The Washington times., 1901-09-01
BEAR NATURE.
Funny antics of Three Specimens
on n Hot Sunday.

1t was so hot Sunday afternoon that the
big bear in the second cage at the City
Park had the heat grins. He sat in the
coolest place in the den, and surveyed his
brethren in the next cage, who likewise
were grinning vacantly at the crowd or
Sunday folk. the breathless, lcafy bal
comics of the cottonwoods and the drive
WAYS. hot and white as though strewn
with ashes from an oven.
Now the big bear has two cage mates.
youthful, callow, foolish louts, to whom
he . is master admonisher. Usually he
watches their rough. clumsy gambols,
and coarse practical joldngs with half
open eye, and an expression which means
cubs will be cubs" On this da,r, how
ever, his grin indicated that any foolish
ness would be punished with vigor and
force that would shake the cage like an
earthquake. And a Sabbath-like calm en-
sued in the cage, broken only now and
then by the deep breathing of the fur
coated giants in the next cage. The big
bear fell asleep by degrees.
The two young bears Immediately began
to play softly 1t was cuffs and worry,
but softly oh, very softly. One could
hardly hear a sound save the clicking of
their claws on the floor as they fought
fraternally and with wary eye for the
companion admonisher. They scuffied
over near the water vat, and with soft
coughs and grunts and smothered merri-
ment one went in head over heels with a
subdued splash and the other fell atop.
1t was done very quietly, but the big bear
awoke. He was in a vicious humor, as
was shown by the way he slapped at a
fly. The bear on top saw that something
must be DONE He knew if the companion
admonisher should suspect that his rest
had been broken by him and his compan-
ion 1t would mean a licking for both. He
realized that if his companion should
emerge spluttering and grunting the facts
would be too evident. so he determined
that his companion should not come to
the surface.
He calmly sat on the other bears head
and assumed a nonchalant look. The
under bear didn't understand matters at
all. He didn't mind stating under water
little while in fun, but when 1t came to
being held there indefinitely he protested.
He did 1t with teeth and claws and with
growing Indignation. The bear on top
found it difficult to maintain his Sabbath
calm expression with the under bear
chewing his foot, but he feared the watch
full eye of the companion admonisher.
The protests from beneath the surface
of the water were growing more violent.
The water heaved and splashed. Tho
bear on top was shaken with emotions.
He rocked, shook, and quivered like an
Indian lodge in the wind.
A moment later the companion admon-
Usher was on top of him. like a big brown,
furry whirlwind. The upper bear had
WINGED and the companion knew there
was something wrong. Hecuffed the upper
bear about the ears and he fled with howls
Of pain. The under bear. well-nigh drown
ed, moved limp paw above the water
and the admonisher drew him from the
depths, a soaked, drenched. breathless
thing. While he cuffed him back to SEN
sibility, the other bear whined and cried
as though greatly penitent for his mis-
deeds Half an hour later the half
drowned bruin was well and fighting
again. But you will now rarely ever see
either of them in that vat. And 1t is
only when the big fellow is not watching
that they dare take a dip.
The ordinary park visitor may think
that this is only hot-weather selfishness
that makes the bear act so. But the keep
er knows that il Is because the companion
admonisher knows that the one almost
drowned the other. and so he will not let
either get in there II he can help 1t, and
he usually can.-Denver Post.