Evening star., 1900-09-25
OSTRICH FARMING.
An Interesting Sight Now to Be Seen
at Saratoga, n. Y.

Rt Saratoga, n. 4.
| From the Rider and Driver.
Saratoga has something this season to
| disprove the old saw that there is nothing
new under the sun
| Since the early days of this now famous
resort, it has had it's various springs, its
beautiful lake drive, its fashionable hotels.
it's race track and its annual influx of sum-
mer visitors, but until this year it has not
| had the ostrich farm and "Oliver w." who,
by the by, is the one thing new under the
sun. "Oliver W. is the show bird of the
| farm, having been trained to draw a little
| runabout-not only around the farm inclo-
sure, but out upon the streets, sometimes
| with only his trainer in the wagon, and
oftener with two occupants. 1t goes with
| out saying that when this ud-Stepping 6
bird made his initial appearance on Broad
| way, Saratoga, both native and exotic view
ed him with open-rnouthed astonishment.
| To those who had missed him the story
| of his appearance in harness was scarcely
credited, and many skeptic made per-
| sonal trip to the farm to learn at head
| quarters if it were possible a bird had had
the horse sense" to be trained to any such
feat as was reported of ''Oliver W.
| 1t is told of his first trip through the vii
| lage streets that many horses were fright
| ened by the curious apparition, and that
the owner of one specially nervous brute
| complained to a lawyer, who wrote to some
one in authority at the farm, asking that
| the bird should not again appear in public.
The chief of police was thereupon con-
suited, who referred the birds champion
to the president of the village. Fortunately
for those who delight in all novelties, the
president decided in favor of 'Oliver w."
who seems. since then, to have stepped
more proudly over the hard dirt roads, his
long graceful neck and naughty head held
just trf1e higher.
At Bass Point, near Nahant Beach, "Oli-
yer W." created great sensation, the 18th
,f Ir;xy
in the Bunker Hill day parade, witnessed by
over half million people, and where he
was awarded first prize.
The ostrich farm is the newest attraction
at Saratoga, and is regarded of the
sights that must not be omitted from the
scheduled list of things worth seeing The
trolley passes the farm on its way to Ball
ston, or If one prefers wheeling, there Is
perfect bicycle path that leads you directly
by 1t, continuing to the Arondack spring,
famed as the fat mans salvation, with
guarantee of reduced weight if taken ac-
cording to instructions.
The farm occupies a plot of unshaded
ground $50 by 80 feet. 1t is inclosed by a
board fence thirteen feet high The in
terror is marked off into pens, each pen
being occupied by two birds. Several mar
quees erected on the white sand between
the rows of pens give picturesque holi-
day appearance.
The ostrich, which the Scriptures allege
''knoweth not it's young" has great loyal
ty in its love affairs. They will only mate
with bird of their own choosing. During
the breeding season the keeper has the
entire flock under close surveillance until
each bird has selected his wife, when they
are paired off in pens and spoken of as
'Mr. and Mrs" Their love affairs are less
temporary than many of those of the hu--
man race, an ostrich refusing to take but
one mate through life.
The ostrich is naturally very vicious,
unmanageable bird. which makes the ex-
ception in ''Oliver VS. case all the more
remarkable.
There is one positively ferocious bird at
the Saratoga farm.
He is known as Napoleon and his wife
is called Josephine. Napoleon Is the de-
light of the visitor as the keeper has great
success in making him do all sorts Of
ostrich stunts" diverting to degree. At
the slightest proyocation he will hug the
ground. his great wings spread, his long
neck arched, his keen little face alert for
what is called "a challenge" This might
mean a pretty serious battle If the keeper
ventured behind the bars of the pens; in
fact. 1t was only recently that Napoleon
really came very near killing a man.
1t was early in the morning, and the
keeper had gone into the pen to adjust one
of the fence rails at the back 1t had not
been an unusual occurrence for an attend
ant to enter Napoleon's pen, so that the
bird was not hooded. as he will be here
after, when any one visits him. Without
any warning at all, Napoleon lifted one of
his great claws and striking the man in
the back, threw him to the ground. He
ehCh PioSccucu " lTduplo anu peat MIN
with his claws, tearing his clothes from
him and scratching him about the face
and neck. Had 1t not been that the mans
cries brought another keeper to his rescue
the bird would probably have killed him.
There are many celebrities besides Ma
poleon and Josephine at Saratoga this
summer. Among them Admiral and Mrs
Dewey. the latter quite curiously being
wildly ambitious for her lord and master,
and exceedingly jealous of "Oliver VS.
popularity. 1t is also worthy of note that
the Dewey household, as well as the ad-
miral himself, is subjugated to the ma
dame. Teddy Roosevelt and his wife are
neighbors Of the Deweys and since the re-
publican convention Mrs. Dewey and Mrs.
Roosevelt are often seen exchanging VIC
ious glances over the tops Of their pens.
Aside from the interest attached to the
farm, from a sightseeing point of view,
there Is a great deal to be learned, and
some things to be unlearned regarding the
habits Of the ostrich that In themselves
are quite worth the trip out there. Among
other things, one finds that the lesson
taught us in our early school days. that
the ostrich hides its head in a bunk Of
sand when frightened. believing itself en-