Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14

MENAGERIE FROLICS.-"Don't you be-
ueve it. Wild beasts don't worry, not even
n little bit Why should they? They don't
have to hunt for food, they have white men
10 wait on them by inches and they can
take an afternoon nap if they want to.
The speaker was a man who has spent most
of his life in the care and study of wild ami
mails.
Suppose these four-footed creatures were
back in the dark places of Africa, where
they roamed when caught? Every time they
got mouthful to eat they ran the risk OF
having another beast jumping on their
backs and showing their light out When
they first come to us, the sights ana sounus
are new. and, OF course, they are nervous.
But when they find they are sure of lots to
eat and that the keepers are their friends
and protectors, they sink into a state OF
comfort much like a domestic cat in a
grocery store. They live long and happily,
as their good figures and mild eyes show.
Some people think because they have 10
live in a cage that they are sure to get
cranky and worn. Look how these lions OF
mine are rounded out and how gentle they
are in every way. The theory that living
the life they must in their narrow room,
with little exciting change, IS sure to make
them ugly and ENJOYABLE, II not insane, Is
not borne out by facts, and | know WHEREOF
] speak. Wild animals adapt themselves
TO the conditions of their new home, ana
Invent ways ana means Oh amusing
selves during the long watches of the day.
Elephants big as they are pick out a
lot of fun with each other. They will lock
trunks and play tug-of-war until one or
the other gives way. l have seen them
frohc for hours in this way with a short
piece of thick rope. Fanchon, the best
locker among the forty owned by Ringing
Brothers, was broken of the habit of ciga-
rette smoking by letting her play in this
way with a mate that had been shipped
with her to this country from her jungle
home. \ black-eyed frisky youngster of an
elephant that had spent two winters in
Paris introduced Fanchon to the cigarette
habit. This high stopper Is now kept by
herself. and l have discharged three men
who sneaked cigarettes to her just for the
fun of seeing Babette inhale the smoke and
roll her eyes from keenest pleasure. Ele-
plants will good naturedly butt each other
for hours. and sometimes there is enough
steam in the drive to put one or the other
over on his side or back They will even
sit up and spar with their hugh fore legs
ard fence with their trunks at the same
time. The ear-racking squeaks they make
while fOoling in this way tells a story of
their having a good time. There is a sort
of a class feeling, too, among elephants,
so that care must be taken in bringing
them together. The African elephant with
the big ear is not thought much of by those
from India. Most of the elephants come
from India, and even among them there is
this strong feeling, which keeps some from
mixing with others. One dig fellow in our
herd is one OF the cronkieSt ever saw, I'M
Ill n little sawed-off elephant came along
that he took a shine to- This dump kid
didn't have any more backbone than a
jellyhsh and was picked upon by all the
resi- OF the forty, until Badly took him I'M
der his wing. Now these two are kept to-
gather. ard Badly looks at the world
through more cheerful GLASSES.
1.-The cat tribe will fight among them
selves at feeding time. After the meal Is
over they mingle with good humor and sell
dom bear grudges. These animals are given
a neck piece OF beef that contains a bone,
and the beasts are obliged to tear the meat
off slowly and in small pieces. They are
forced 70 chew il. and on this account they
never have Indigestion. When the bone is
picked clean it has the shine of billiard
bail, and to see bunch of lions, tigers or
leopards toss this bone about Is interesting
Another way the cats have of amusing
themselves is 10 play leapfrog. One will
stand rigidly upright, and the others will
follow the leader In jumping over his back
Sometimes two three stand side by SIDE
and at our winter quarters In Baraboo,
Wis. where there is a big exercising room
for the lions and tigers, have seen as
many as six or seven snug up side to side
for the rest to pump Over. Sometimes these
animals have actual wrestling matches