Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-07

uSelS ana panLh6fS, starts dL 1 CLOCK
in the morning with an "eye-opener'
of a sort more sensible than the term
usually implies, for each of the cap
tive animals The night watchmen
wake the keepers promptly a $50
a. M, and half an hour later the big
milk cans are opened for the distribu-
ton Of the "eye-openers."
This is a careful task, for it in
cludes first the gentle prodding of the
animal to wake him if he happens to
be asleep, and then the deft slipping
under the bars of the cage of a gener-
GUS steel saucepan containing about
a pint of milk and water in equal
parts. The animal is supplied with
several pansful, but small quantities
are given to avoid waste by spiIIing
The animals state Of health is often
Determined by his mornings appetite,
because a wild animal rarley touches
anything in the way Of food if he IS
sick
After the distribution of milk and
water the keepers are permitted to
break their own fast A o'clock
the cleaning of the cages begins. each
cage being carefully cleansed with
lOng-handled sCrapers and bTCOms
Animals new in captivity usually OBJ
ject vigorously to this part of the days
program, and with bites and snarls at
tack the implements. They soon
however, become accustomed to the
work and often make it a playtime
striking at the brushes much as a kit
ten pursues a string.
The cages are then disinfected and
the animals in turn are taken to the
large steel-barred arena for an hours
rOmp. Each animal gets a morning
turn in the arena about three times
week. Great care has to be exercised
to place in the arena at the same time
only such animals as are friendly and
only animals of one kind. Lions are
particularly prone to animosities and
a desire to fight for the clean title of
champion of the show. The friendly
ones, however, gambol and jump
about, rolling around in play like the
great kittens they are
After play time they are taken back
to their cages through a small passage
way and the trained animals or those
in the process of a liberal arena edu-
cation are put through their PAGES by
the trainers exactly as in the public
performances
The other animals are allowed to
rest until show time in the afternoon,
the monotOny being broken shortly
after II o'clock by a liberal luncheon
of raw meat. Eight to twelve pounds
of raw beef usually, with a large bone,
are passed into the cage of each large
lion or tiger and a prOpOrtiOnate
amount for the smaller animals. The
amount given varies with the condi-
tons such as the health of the animal
and the nature of work in the exhibit
ton, but the daily averages is from
twelve to twenty pounds. When but
two exhibitions a day are being given
luncheon is at 4:30 o'clock in the
afternoon and dinner at 1890 O'Clock
i'll the evening after each performance.
After every meal the bones are re
moved for the sake of cleanliness and
TO avoid Quarrels, for these are often
found to be in truth "bones of conten-
tion," and many serious fights would
otherwise ensue.
The diet is varied several times a
week with hot tea, coffee, of which
most of the animals are particularly
fond, and beef tea. These are all ad-
ministered in the steel saucepans,
which twice a week, for cleanliness,
are burned out in a charcoal fire
The members Of the hospital band,
as the ailing animals are called, are
the objects of particular care and at
ten1ion. Plenty of straw, frequently
changed, is given them in cages. Cod
liver oil is administered at first in
small doses secreted in meat, and af-
terward as the animal develop a taste
for it, in quantities of a tablespoonful
with milk and water three times day,
for colds and pneumonia. Strangely
enough, most of the animals grow so
fond of the dose that they will purr
while tapping it from the pan. Chop
ped meat about the consistency of
Hamburger steak, and plenty of beef
juice, form the diet for sick animals
who can be induced 10 eat
Tie keepers are constantly with the
beasts from a. m. 70 1f:30 p. NJ,
when dinner-and a NEST ultra
fashionable hour it is 70. dinner-is
served. and the watchmer so on duty
for the night.
Monkeys and the smaller animals
have greater liberty as to diet, as the
former will eat anything, from peanuts
to pickles. Because of the quantities
of sweetmeats fed to them by visitors,
medical attention is frequnetly neces-
sary, cod liver and castor oils being
the stock cure-alls.
Prize apes and chimpanzees enjoy
domesticity to large degree, those of
the Mr.. Esau sort of the Bostock ex-
hibition affecting knives and forks,
chairs, tables and the wearing of even
ing dress when on exhibition
The love affairs of the animals. their
wooings and their winnings of the OBJ
ject of their hearts desire, are the
most amusing point of the animals
life. A splendid lion meeting in the
training cage a lioness that strikes his
eye, will act just as foolishly as the
summer girl and the summer boy.
Soft, ardent chances, purrings and
foolish looks that seem almost smiles