The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
SQUIRRELS IN A BOSTON PARK.
Two Planted Enough WaInuts to
Make the Common n Forest.

All this winter two grey squirrels have
held the Common as their hunting
ground. One makes his home in a hollow
tree in the old cemetery and the other
has chosen a tree by the Soldiers Monu-
ment. on which a big piece of tin is
tackled and this tin serves as a storm
door TO his squirreiship. As there are
only two squirrels in all the Common, II
would look as though they ought to live
under the same roof. but either nature or
some bitter family feud has DIR. them
asunder. and II Derchance they meet
there is War-and lively war. The tres
passer never lingers-there is usually a
frisking up the tree and down the tree. a
series of bites a wild waving Of bushy
tails, a chattering as they briefly strug-
gle. and then like streak of silver light
the squirrel who is not on his own ground
whisks on home. Z he one who lives in
the hollow tree in the cemetery has been
In momentary danger of being homeless,
| for those in authority who have charge
of the trees are watching for all dead
ones, and. as this particular tree is the
most hopeless Of them all, II has been
condemned, and the workmen We're ready
to Law the axe to il, but some friend OF
the squirrel announced its presence and
the axe was turned to other trees near
by.
Il il had not been for officers Lovejoy
and Neal. OF Station 4. on La Grange
Street il is more than probable that these
two frisky bits of life would have starved
to death this winter Kind friends from
the Back Bay have heard of them, and
have also contributed menu now and
then. and as result Of all this CASTRO
uomic attention they have waXed actually
corpulent. No matter what attention
they may receive from outsiders. they
know quite well that they have to look
TO Officer LoVejoy for their daily break
fast and dinner.
They are usually on the lookout for
him. The squirrel in the cemetery sees
him first for il has learned by experience
that the officer takes the cross-walk at
the corner of fremont and BoylstOn
Streets. and so the squirrel takes a posi-
tiOn mp In "a tree that oYerlooks this
promenade. Scarcely ever does Patrol
man Loyejoy enter the Common now that
he does not stop just here, and in very
good imitation of squirrel language CHR
ruD good morning. and 1t is not long be-
fore the bright eyes are sparkling back q
greeting. This squirrel is 4 regular Apollo
among its kind. There never was a more
shapcly squirrel. and its well-grO0med
fur sheds the light and the water In a
way altogether exemplary, and its eyes
are larger by FAR than the eyes OF ordi-
nary squirrels. IL there Us no ore around
aad no dogs about the squirrel will go
directly to the officer. and in a rrice will
scurry up to his hand, where there are
nuts.
right on, Obvious OF the glitter OF brass
buttons and the splendor of the police
badge. but when the edge OF hunger has
been dulled. the attention is turned to
the buttons invariably, and the badge Is
gazed at again and again, until one
would have "A right to suspect that the
legend has been learned by heart, and
the morning peep was only tribute to
the protection of the law. When the
buttons and the badge have been inspect
ed, the officers ears often come in Cor a
share of attention. Now children who
watch from a proper distance this con
ndentiaI tete-a-tete are never quite sur.
from the expression on the officers face
whether the squirrel is whispering things
that cause the officer to open wide his
eyes with amazement. or whether the
poor man is simply awaiting with terror
tue sharp teen OF the inquisitiVe mite
on the average II takes about five nuts
TO make the squirrel feel that he has