Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-02-25

deep down. AT last the grizzly gave
it up and sat ruefully regarding his
lost treasure.
Suddenly the polar bear rose to the
occasion. He waddled over to the
hole on bis side, rolled over on his
side, thrust his paw down and showed
the box up into the grizzly's yard.
Ever after that the two giants were
good friends. The polar bear would
often stretch himself out beside the
partition on a hot day and poke his
long, slim muzzle in between the bars
Grizzly would drop down, too, and
shove his snout over against hie
friends, and thus they would sleep for
hours. grunting their dreams into
each others ears.
Another bear story comes from
Raymond L Ditmars, head keeper OF
the New York Geological Park, but
it is of different nature. A pair Of
brown bear cubs were put lnto the
same pit with black bear. Tie lat
ter was almost full grown and larger
than the little brown cubs together.
So he proceeded to bully them, nip
ping their tails when they ate, tum-
bling them about and ducking them
in the water tank in the middle of the
inclosure. Protest did them no good,
and the only peace they ever found
was when they crawled into little
cavity between the rocks, too small
for the black bear to follow.
But while the black bear remained
much the same size, the little brown
cubs grew apace, and soon they aP-
preached the size of their bully For
time both sides seemed unconscious
that relations mightsoou change. But
one day the crisis came.
The two brown cubs were sleepily
lying on the brink of the water basin.
The black bear rolled sleeplessly in
the shade of rock ledge. Finally
he rose, waddled over to the tank to
drink, and than sat down on his
launches. His eyes fell on the two
drowsy cubs. With snort he rose
again, and then deliberately gave one
Of the brown bears a shove into the
tank.
The cub came up on the opposite
side with a howl. HIS partner gave
a responsive howl. Then both charged
the black bear. There was momen-
tary scuffle, an ursine yell and the
black bear went into the tank. He
rose after his involuntary dive, aud
tried to crawl out, but brown paw
came down on his nose with such
force that he turned to the other side.
Again he tried to crawl out, but again
powerful rap on his head sent him
back. Again and again he tried to
regain the rock brink-each time he
was pushed back. Whenever hemade
an attempt the two brown cubs were
on hand to knock HIM down. Finally
the keepers came to the rescue, but
ever after that there was no more
bullying done by the black bear.
Some years ago there was a popular
pleasure resort in San Francisco
called Woodwards Gardens. 1t was
established by Mr.. Woodward, an
early pioneer, and he imported large
variety Of wild animals. The gardens
fourished in popular favor, for Mr.
Woodward conducted them on non
paying basis.
Finally he died and the property
fell into the hands Of persons not so
interested in collecting wild animals
as he had been. The animals died OF
as the years passed and were not re-
placed. At last only few were left
among them two big African lions
confined in cages that faced each other
The enmity of these beasts had beer
well known for years, but they haC
only been able to express their mutua
hatred by roars and snarls, or by glar
ing contemptuously across the grounds
In the end only these two survlv
ors OF a once large community "ei'
left. All the other cages were empty
Local newspapers urged through thel
editorial columns that the two survlv
ors ought to be painlessly put out o.
the way, in order to end what had be
come a miserable public spectacle o
cruelty to animals. The end cam
sooner than was expected.
The cages stood in the open air, il
great circle about an arena Wher
trained animals had performed feat
in the old days. One bright moon
light night somebody opened the door
Of the cages of the two iOnsin a spIrl
of mischief, probably. The garden
I l.