davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

They can stand some cold weather, but
1t Is thought best to have them housed.
In the main erimal building are Quartered
the lions, hyenas. the tiger and other
members of the feline race. which come
from warm countries. An animal which is
native of the burning sands of sunny
Africa can not Withstand the rigorS of this
climate in winter.
Outside the main building are the cages
containing the lithe-limbed. emerald-eyed
pantherS, accustomed to cold weather, and
equally at home in frost and snow, as in
the searching sun of the southern chimes.
They have dens which are furnished with
straw during the winter, and make them
selves comfortable.
"COmms ssioner Ross"
commissioner Ross" the splendid os-
trich, is DIV located In warm little struc-
ture i'll a compound inclosed with wire net
ting. Blackburne introduced the reporter
to the commissioner. The bird smiled
Diandiy and requested an opportunity to
give an exhibition of the terpsichorean
art The request was granted, the door
opened and the highland fling, gyratIons
and genunections lnoulged in by the more
than two hundred pounds of bird Iiesh
would have been lesson for Gaiety
girl.
The manner in which the bird held its
feathers presented a ridiculous likeness to
a danseuse in short skirts. Tired of the
exercise, and the applause which he re-
ceived, the commissioner made for a small
pond at one side of the Enclosure, and
would have taken a bath. in spite of the
fact that bathing days are over. rhe bird
and Blackburne INDUCED in a somewhat
heated argument regarding the matter, the
bird declaring petulantly that ice would
&c here soon and every opportunity would
be lost. A workman was sent for and the
affair finally disposed OF by having the hole
filed in. BY mural and physical suasion
Blackburne kept the commissioner from
landing heavily on the solar plexus of the
workman. The reporter, standing near,
mentally calculated if two bodies move at
the same rate OF speed at the start, how
far apart would they be at the finish, dis
lance and an increasing rate on the part
of one being unknown qualities. The hole
was finally filled in, and the plumed knight
of the African desert assisted in the cere-
monies by trampling in the earth. His out
door exercise will soon be curtailed, and
his exhibitions confined to a Gagged portion
of the new building.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

their. own. Those monkeys would get fat
II they didn't have 30 much sentiment.
Romeo and Juliet were ideals Of happiness
compared with them"
The aihgators, mentioned before had
ceased discussing the weather. and were
amusing themselves by casting -re0ections
on q pair of crocodiles, the latest addition
to the Zoo. in a neighboring tank. While
they acknowledged the newcomers to be
relatives. they stated they were poor rela-
tives. foreign devils, and utterly unworthy
Of respect. They were referred to az sharp
Dosed' tnterlopers- What the aliigators re-
marked may not have been understood by
the crocodiles. they being foreigners. but
1t was by Head Keeper Blackburne. They
appeared extremely sulky, however and
perhaps their feigning not to understand
was merely q "bluff.''
slugsish Brutes.
There are two of these crocodfles One
Of them is about eight feet in length.
They were presented to the Zoo by ]. Eu-
gene Jaringan, United States consul to
Utilla, Honduras. Like the alligators. they
are confined in compartment which has
tank In 1t. The water in these tanks
in the winter is heated to a temperature
of about seventy degrees. During most
of the time they are sluggish. They are
fed on meat and fish. each day, and have
the privilege of eating 1t or not, just as
they choose.
get together already for mutual pro-
lection. They have wrapped themselves
together in an almost solid mass. Their
personality has been completely lost. ane
they are close frieL DIS in all the term I'M
plies. 1t is warmer in the glass cases
where they are confined, than outside
Blackburne says they always seem per-
fectly satisfied.
A tank is being prepared in the main
building for the benefit of the sea lions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
Country Life Cured Hi. Nerves.

From the New York Times.
There is much said about the strain to
the nervous system of the constant noise
and friction of city life, but it is seldom
that anything like facts can be given in
family which has recently taken up its
abode In the suburbs for good and all be-
lieve that they can say absolutely that the
city causes. or greatly increases, the
we're nervous affection of one of the chill
dren. This child, boy, has had st. VituS'
dance, and the trouble had become so Sc
rious that the parents were alarmed for
fear the little fellow would injure himself.
Eating was almost an impossibility, the
jerking hands carrying knife and fork into
dangerous proximity to the eyes. A year
ago this past summer the family took up
its abode temporarily in the suburbs in the
the boy had plenty of fresh air and exer-
else, and by the middle of September he
was apparently as we'll as any boy could
be. and the family returned to the city.
But there the trouble began again, and by
the end of that month the boy was in as
bad condition as ever, and the other mem
bers of the family. in sympathy, began to
move in jerks, which soon became dis
tressing.
Il don't know how the boy came to have
such trouble" said the father, speaking
or the subject recently, land ] cannot tell
why we should have been affected by it
There have never been any diseases of the
nerves in our family before. But there
was one simple remedy for it all, and we
accepted it Immediately. We have moved
into the suburbs for good, and I am sure
that you would never think that boy"
pointing to a healthy-looking youngster
careering along the road on an old bronco
had nerve in his body
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
THE GUN PLAN OF A BATTLE SHIP.

that purpose. In return each contributive
bureau was called upon to name what pro-
PORTION OF the whole mass of the ship 1t
needed for it's particular province. The
bureau of ordnance, having control OF
guns, ammunition and armor, decided that
1 .O26 tons would be required for the guns.
their supplies and a certain number of the
controlling mechanisms. The bureau of
equipment. having to do with electric light
ing. anchors. chains, cooking apparatus.
crockery, hammocks, ETC., estimated that
15S tons would cover its needs. The bu-
reau of construction and repair estimated
that 4,S1599 tons would be required for the
hull proper and it's fittings, and that 35S
tons would be needed for equipage. such as
boats. spars, furniture, etc. The bureau
of ordnance agreeing to the distribution
and the thfcknesses of armor as arranged
by the bureau of construction. 1t was esti-
mated by the latter that 2S13 tons should
be reserved for that purpose. AS agreed
upon. G25 tons of coal were to be carried al
the normal displacement which this est1-
mate covers; and 231.5 tons were left as a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
CROSS SECTION OF A BATTLE SHIP.

along. in the face Of wind and tide, at six
teen knots an hour at any time. and down
in her bowels are slowed coal enough TO
feed her boilers and carry her across the
Atlantic at full speed, or halfway around
the world at ten-knot jog She has
eighty odd auxiliary engines in the way
OF pumps. distiilers, electric lighting plants.
ash hoiStS, ammunition HOSTS, cranes, ice
n achines, blowers, windlasses, steering
gears, &c. She has manifold arrangements
pr DIVIDING not only for the comfort and
health of the officers, but for their con-
venience and luxury when well, when sick
or when wounded in battle. In short, she
is at one and the same time an arsenal, a
barrack, a machine shop, store house
and a habitable and heaithful home for
800 exacting persons: but above all, she
Is absolutely seaworthy and abe to bear
her burden of ponderous weights with
safety in any coneition of weather. Such
are some OF the requirements. Now let
US see how they were met preparatorily
and let US follow the evolution of the Iowa
the best present example Of promise
fulfilled
The First Provision.
In 1892 Congress made provision for the
Iowa in the following general terms:
''One sea-going coast-line battle Ship de-
signed to carry the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance. with displace-
ment of about 1000 tons. to have the high
est practicable speed for vessels OF its class
and to cost, exclusive of armament and OF
any premiums that may be paid for in
creased speed. not exceeding 100000
OF these congressional requirements, the
monetary limit of $i0OO.000 was the only
provision taken into serious considerati ton
and II was the departments mission to get
out OF that allowance the best possible
snip. excluding, of course, the cost of ar
NOR and guns and what might be paid for
speed premiums.
The displacement of ship is another
term FOR her total weight, and with the
limitation OF displacement the designer
knows just how much material he has 20
work with. With that in mind he must
parcel it out to the best advantage among
the various phases of his ship He cannot
exceed that limit lest he change her draft
of water or alter her body form or lines"
Now for the Iowa. With the passage of
the act. work began in the bureau of con-
struction and repair at the Navy Depart
ment. In the first place. the new ship was
TO he an Improvement on the Indiana and
class. ships of 10.2SS tons displacement;
and. to that end. a thousand tons more of
weight or material was allowed. At the
same time she was to be an advance upon
foreign ships of like weight or displaoe-
ment.
As the Indiana and her sister ships were
then in course OF construction. no perform
ance data could be had as a basis OF calcu-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

against the violent rush of tons and tons
OF water. and there must be a small ma
chine shop for the eXigencies of repair.
There are spare parts, spare tools and
certain amount of materials to meet the
drains of service well as some unusual
wear and tear. There are miles upon miles
Of piping. ranging from the thickness OF
ones little finger to the breadth of ones
body; there are thousands and thousands
of yards of wire; and an almost inter-
minable measure of steel plates angle
bars and rivets. the smallest portion of
which has an appreciate significance in
the eyes of the naval constructor. Every
thing has Its relative value in pounds, and
everything must be accounted for, placed
and foreseen with a grasp of finalities just
short of superhuman. A pound Is a pound
In effect, only at the center of gravity, and
grows in moment by every foot 1t is moved
from that center; and, by that, one can
realize how vital is the determinat ton of
position. and how, in large masses the
movement of even a foot Is a serious mat
ter.
A Delicate Task.
Every one of these delicate calculations
is made in the bureau of construction, to-
gether with the exquisite task of the for
nation of Zines and the nice determine
ton of the power required to meet the de-
manded speed upon those lines. 1t is not
every one that knows that body-form be-
low water is the first consideration in
speed, and that that form has determi-
nate possibility. beyond which greater
speed can be got only by a wasteful
penditure Of power. Such is the fact; and
the engines that may induce ten knots in
one craft may reach fifteen in vessel of
finer form, and vice versa.
With the design of the main propelling
engines and their aux!liaries settled by
the bureau of steam engineering upon the
basis of 1,212.47 tons and a development
of 1000. capable Of inducing a speed of
1915 knots as calculated by the bureau OF
construction and as since proved by her
trial, the construction of the ship was
awarded to the contractor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

to his eye have similar points of resem-
blance. The coons lie in the crotches Of
the limbs during the day, and retire into
the trunk at night.
On the Range.
The elk stay on the range provided for
them during the winter, as do the buffalo.
The bears have little dens. into which they
may retire when so inclined. and bask in
the warmth OF the large amount Of straw
provided for them during the winter sea-
son. Unfortunately. there are no polar
they would begin to enjoy life a little later
on. old Eph" does not mind wind or
weather, as II IS found among the fast
nesses of the Rockies and he can show the
other inmates OF the Zoo how to keep warm.
even If the thermometer does go below
zero and no inside quarters are provided.
The prairie dogs and badgers will burrow
in the earth and gain warmth from each
other and their SURROUNDINGS. They will
probably be seen all the winter. as will
the woodchucks or groundhogs. The lat
ter hibernate to certain extent, bu: are
in and out Of their little rooms in the cages
provided for them. Straw will serve to
keep them warm.
The wolves, foxes and such animals do
not require accommodations which are
heated, being accustomed to life out of
doors in all sorts of weather. Only warm
bedding, and plenty of 1t, is furnished. and
as far as possible shelter is furnished. so
that the Geld blasts may not drive directly
on them. The squirrels and other small
animals are fully provided for.
In the winter the inmates of the Zoo have
lGrgely increased rations furnished them,
and they generally grow fat on this ac-
count. They appear at their best at this
season.
AS a matter of fact, there are more Wis
itors at the Zoo in winter than in summer.
and Uncle Sans dumb charges are found
fully as wide awake. and in some instances
more so. than in the summer season.
The little community of aliens on Rock
creek were so well kept last winter that
there was not one case of frostbite among
them. All that IL required of them is to
eat, sleep and look pleasant-when they
have visitors. Head Keeper Blackburne
gives them lessons in the latter art
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

The two elephants, DUNK and Gold
Dust" were next visited by Blackburne,
the bob-tailed Manx cat and The reporter.
A stove has been placed in their building.
in which fire will be kept burning con-
tinuousy, for elephants feel keenly the
cold, and suffer unless provided with
warmth.
AS the little party ent cred the house
Dunk's eyes twinkled, and he said some
thing to Blackburne, who looked as if he
had been struck sudden blow.
An Elephantine Jest.
1T was the same old gag about check
ing his trunk for him-he was tired of car
rying it," was the explanation Blackburne
gave.
Plenty of warm straw is provided for the
elephants. Life in the District agrees with
Dunk" for he has gained 5000 pounds
since he came here, being an average Of
trifie over 500 pounds year.
In the long, cold nights the two friends
can sleep and enjoy themselves. Black
burne says 1t is a mistaken idea that eie-
plants are never caught mapping. He has
even caught them trumpeting in their
sleep, suffering from restless dreams per
haps. Dunk and Gold Dust can further
amuse themselves by telling of their ex-
periences while ION the road" for they
We're both circus members at one time.
The three kangaroos were engaged IN q
triangular boxing match when they were
sAsAsS0 AA tACAh SoiupOuAos w uen the door
~as opened they made rush, and hoped
about the Enclosure with every expression
OF delight at their outing. They can stand
more cold than Is generally supposed, but
will be given quarters when 1t becomes
colder in the new building.
The uamas are accustomed to the noun
tain passes of the Andes, and can stay out
all the year. There Is matched house
provided for them. into which they may
go. when 1t rains or SHOWS. The English
sparrows have appropriated the thatched
part to their own purposes, and In con-
sequence repairs will have to be made.
Most of the animals, according to Black
burne, are humorists. An old one was
chastising young female, ending with a
remark to the mother Of the family stand
Ing near. Interpreted this was as follows:
Il told her If she didn't go inside, I'd
Hama
The coons are tat Just now, and are
almost ready to retire into the hollow of
the tree which has been provided for
Them. This is packed with straw ana af-
fords them splendid quarters. As Black
burne looked at them. he whistied q
familiar air. the words Of which were to
the eject that all that class OF animals
-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06


corpulent, but had an uneasy expression, as
II he was out of his element.
washington is all right in summer" con-
tnued the speaker, but give me the far
south for the winter months. I've heen
feeling q little chilly for some DAYS now.
II can manage to scrape together enough
to pay my board bill. 1 will take q. sneak
for warmer Cline"
This seemed to tickle another gentleman.
who was the interested listener, so much
that he grinIed literally from ear to ear.
his mouth opened like threshing ma
chine, and the display of teeth looked like
the exhibition of hay rakes in a hardware
store window.
"Ho, no, ho!' he roared, wait until about
Thanksgiving day, old man, and if you
don't freeze so stiff your tail can be used
for base ball bat, I'll eat my little brother.
Wait till everything is white outside and
the water gets hard like rock Then you
can talk. This is sardines and whiteffsh
compared with coarse sturgeon If it kept
this way I'd be satisfied, but I spent last
winter here. and l know what we are 60
ing up against"
The two gentlemen were residents of the
main animal house out at the National
Zoo, and their family name is Alligator
One was an old inmate of the place. the
other a comparative newcomer, who had
seen, from the inside, however, what a
winter day may be like in the capital.
Purely on account of desire to tease, the
old resident neglected to impart the infor-
nation that every precaution is taken by
the officers in charge to keep the pets of
the nation in their Rock Creek nursery
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06


Location and Distribution.
With these weights in hand, the bureau
Of construction next begins the considera-
ton of their location and distribution; the
effort being always to keep them as low
as possible and to divide them fore and aft
and side and side, so that they may bal
ance one another and minimize the stress
Of leverage, SO 10 speak. In designing a
building, an architect has to consider his
weights principally in. their relation to a
stable foundation and his beverages o,Iy 90
iar as they concern some permanent point
he can run up his front as massiyeIy as he
choose. while the back may be, relatively,
ever so much lighter; but so long as the
foundation is proportionately strong he
meath each, his building will be satisfac-
tcry- NOT so with the designer of ships
ne must also arrange his weights that the
center OF gravity of the whole shin shall
DE as low as possible, SO that she shall not
he easily careened: and at the same time.
IN the case of & fighting ship. he must not
make her too stir or stable lest she right
herself too quickly and forcibly I'm a sea
way; for to do hiatt might wrench her seri-
ousiy, besides making her an unsteady gun
p pror He must trench just close
enough TO meet any condition of weather or
the reasonably normal injuries of conflict
Strength of the Shin.
The next thing the bureau of construc-
$500 0fmen-
sions of materials for the hull proper. and
the midship section is then drawn. showing
the arrangement of beams, plates and
angles. The strength Of that section ia
taken as a standard for all the rest. aside
from any special demand for exceptional
LEGAL strength, and. for that reason, is
drawn first. Other sections follow In turn.
and the strength of the ship is then con,
sidered in still water, pivoted on a single
wave at the center, or poised on the crests
OF two waves. The ship must be strong
enough to meet the exceptional, in fact Inn
possible, stresses of the last two condi-
IONS, besides being able to Withstand the
Iecoii OF her massive guns and the ponder.
Gus blows of an enemy's attack.
Next TO the consideration Of weight
comes the question of space, and the incest
Kind of dovetailing must be done to make
the various mechanical features at into
the least amount of room.
FOR safety's sake. the magazines boilers
and engines-commonly termed the yitals-
must be as far possible beyond the
reach OF an enemy's fire. To that end
they are crowded below the protective
deck. the water-line and many feet of
sheltering coal. And. too, for safety's
sake. the ship has an inner or double bot
F.. tom; she is cut up into numerous inde-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

from feeling the effects of the cold winter 8
blasts, or, at least, those Of them which
are rnaccustomed to their influences.
Residents of the Soldiers Home, inmates
of st. Eliza bcth's and the other asylums
under the direct ton of the government, are
well provided for, and care is taken that
they shall be comfortable during the cold
weather. None are better provided for
than the two-legged, four-legged and no
legged waits at the Zoo. The arrange
ment of their winter quarters and pro-
visions Is matter of the greatest import
ance at this season of the year.
Head Keeper Blackburne of the Zoo may
or may not have heard the conversation be-
tween the two alligators. If he did he
understood 1t fully, for he is perfectly ia
miiiar with the speech INDUCED in by his
charges They confide in him, and he
listens to their complaints. Whenever
Commissioner Ross" the ostrich requests
"a iet OF new-iaid horseshoes or something
Of the sort, Blackburne is always dumb,
except on Thanksgiving day, when such
delicacies are allowed. If he did hear the
conversation. however. it did not remind
MN OF his duties. for he and Superintepd-
ent Baker have been for some time making
arrangements to have the animals prop
erly housed
Just yet there is no reason why the ami
mas should be kept closely confined. with
tne exception Of those which are natives of
the extreme tropical countries. The mon
keys are especially liable to take cold and
must be kept warm. The main animal
mouse, IN which their quarters are located
at the Zoo, has been heated up for some
time. They doubtless imagine, unless
some OF them are sharp enough to have
noted the difference on the outside, that
VS. Washlnston weather is perpetual summer.
with an average temperature in the build
ing curing the winter months of nearly
seventy degrees there is no reason they
should think otherwise.
In the New Home.
Inc furred. feathered and scaly hot-house
plants wiii be Kept in the main building at
the Zoo, where most of them are now con-
nned during the winter. In addition a new
building has been constructed, near the ele-
plant house, where the ones which are not
already located in the other, will be quar-
tered. The new building is about complet-
ed, 1t haVSing been begun in August Its di-
by forty in width. and althoueh cons;darad
Z only tempory one, is really most sub
stantial. 1t is finished on the outside with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

deed. OF All those admirers realize how far
back of the contractor lies the true secret
of that success. A modern battle ship is
the post wonderful of all mechanical fab
relations. and better notion of what her
planning means may be got by realizing.
If only in part, what she is and what she
has to be.
Take. for instance. such 4 craft as TIE
Iowa, the latest and largest of our COM
pleted battle ships. She 10 floating island
of steel. 3G0 feet long, ~ feet wide, with
an average bodily depth of II feet. "a of
which are submerged. and she weighs.
when ready for sea, 11.41O tons. Prisnar-
lily. she is heavily armored. navisable
fortress. housing 46 guns. which range
from the massive Pinch rifles, firing Fro
jectiles of $50 pounds, down to the little
gatling. with it's bullet-sized missiles. These
guns are sheltered behind walls of harden
ed steel some Is inches through. and strong
enough to resist the shock of thousands
upon thousands of tons. She mas two
great engines that are able to send Ter