New-York tribune., 1903-04-05
At THE CIRCUS.
4nimaIs More Interesting EUen
Than Then Seem.

In towns small and provincial enough to con-
slider the circus wicked fathers have always had a
stock excuse.
II had to take the children to see the animals
they explained to the minister, and nothing was
said about the women who sailed through the air
In pink tights or gailoped around the arena on the
back of a horse.
That kind of a father. however Is of very little
use when it really comes to showing the animals to
his children. He knows little about them. and
would even be puzzled to name some Of them II 1t
not for the signs on the cages.
There Is a chance for some bright young man
to make a bunch of money while the circus lasts.
said busy father the other day. taking per-
sonay conducted parties Of children to the circus
He could read up on natural history, the popular,
not too scientific kind and teach each group OF
children more in an afternoon than they would
learn about animals IN months of public school
Il know how it is in my 1 have three
youngsters of circus age, and they exacted prom
ise before there any sign of the usual descent
Of the biggest show earth. / am reminded OF
that promise at breakfast and dinner. and they
are gradually making out the meanest father
on the block. The mother can't take them, and,
well. you know how busy l am When have L
time put in afternoon telling why the leopard
has spots and the zebra stripes. explaining how 1t
is that lion instead of barks. and whatever
made the camel humpbacked? If you hear OF any
III tural history chap who be trusted with three
of the liveiest youngsters that doting father
ever owned, just send him around"
There is young man. undergraduate in
of the New-York universities, who is laying up
tidy sum against graduating expenses doing this
very thing He is filling long felt want for busy
fathers and nervous mothers. showing up the cir
1t before There is just one
trouble about 1.-The makes the menagerie visit
interesting that the children go again and
again.
1t IS surprising how much more in
the gaudy cages when ones observations in
telligently directed by who knows his natural
Foil Itt
charges. and even though grown up and many
years beyond the desire to pull the lions tail that
he may roar. Will find 1t Interesting.
Keep your hand in your pocket Jack" he said
a curious five-year-old, they stopped in front
of the lions cage.
The lion wants to lick it, the boy declared.
Ana do you know what will happen if he does?"
said the circus guide. His tongue is covered with
little prongs. which turned back. and form a
of a Tasp. He could scrape the skin off your
hand with sweep of his tongue. See how
clean has licked those bones"
If he dog he'd eat the bones.' declared
the boy. who is something of a naturalist on his
own account.
well. lions can't bones. so they have
tongue rough enough to scrape off all the meat.
Notice his bushy tail. You'd never think that he
had a horn hidden there. They say that when he
wants to get real angry he lashes his fanks
with it,
Has muley cow any horn hidden in her tau?''
demanded of the little girls. who has for
gotten all about last summer IN int the country That
the guide did not answer
Just then the lion roared:
Did that frghten your The boy shook his
many men who think that the lions is the
least terrible Livingston was one of them He
The only way he could tell them apart that the
ostrich roared in the daytime and the lion only
at night"
The ostrich is an overgrown chicken on stilts."
Jack explained to his sister.
You'd think that big white bear might hug you
T.,
more like big cat for he bites instead of hugs
and plays with his prey like a cat does with
mouse"
Then what does papa mean when he says I'll
"Oh. he was thinking of the brown bear in the
enough. He's weather prophet besides. Up in
the Adrondacks where he lives when he's at home,
severe winter mild one from the time he takes
to his cave. If it is going TO be bitter winter he
up food in case he wakes up before it is time
out, then crawls inside and sleeps until
about the woods after the first snowfall. and
when he gets very sleepy lies down in any CON
venient place, without gathering even bit of moss
\ family of dinner when the party
reached that end of the line of cages. They were
washing every morsel of food before they ate it
This extreme cleanliness is all a matter Of
habit explained the young man, When they are
free they live mostly on frogs crawhsh lizards ana
They probably grew tired of having everything
seasoned with nlud. so they learned to wash every
fectly clean. but they have the washing instinct
and keep at IT."
How do the little learn the instinct?''
asked of the little girls.
How did you learn to knife and fork?'
questioned the guide In turn.
Mamma taught me by spanking my hands when
1 ate with my fingers.
That is the way the coon mamma does said
and others feared 1t . deadly poison. Hs