The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-21
Bathing at the Zoo.

The quip of the old author who saws
mat the difference between civilized and
unciNilized men lies In the fact that the
former hathes ana the latter does not. has
long been disproved hy fact Hut N the
difference OF bath made the civilized
man. the Zoo contains a number OF anl-
mails who can fairly claim the benenht
oil inc distinction whether II makes them
civilized Is not altogether clear. There Is
the elephant, for instance Ii rejdces IN
a huge tank sunk in the ground, to which
an incline In sunk aud wherein the
ptchyoerm may enjoy itself There are
two elephants at the Zoo, but the bigger
doesn't battle. lie is too fierce wild and
mtrsctable tO he let out of his cage So
iheN keep him securely chained anc when
~ a-4lS- h -
Thi ic'naie, q quiet beast, Of pleasant
manners sauntels Firth every afternoon
IN summer and bathes in the tank HeI
jcy - sirply uuneaspred
When SHE orts bathe, the trumpetiug.
lae srlasi ing the squirting OF water out
~ her trunk cn her back and fanks are
simply Pr licus. It's the sight OF the
day--but any one getting too near may
be dIchched. That doesn't feaze the eie-
plant She's there to battle and battle
siie does
The crowd watches In amazement Ele-
'larts, as u well known do not lie down,
even ~ bathe. and TIE Zoo elephant il
no exception. she stands up and swashes
about. acting a. ler own shower hath
ani making tic most of her opportuni-
ties
The male elk is another bather. on
igng atd prntraCted basis There is a
tank in the ELK IN closure into which wa
to rCon8tgHtly flows IL H. not A large
tank, and wher the male elk gets into IT,
there isn't mucli itCm for anything else,
so the females aud the little elks are
forced 60 stay out and wtach the old one
enjoy himself. As he is liza BILE of a warm
day to stas ia the tank from dewy morn
20 dCwy eve the others SET theirs In
watching
When thus enjoying himself, the elk IL
frequently submerged except his horns,
which are wide aud his nostrils. They
saws his cbtecl Il TO avoid the flies which
can't bite bis horns very well, and don't
have much of chance on his nose.
The rest of the elk family have to fight
the flies as best they may.
The ChimpanZee, billy, gets a sponge
bath daily, TIE heat of July was few
too mauy for Rily, who had been reared
IN the comparative chill of Central Az
rca, and he had 20 be put on ice TO keen
him from slipping his earthly moorngs
altogether. Nowadays. his keeper. Muir
ray, gives him sponge bath every after
noon, which is simply Billys chief de-
light When he feels the sponge he
closes his eyes and smiles, and expresses
his gratifcatIon in low snorts and whis-
ties.
The alligators and crocodlss being by
nature very fond Of bathing. divide their
time between lying In The water WITH
their mouth open and lying on the
ground with their mouth open. They
are not expressive Of countsnsnce and
their hstning may be by force of habit.
The persistent indulgence i'm water baths
alternated by sun baths may account
for their good health. for 50 far as known
they never die a natural death.
The pellcans, storks, swans ducks,
cranes and other like birds are fond of
the water, as every one knows. The peli-
cans. cranes and storks stand and wade
I'm q knee deep, with one leg drawn up
and one eye closed. Just why this one
sided habit Is not known, even 70 nat
uralists.
The polar bear not having any ice
bergs on hand. takes II out In water.
which he leaves long enough To eat, and
take an occasional nap. His feelings
during the hot spell may he conIectured
Philadelphia Times.