The record-union., 1897-12-25
CATNIp AT THE zoo.
Tigers and Jaguars Get Their First
Taste of the Herb.

An armful Of fresh green catnip was
plueked from the golf grounds OF the
EXmoor Club at Highland Park II
was taken TO Lincoln Park and permis-
sion was asked Of Animal Keeper De
Vry to try the effects Of the green stuff
on the feline members of his family.
This herb, which does not grow so far
as is known, in the haunts of the couS
ins to the cats, created a great sensation
at the zoo. Perhaps the most astonishing
event connected with the tour of the
cages happened just as the visitor with
his big bundle of catnip left the Office
of the keeper in the animal house. The
scent of the plant filled the whole place,
and as soon as il had reached the par
rot's corner the two gaudily attired
macaws set up q noise that drowned
thought and made for the side
of the cage. poking their heads and
claws through. When the catnip was
brought near them they became nearly
frantic. They were given some and de-
voured it, stem, leaf and blossom, with
an avidity commensurate with the noise
Of their voice.
The keeper and the catnip carrier
then made for the carriage of Billy, the
African leopard. Now, Billy, so far as
is known, had never before smelled or
seen leaf of the plant. Before the
front of hic cage was reached he had
bounded from the shelf whereon he lay,
apparently asleep, and stood eXpectant,
alert and with frightened eyes at the
bars Of his cage This African exotic
went simply insane. The man with the
catnip purposely waited a few minutes
before he poked any of the green leaves
and yellowish white flowers of the plant
through to the big cat.
Finally a double handful of catnip
was passed through to the floor OF the
den. Never was the prey of this Afr-
can dweller in his wild state pounced
upon more rapidly or with more aDso-
lutely savage enjoyment. First Billy
ate a mouthful of the catnip, then ne
Law fiat on his back and wriggled pls
snuous length, through the green mass
until his black-spotted, yellow hide was
nerneated with the odor of the plant
from shoulders to tall tip. Then Blhy
sat on a bunch of the catnip, caught
leaf laden stem up in either paw ana
rubbed his cheeks, chin, nose, eyes ana
head Heated with his eXertiOns, he
exuded catnip at every pore. he ate
an additional mouthful or two Of the
stuff, and then jumped back to his
shelf. where he lay, the very picture OF
safety and contentment.
In the tigers cage there is very
young but full-grown animal, captured
within eighteen months in the Jungles
of India. He is a powerful brute, and
one with which even the keepers do not
seek a close acquaintance. When this
great. surly beast inhaled the first sniff
of the catnip he began TO NEW like
kitten: Prior to this the softest note
of his voice had been one which put the
road of the big -maned South African
lion to shame That vicious tiger and
his kindly dispositioned old mate fairly
reyelled in the liberal allowance Of the
plant which was thrust into their cage.
They rolled about in it and played to-
gether like six-weeks-o kittens. They
mewed and purred, evidently discuss
ing the question as to what this strange
plant was which gave them variety OF
pleasure never before experienced. They
tossed 1t about. ate Of it, and, after get
ting about as liberal a dose as had Bill
ly the leopard, they likewise leaped to
their respective shelves and bllnked iaZ-
lily at the sun.
The big lion, Major, was either too
dignified or too lazy to pay more than
passing attention to the bunch of cat
min which fell to his lot. He ate
mouthful or two of II and then licked
his chops in a that's not half bad"
way. and then went back to his nap.
The three baby lions quarreled over
their allowance and ate it every bit, but
they could not be beguiled, despite
their tender years, into frolicking over
the presence Of the plant.-Chicag
Times Herald
The monster freight schooner. the
Frank A. Palmer of Bath, Me, broke
all previous records by carrying 33,4 ,4oO
cross-ties. or the equivalent of 1900
600 feet of lumber. The Palmer is a
four-masted vessel with a tonnage ca
pacity Of 1,S7S, several hundred tons
larger than ordinary New York steam
e,rs that run south. All her sails are
hoisted by steam, and her cabin is
fitted up like a palace She sailed from
Brunswick, drawing OBS feet. Bruins
wick is the only cross-tie exporting
port in the world that she could load
ties at, and her record breaker is an
eye opener 1t required two tugboats
to take her out where one is ac-
customed to handling an ordinary
schooner easily.
1t is not always the illustrated ar