The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-24
1.-THE EULOPEAN ZOO"
Conclusion That Was Reached In q
Cartoon Controversy.

train, discussed the war problem and
the game of grab" in which the Pow
ers were interested. Mr.. A described a
caricature. In which is represented a
Chinese dragon. a British lion, a German
eagle, a French frog, and Russian
bear. The dragon said to the lion:
''wha' for Eulopean zoo come long my
place."
The cartoon was familiar. doubtless,
to most OF the company. but one man,
who may be called Il, was in the dark
apparently as to the significance of
what A had said. He saw nothing to
laugh at. and stared blankly at the mar
rator. He was pompous and self-suffi-
cient. and. probably, a man OF wealth.
At last he exclaimed, addressing A..
What did you say the dragon said to
the lony A repeated the dragons in
quiry. We'll" exclaimed IL, II don't
quite catch the meaning. What did the
dragon say that for?''
Evidently the members OF the COM
pany wanted to laugh. but as they were
discreet, gentlemen they gave no
signs of merriment and appeared as
solemn az men at funeral
Perhaps" suggested n small man,
with twinking eyes and Van Dyke
beard, who saw fun ahead. "the gentle
man, like the rest of us. doubtless has
little knowledge of the Chinese lam
guage. ] know nothing abont 1t. but !
have seen the cartoon referred to, and
l believe 'Eulopean ZOO is Chinese for
European inenagery.
Precisely" said ID, q large man, in
a seersucker coat. "and hungry men,
agcry. too-hungry for fat colonial
pickings in any part OF the world BIS
face was still blank, and he stroked his
chin thoughtfully.
I'VE must not forget" volunteered f.,
| a stout man in long Prince Albert coat
and stove pipe hat en- the back OF his
| head, who was mucE pleased evidently
with the prospect of entertainment dur
! ing the stay at this by station, eve must
| not forget that the picture drawn by
| the gentleman Is ailegorical. that the
! dragon represents China and the lion
| England Therefore. China applies to
| England cher best friend, pcrhaps) in
| this stress Of circumstances, 10 know
| why this menagery has invaded her do
| main and. probably. 10 inquire how to
| get rid of IL. Natural enough"
| But" persisted II. why did II invade
I the domain os China? What"
! Why" said IT, sedate man In black
| trousers. crash coat and brown derby
i
| any other menagery.
| "Well," plunged u again. suppose II
| did come long his place, what OF IT.
| Had IL not n right?'
mot much, you bet" said G., drum.
mer. In light suit. Old Glory shirt. wide
belt and big buckle. putting out clouds
of smoke. mo such hungry menagery
ought to be allowed To imperil the lives
and the crops of the people. China dom
| want any famished Russian bear.
roaming around squeezing the peopl,
(out OF taxes) and making trouble gen
orally"
You are right" said III, Wall stree
broker, with diamond studs. and FUR
ther. China knows very we'll that an,
| living thing even bear Eyes, even I
buiD from the frozen north could no
| get on In that climate, and. hence, thu
| hospitals would be full OF sick bears al
the time. Too expensive and trouble
some."
MY idea exactly" said I. a heav,
| man, in black and clerical choker. "aut
China having no taste for. or apprecia
| tion, of the delicacy known as frogs
legs would not make any practical u.s.
Of tho French frogs II they hoppes
where they'd no business To hop"
| And furthermore" exclaimed j.
bright man on the outside OF the group
"tho French frogs might gobble ul
| some of those wondrous HES or otne
insects which the mandarins wear ol
their shirt fronts instead OF Jewels"
'"And that German eagle said II.
poultrv farmer from Hobokeu, why
'twouldu't be safe 10 have him around
He'd thin out the chicken crop"
yes" said T.. man I'm butternut
and sonbrero "and " chicks wer
scarce. he might carry on Chimes
babies"
"All you gentlemen" broke In NJ. tn
wiscst man in the company. n studen
iust graduated from Runcombc collcg.
"hit near the mark. hut not one OF w
come down slap on the bulls eye. Th
fact is. China has menagery enough z
: her own. and has nll she can do 20 kec
" running. Naturally. she dOes No
wnnt nnv other nerpgery arouns
y ! That's all there " 90 a."
, During these remarks " was after
tivc but puzzled When the siudef
4 concluded. the light ~ intelligepcc an
discovery illuminated his countennnc
: and ne exclaimed tfiumphantly. "rhe
r II was merely n question ~ compet
| ton
That's it'" roared the company. q
Il sprang up board the approachIn
train. Now you have &C."
e GEO. A. STOCKwELL