Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-11
LAST OF THE GIRAFFEs.
Only Specimen Known to Exist with
Ringlina Bros Great Menaeerie.


! The only giraffe known to exist in
the world is feature of Ringing Bros
lmenagcrie, and will be exhibited in
connection with their great geological
display when the show comes to Mar
Shutdown Saturday, July 10. There
was time when giraffes We're COM
tparatiNely plentiful. but today the spe-
cies is practically extinct. The travel
er IN Europe may visit every noted
geological garden on the continent
without finding a single specimen of
this curious animal, while the giraffe
hunter of Central Africa has become Il
memory. Ruthlessly hunted, as the
buffalo on the American praires was
hunted. to the point of defamation,
there are no longer wild specimens of
the giraffe to take the place of those
that have succumbed to the effects of
captivity and the western climate and
when this last lone representative of a
noble species is gone, the giraffe will
be extinct. Commercially, the value of
this animal can not be estimated in
figures. 1t is doubtful whether any
sum of money could be named that
would induce Ringling Bros. to part
with it. Its great value and interest.
however. is not solely the result of its
rarity. 1t is in itself the most interest
ing and remarkable of wild beasts. Its
great neck and lofty reach give it a
distinct individuality. Ii is the most
timid and delicate of animals, and re-
quires the constant care and compan-
lonship of its keeper. 1t feeds on hay,
fresh grasses, herbs and fruit, but, so
far as known. it never touches water.
Its thirst is slaked with milk. 1t never
utters the least vocal sound. and yet
expresses its affection in the most DEM
onstrative way. 1t is an animal that
rcpays study. and naturalists and sci
entists, as we'll as the public, come
of miles to see it. Ringing
Bros menagerie is colossal exhibit
ton of all that is most interesting and
curious in the geological world. The
of the collection is sufti-
GENTLY indicated when the statement is
made that, in addition to the giraffe. it
thirty big and little ele-
plants. with scores of other led ami
mails, and a hundred dens, cages and
lairs of rare wild beasts. There is an
aquarium with hippopotami, seals, sea
lions and other water frequenting ami
diIl cNltly WItll IluAuiSliS VI SOI.
geously plumaged birds; a children's
vastly enlarged this season,
with scores of tiny cages containing
apes, chimpanZees and other
animals dear to childhood, and many
other geological displays of superlative
interest. The menagerie is a magnifi-
cent vestibule to the main hippodrome
pavilion, where, under the largest can
vas canopy ever erected, there is given
4 great triple-ring circus performance,
Introducing hundreds of the worlds
greatest arenic stars, and presenting
he grandest spectacular displays that
he human mind has ever conceived. A
free street parade precedes
he exhibition in this city.
Ringing Bros, employ over thous-
md men. women and children. To feed |
his great company of people requires |
, daily average of 900 pounds of bread,
900 pounds of meat, 400 gallons of cof-
ee, and everything else in proportion.
These supplies, as we'll as ten tons of
lay, 300 bushels of oats and twenty-five
pushes of corn for the horses, have to
,e secured daily in the city where the
how is exhibiting.