Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-03-29
A CIVILIZED BEAR.
Park Policeman WAKES Philosophical
over the Animals
Demise.

81 can't help thinking about that
GYPSY" said the Lincoln park police
man, refectively, as he watched the
two big polar bears taking a bath in
their city pool.
"You see" he continued, Gypsy
was different from any kind of bears
we ever had here before, and on that
account, l suppose, L watched her
more than / did the rest OF the fam
ily, and between You and me don't
think IL was right 10 kill her. IL IS
true Gypsy would climb out OF the pit
and run away-ran away three times,
in fact, and gave a lot OF trouble 10
fetch her back, to say nothing about
soaring everybody of the streets in
Lake View, and rafting the city cop
pers' besides.
Gypsy, you must understand,
wasn't an ordinary brute. Now, these
bears in the pit were brought up in
q cage and don't know anything about
the outside world, so they stay there
contented enough. But Gypsy was, 1
might say, Il civilized bear, and had a
wide experience OF men and things.
Gypsy, you know, was a trained ami
NAL. The commissioners bought her
from one Of them Romany chaps that
camped on the prairie out south some
where last summer. Why he ever sold
her is a mystery 10 me. But Just think
what a terrible change II made for
GyIyi
sf0u probably KNOW that she per-
forming bears seen once in awhile on
village streets or at country fairs
come from Europe. They are what Is
called the cinnamon species. When
captured young they are quite tract
able, and being intelligent can be
taught a number OF amusing and lu-
dicrous tricks. Such a one was poor
Gypsy, whose pelt is to be stuffed with
straw and placed on exhibition over
there in the Latin memorial. Think
of the life that bear led in its happier
years, roaming over the country with
the master who reared il from a cub,
and who was its friend through all the
ups and downs of the free. wild life
Of the wandering gypsies! Led by a
rope in its masters hand. il went
from village to village, going through
its clumsy antics in front ot each
roadside inn-pole vaulting, turning
awkward somersaults, standing on its
head, smoking a pipe, drinking out Of
bottle and pretending TO be drunk,
and doing hundred other odd tricks.
Then, after passing around the hat,
these two comrades would sup to-
gether at the inn. Two loaves of
black bread and a pound of cheese
FOR bruin, half as much for the man,
and two quarts of beer for each Of them.
These were the bright spots in
Gypsy's life, but not less civilizing
were the long tramps over hot, dusty
roads, with miles and miles between
hungry stomachs and the chance for
food; weary Journeys through storms
of sleet and snow, and the night COM
ing on with no shelter In sight save
a friendly straw stack or open shed,
for no peasant farmer would let q
big brown bear into his cottage. Often
these two slept together, Gypsy's
shaggy coat making a warm, soft pill
low for the masters head.
DO you wonder, now, that after
dozen years of such a life-after trav-
\ cling all over Europe and half OF
America as the constant companion
Y human being-that this Gypsy,
tevn away from her only friend and
'nf?wn into a prison along with lot
OF isnorant black bears, should want
10 geN away, and did get away, and
"ent search OF her old master?
or myself, / don't wonder at IL
at all What surprises me, though, is
the-er-tsat is, the lack OF tact Of
those who we're sent to catch her. The
idea OF going after a civilized animal
like that with bludgeons and pitch
forks is enough TO make a man lose
faith in his kind. Why. they could
have led that bear back to the park
with piece Of cotton twine.
"They said Gypsy was crazy, and
so they killed her. Well. maybe she
was crazy; she'd been through
enough; but ! often wonder what her
old master. IL be is still alive. thinks
obtnlt Il chitag5 TRIBUNE.