Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
FRIENDLY GRIZZLY BEARS.
They Do Not Live UD to Their Scien
tiHc Name.

From the New York Sun.
Most companionable Of all the beasts are
the grizzly bears. They Will come shamb-
ling to the front at a call and sit there
blinking with solemn good nature. or poke
their big noses between the bars as sug-
gestion that IL you have anything good to
eat in your pockets they would be glad to
pass Judgment upon it. Prohibittve sig, s
all over the place warn persons against
feeding the animals or throwing anything
whatsoever into the cages, but the crowd
around the bear pit yesterday made an
exception in favor Of peanuts. So did the
bears. All OF them lined up along the front
of the pit and wagged their noses so sug-
gesttvely that many a peanut, originally
designed for the delectation OF the buyer.
found its way to the big fellows to be
and swallowed, shell and all. One SNAP
boy OF six years or thereabouts became so
interested in contributing that before he
knew 1t his paper bag was empty and he
was led away bowling.
The dizziness with which a bear will pick
up in his clumsy paw and transfer to his
mouth 80 small an object as peanut is ex-
traordinary. Some Of the spectators tried
the experiment of Smelling the nuts and
tossing in only the edible kernel. In this
case the nearest bear would run out big,
red tongue. lick up the dainty and poke
out his nose for more. The only member
OF the Bruin family that Jared poorly yes
terday was the little yearling. Every time
peanut was thrown toward him one Of
the big bears who stood next to him would
growl out: That's not good for small
BEAR" or words to that effect and would
gobb1e it himself. Finally a peanut was
thrown almost under him and he promptly
sat down on 1t by way of concealment I'M
til favorable opportunity of snatching It
up should occur. In vain. The predatory
neghbor came over and growled. In re-
ply the little fellow ventured to growl a
bit himself. The next instant he went
whirling head over heels from the force Of
a whack on the side of the head. The big
ger bear ate the peanut while the little
fellow whimpered in corner.
In watching the grizzlies 1t Is hard to
realize that their scientific name, Ursus
are the most savage and dangerous species
of animal on this continent. for they look
and act like big clumsy, playful dogs.
Among themselves they never quarrel
though they are continually playing tricks
on one another. They never pace restlessly
up and down the length Of the pit as do the
savage and unhappy wolves. Either they
are sleeping in the sun, sprawled in atti-
parent utter relaxation of entire comfort
couldn't be eQualsd by any other animal;
or they are boxing or wrestling or playing
a game Of their own invention with the
big. round log in the swimming pool. At
noon yesterday a keeper went into their
cage to sweep 1t out. Naturally the crowd
was much interested when he came to
unlock the door and looked to see him
provide himself with club or iron rod or
some other means Of protection should the
beasts attack him. The only thing he car
ried in with him, however, was his broom
All the bears were lined up at the front
bars, but when he entered they politely
waddled away, leaving the coast clear; all
except the little bear who came around
and rubbed against him and wanted to be
friendly. The keeper paid not the slight
est attention to any of the animals. not
even taking the precaution Of keeping his
eye on them, nor did they seem much. II
any more interested in him. They ac-
cepted him as a matter of course. Once
when he went over to dip his broom in the
water one Of the two medium sized griz-
zlies who are the liveliest and most play
full Of the lot ambled toward him. The man
f1irted a shower Of drops from the wet
broom into Bruins face and that animal
promptly made a mild pass at the imple-
ment, then sat down and washed his face
with his paws.
Several days ago one Of the attendants
went to the prairie dogs reservation with a
big net and captured several OF the family
whom he took away with him for the pur-
ton and grief of the remainder. who
promptly held meeting and made speech
es in their shsill. little voices that could
be heard all over the grounds. Yester-
day that same man came back to the reser-
walton. Now people had been coming and
going all the morning and the dogs hadn't
disturbed themselves in the least over 1t,
but the minute the attendant hove in sight
on the brow of neighboring hill he was
recognized. perhaps from his uniform. One
Of the big mother dogs who occupies
prominent central hillock saw MIN first
when he was still fifty yards away.
"Chur-r-r-rkv' she chittered in preliminary
warning Every other dog. whether he was
sitting in the shadow Of his own vine and
fig tree searching for feas. or CHASING his
fellows around the stockade in the favorite
game of tag. answered with single chirp
and sat at attention, hind legs fiat. front
paws up. The man came swinging down
the hill at a round pace. "Chr-r-rk, chip
chir-up!' signaled the warning sentinel.
Whisk! All that could be seen was q crisis
cross design Of yellow, as every dog made
for his own burrow, and the fnal wiggles
Of furry and abbreviated tails as all took
the final header underground. Over the
railing stepped the attendant, got the coil
Of the wire he had come for and departed.
Not until he was we'll up on the hill did
the cautious nose of the big, mother dog
appear. Her whiskers were twitching with
nervousness and when a spectator meanly
chirped at her she nearly broke her neck
In lapsing into oblivion. Again she poked
forth that sharp nose and this time caught
sight Of the destroyer far away. Instantly
she announced that the coast was clear
and the whole colony. Undertaking. from
all sides into the light Of day, went about
its business as unconcernedly as II the .ear
Of a lddnaper had not suddenly inter-
rupted 1t.