Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-03-07
ROMEO AND JULIET.

When Romeo and Juliet first came to
take their residence at the Washington
Zoo, they were dressed i'm heavy suits
OF black fur. and set up housekeeping in
large cage built in the form of n hep
tagon. Their furniture consisted of n
double step-ladder and a large tub of
water set into the floor, so that the water
was about level with IL. This was all.
and yet they have always appeared happy
and contented, and are much better off,
very likely. than If they were allowed to
roam at will in the woods, only to be
hunted by sportsmen.
What are they? Well they were two
little black bears 0ittle no longer. who
have won for themselves n place in the
hearts of hundreds of children, and some
pretty big children, too, by their sportive,
frolicsome ways. Being captured when
only little over three months old. they
have never shown the fierce temper so
natural to them, but have remained gem
tie and peaceable, so that even now, when
they are full grown. their keeper can go
In the cage with them without the slight
est danger. But II was when they were
little creatures that the crowds came to
see them and when they were the chief
attraction of the whole collection.
Such tricks as they would play on each
other! If Romeo CHANGED to be asleep on
the floor, Juliet would creep up behind
him. fling him over on his side, by a quick
motion. and then throw herself on him
so that he could not move, while she
amused herself by boxing his ears. none
too gently. When tired of this she
would give him last hard poke, and re-
treat quickly to the other part of the cage
to await the punishment she knew she
would receive In return from her brother.
Romeo, as soon as allowed to regain his
feet. would rush for her. and great race
would ensue, which would always end in
Romeos catching Juliet and giving her a
Hlaf III.
back to rest. while Juliet. in spite of past
experience. would Immediately prepare to
play another trick on him.
One day, when Romeo was rather tired
from too much play. he suddenly lay
down and refused to do anything more
in spite of all Juliet could do until at
last she tried her old trick of holding
him down. He stood his teasing well the
first time. but when she approached a
second time he drove her Off with harsh
words. A few minutes later, however. a
fine opportunity for revenge presented It.
self to him. Juliet had become thirsty
and so she went over TO the water tub
and lay down In front of it, with her
| head hanging over the edge. Unluckily
| her back was towards Romeo. who at
| once saw that his time had come. Creep
| Ing up softly behind her. he gave her a
| sudden shove. which sent her head first
| into water n foot deep Romeo immedi-
ately went back and lay down again as if
| nothing had happened. keeping. however
| one eye open to watch the results OF his
| performance.
Now. black bear is not. as a general
| thing. fond Of much water. and as Juliet
| backed slowly out of the tub snorting
| and coughing from the water that had
| gotten down her throat. Il was easy to
see that she was not in a very pleasant
| frame Of mind. As soon as her eyes
were clear of the water. she turned
l fFaNrHT do
| asleep, and after looking at him for
| moment she evidently decided that he
| was not the guilty person. Then with
| kind of dazed air she looked first at the
| spot where she had been lying, then at
| the water tub. and after that retreated
across the cage, as II fearing that some
unseen power would throw her again
| Presently. however. she noticed Romeo
| watching her intently, and her suspicious
| returning in fun force, she made a saw
| age charge at him. Romeo. taken by
surprise. thought discretion the better
part OF valor, and departed at a swift
pace. closely pursued by his angry COM
| panion. At last Romeo being cornered
hot boxing match ensued. after which
good humor was restored and both bears
were as frisky as ever.
Juliet had habit of standing or walk
| ing on two feet. Sometimes when she
did this Romeo would crouch down be-
hind her. push forward her feet suddenly.
| and let her turn n complete somersault
over him. trick by the way. which Is
| often played on unsuspecting comrades by
mischeylous schoolboys. At other times.
when one OF the bears would be sitting on
the step-ladder. the other would come up
back OF him and push him of, or per
| haps creep under the ladder, catch hold
| OF his feet and pull him down through the
openings between the steps. once. dur
ing One Of these bear pulls Romeo was
caught iu such % manner that he could not
tr'r himself for few moments, and
meanwhile Juliet danced round and round
| him. making an sorts of insulting ges-
lures. Sometimes they would have
games OF tag, racing around after each
other over the ladder or under il. around
the cage or through the water. II a
chunk OF meat was thrown in to them
one OF the bears would seize and run
away with It, and then 1t was tag in
earnest. until they We're both tired out.
when they would stop to rest and share
the prize
But as the bears grew large and strong
it was not thought best to keep them in
their lighty-constructed cage, and so
they moved again, this time to a large,
iron-barred cage, with an outside yard
attached. where they are safer, and be-
sides have more room for exercise. And
so they live there now, in company with
a cinnamon bear and an old black bear.
The latter is very tame and is allowed
to climb up out of the yard and gain the
turreted roof of the Smithsonian Insti-
tute where he wanders about to the
terror of nervous visitors, who are sure
that he will escape to the ground and eat
them all up. However, he never tries to
escape. but comes back, after lit
tie promenade, and descends into his cage
again. No doubt Romeo and Juliet would
also like to perform this feat, but as yet
they are not able to climb well, so that
| thnx Of INF afalxr 1nnlr on md 4
mlre their venturesome comrade. Sc
here, each day they receive their friends
who come to watch them, and often tC
, bring them some sweet morsel, which
they are ever ready to accept-[E. l.
, Thurston. in the Advance