The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10
BEARS RETURN TO HARRIET ISLAND
MINUS THEIR FUR COATS

which is also the laundry of Harriet
island, are the Belgian hares and the
rabbits. housekeeping had not yet
disturbed them, and they seemed quite
as contented and comfortable as the
guinea pigs upstairs. Their pens" are
to be WhitewaShed, but otherwise the
hares and rabbits will not be disturbed
this summer They are really very
nicely situated. Their pens" face the
Mississippi river on one side and on the
other the main walk which leads past
the Zoo" When they weary of watch
ing the stream Of visitors they can re-
tire to the other side, where, in COM
parative seclusion, they can feast their
eyes on Mississippi river scenery. They
are not so popular as the bears or the
two pairs of wolves or the twin 'coons
or the tiny fox, but, being timid crea-
lures, they probably do not suffer on
that account.
Island Has Expanded.
Visitors to Harriet island this sum-
mer will find that the island has grown.
For the past month teams have been
busy hauling sand and earth and lime
down there, and the loads have been
used to fill in low places along the
shore, so that already the expansion is
quite noticeable. Because the frost is
not yet out OF the ground no work has
and no attempt has yet been made to
rake up the withered grass. But, for
bidding as the day was Friday, blades
Of bright green grass showed here and
there a Surer sign of spring than the
groups of W0rkingmen who were scat
tered over the island, busily engaged in
getting it ready for the summer crowds.
The Harriet island Zoo will present
very trim appearance when all the
plans for it's improvement have been
carried out. The bears cave and the
new monkeys cage will be made as
attractive as possible, and every cage
in the Zoo will be as white inside as
whiteWash can make it. Aside from
the monkeys, there will be no imme-
date enlargement of the Zoo collec-
ton. The monkeys will be purchased
from a dime museum in Minneapolis.
In spite of the long and cold winter
all the buildings are in very good con-
dition on the island. Because of the
islands situation the buildings are in
a position to catch the full force of
every blast that blows, but things were
put in such shipshape order last fall
that little damage was done by frost
and snow.
Next year all the animals can spend
the winter here if it's necessary" said
the attendant. mot rabbit was FROST
bitten this year. 1 don't believe we'd
want to attempt moving those two bears
again, anyway. It's too exciting. That
Archie has cultivated a taste for ad-
venture and he's cunning enough to
deceive anybody. Perfectly lamb-like
while your eyes are upon him, but up
to all sorts of tricks the minute you
take them off Of him. And he leads the
other one on. Teddie would be de-
cent member of society only for him."
Amiable jokers though both these
bears look to be, neither the SUperin-
tendent nor any other man on the ISL
and dares to take any liberties with
them. The timber wolves which are
larger than the bruins, show no re-
sentiment when an arm is thrust into
their cage Indeed, they appear to
enjoy the liberty that is taken with
their dignity. But Archie and Teddie
are excellent illustrations of the truth
Of ShakeSpeare's assertion that one
may smile and smile and be a villain
still. The wolves prowl up and down
their narrow cages in realistic wild
animal fashion. Their next door neigh
bOrs grin cordially at every passer-by
and indulge in all sorts Of foolish an
tics in the hope of coaxing a lump of
sugar. Nevertheless these latter are
the villains of the Zoo. "Just as soon
scrape a piece Of your face off as look
at you," said the attendant as he shook
his fist at the animals that, in spite of
their wickedness. are evidently his ia
Vorites. And Archie and Teddie
grinned cordially at the fist and then
began another of their interminable
boxing matches to ascertain which has
the more endurance. They have been
boxing ever since they first met, but
they have never settled this momen-
tOUs question to their own satisfaction
or the satisfaction of the Harriet
island employees.