The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
SQUIRRELS IN A BOSTON PARK.
Two Planted Enough Walnuts to
Make the Common Forest.
IFr0m the Boston IraTcIeT

All this winter two grey squirrels have
held the Common as their hunting
ground. One makes his home in hollow
tree I'm the old cemetery and the other
has chosen a tree by the Soldiers MOnu-
ment on which a big piece of tin is
tackled. ana this tin serves as storm
door 10 his SquIrrelshlp. AS there are
only two squirrels II all the common II
would look as though they ought TO i've
under the same roof, but either nature or
some bitter family feud has driven thcm
asuuder. and if Derchauce they meet
there is war-and lively war The tres
passer never lngerS-there Is usually "A
frisking up the tree and down the tree,
series Of bites, a wild waving Of bushN
tails, Chattering as they briefly strug-
gle. and then like a streak OF silver light
the squirrel who IS not on his own ground
whisks off home. The 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, IL has been
condemned. and the wOrkmen We're ready
10 Law the axe to II, but some friend Of
the squirrel announced its presence and
the axe was turned to other trees near
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 risky bits OF life would have starved
to death this winter. Kind friends from
the Back Bay have heard Of them, and
have also contributed a menu now anu
then. and as a result Of all this CASTRO
uomic attention they have WaNed actually
cCrpuleut No matter what attention
they may receive from outsiders, they
know quite wen that they have to look
10 Oficer 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-waIk at
The corner Of fremont and BoElstOn
Streets and so the squirrel takes posi-
tior up i'm % tree that Oyerlonks this
rrarusuade Scarcely ever does Patrol
man I.ogsi0v enter thu Common now that
he does not stop just here, and 30 very
good initiation of squirrel language CHR
rul good morning. and II Is not long he
fore tlr bright eyes are sparkling back
greeting This squirrel is regular Apoll"
among its kind. There never was "A more
shapgiy squirrel and us Wen -SFootH"d
fur sheds the light and the water iu
vaN altogether exemplary, and its eyes
are larger by far than the eyes OF ordi-
| NARY squirrels. II there Is no ore around
| and no dogs about the squirrel viii 60
directly TO the officer. and in trice will
scurry up 10 his hand where there are
nuts
right on. obiNious of the glitter OF brass
/ buttons and the splcnGOr of the police
| badge. but when the edge OF munger mas
! been dulIcd. the attention Is turned To
! fne buttons inVa riabiF. 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
I the morning peep was only tribute to
/ the protection of the law. When the
/ buttons aud the badge have been inspect
! ed the officers ears often come IN cor
| share of attention. Now children who
watch from a proper distance thls CON
/ ndential 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
/ ewes with amaZcmcnt or whether the
poor man is simply awaiting with terror
| tue sharp teen OF the inquisitiVe mite
| on the average IL takes about five nuts
| TO make the squirrel feel that he has