were thick and strong. Music
| may have charms to soothe the savage
| beast, according to the popular paraphrase,
| but the musicale of Wednesday morning
| demonstrated that it depends largely upon
| the beast. There are beasts, and then,
| again, there are beasts. From a scientific
| point of view the experiment of playing
| the violin in the presence of animals UNI
| tutored in melody possesses many POSSIBLE
| titles. Varying emotions seem inspired by
| the strains. The first is curiosity. No
| woman that ever lived was more curious
| about the price of her neighbours new
| spring bonnet than is a monkey when ne
| first hears music. Wonder, awe, excessive
nervousness, giving place to ecstatic de-
| light, are observed in the smaller animals.
| Occasionally the larger ones display both
| fear and anger.
Through the courtesy of John w. Smith,
| director of the menagerie, the Herald was
| enabled to treat the residents of the Zoo to
| the musical carnival Mr.. Smith suggested
| that the early morning would be the best
| time, as the gardens are not opened to the
public until o'clock, and the public wasn't
wanted. So Professor Greim appeared with
IL 6afo fIaH 70
see that proper order and decorum were
maintained, and Herald artist and re-
porter were likewise on the spot.
The first number on the programme was
the ''Intermezzo' from "Cavalleria Rus
ticana," performed for the exclusive ben
EFT of the lions. Rose, who gave birth to
three beautiful little cubs just two weeks
ago. seemed at first more interested in her
tender charges than in the music. The
opening bars apparently fell upon deaf ears,
lioneSS turned her head a-cock and into her
eyes came an expression of pensive
seemed forgotten. Her eyes. tender. ex-
presSiVe, almost human in their inteln-
gence, seemed fixed in the dim past, as
though striving to bring back some fond
recollection of her native jungle.
Leo the husband of Rose, and Sultan,
bachelor friend of Leo, occupy adjoining
mind is ever in less refined channels, and
the masculinity of the lion nature at once
proceeded to assert itself. Leo and Sultan
were positively rude. They opened their
cavernous mouths and actually yaWned.
Then, as the tones of the violin entered
upon an andante passage, they howled in
concerted derision.
THE PROFESSOR DIsGUSTED.
Professor Greim looked hurt. Like all
musicians he Is very sensitive. Il will
STOP" he said. IT will play more for
the beasts" But Leo was in captious
| mood If he howled while the professor
was playing, he fairly beloved when the
| music ceased. An imperative order to start
up again, it seemed. but his wishes were
| not consulted, and the professor moved on
| to the cage containing the three half-grown
| lions. A surly reception was rendered here,
and few impressive chords brought forth
| another chorus of bowls, in which Leo and
| Sultan joined from the other side OF the
| corridor
| long-drawn bowls. And the professor fed,
with his fiddle under his arm and his hands
p psses he S cried s They at least can but
Bray
And they did bray. These asses are of
| the kind once ridden by a gentleman named
Balaam, and they may be lineal descend,
ants of that loquaciOus animal OF biblical
| lore. Unlike their distinguished ancestor,
| however, they are not endowed with speech
that is, the speech of greater New York.
| They are decidedly limited in their vocabu-
larry. One penetrating, diseordant hee-
| the sum total of their language The mu-
| sic had a remarkable effect upon them, and
their Voices a there Is weEn in Gene
| trail Park it surely rang, and rang as no
well-regulated welkin ever rang before.
| With ears erect and mouths wide open,
displaying every tooth, the little beasts
stood and brayed. The professor was UNI
certain as to whether his auditors We're
the beast to bray. and it is quite probable
that the music appealed to fine sense
| of appreciation, which they were unable to
express in any other manner
| The particular pet of Keeper Snyder is
S tas big fse sp Of the professor and
brought look Of pride to the features of
| the keeper. A slow march sent the big fell
| low walking about his cage, keeping time
to the music and swaying his trunk much
| as a conductor would WELD his baton.
TRY waltz tune sn 9!a.d ED heeper Sny
popular music and struck up The Band
| Played On The effect on Tom was mag
| ical With elephantine grace he at once
changed his step from the march time and
began whirling about in May waltz;
Chuck Connors and his rag could ret
''Tom is very fond of music remarked
turning to his pet The !, big animal slowly !,
| quite musician himself, continued Sny-
| der. His favorite instrument is the. har--
| Home l think he will join in and we can
have duet"
| AN ELEPHANT MUSICIAN.
| Snyder produced the harmonicon and Tom
| took it in his trunk. Then Professor Greim
struck up Home. Sweet Home" Tom
| listened very intently at first and then
| there came a wheeling sound from the
| mouth organ. The elephant was actually
blowing in it. In and out the air pulsated
| through the long proboscis. Many a street
urchin has met with poorer success in at
tempting to WOO melody from the homely
| instrument than did the gifted elephant.
| Toms musical talents were not yet ex-
| hauSted. A tin horn was next placed in
| his trunk, and on this he blew several shrill
blasts.
| Near the elephants headquarters are a
| number of raccoons. The professor. stopped
before their cage and struck up 'All COons
! Look Alike to Me-" The inmates of the
/ cage didn care whether they looked alike
| or not. In fact, they evinced not the slight
| est concern regarding the latter although
| cage huddled together, trembling violently
| and yet completely fascinated by the mu-
| sic Indeed almost hypnotic influence
seemed exerted over a number Of the ami
mails The wolves and hyenas were notably
| affected in this manner.
One black wolf seemed held spellbound
| by the first few notts Gradually wonder
| gave place to delight bordering upon hys-
| terra He acted exactly like a dog which
| has been spoken TO kindly and is unused
| to it. He frisked about, wagg1ng his TAIL
! jumping, rolling over on the ground, and
was greatly pleased The hyena was very
| nervous about il, but finally joined in and
| executed a couple of jig steps.
In this respect, however, the ostrich must