The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-17
zoo RAS A PYGMY TOO MANY.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TINS Or
PHAN BOARDERY
he Does Not Bite. He Does NOT Vote, HIs
Manners. Thou yh various, Arc Mid
Prof. werner. African Traveller.
why Don't You Come and Get Hint

Prof. werner African Traveller,
why Don't You Gene and Get HImf
'Wanted-A benevolent, middle aged
person that would like to adopt an intelll-
gent Congo pygmy; mild hammered, clean:
does not bite. Apply at once to -
Director Hornaday OF the New York
Geological Park out in Thu Bronx sud-
denly bit bis pipestep hard and leapt from
hls chair. His pen fell from bis fingers
and the advertisement nj lay blotted and I'M
finished before him.
For with a bound and a gurgle Of delight
eta Benga jumped through the door OF
Director H~ornaday's Office and began
To hang his grass rope hammock from
the end Of the curtain pole over to thu
knob on tbs directors filing cabinet. With
a Anal hitch OF the rope around the top
Of Director Hornaday's' chair this Zoo
fine specimen Of the African tree dweller
kicked OF his shoes. ripped on his pink
and blue shirt and climbed into his ham,
mock. He allowed one white eye to peer
unwinkingly through the mcshes Of the
hammock at the director.
The reporter who had been standing
behind the railing waiting for Diret tor
Hornaday TO finish the writing OF his id
yertisement and grant him an interview
reached for his hat md laid a hand on the
door knob.
oh, that's all right interjected the
director hastily. We are getting used
70 this sort Of thing. Just step inside and
sit down over there by Benga and | will
tell you my troubles"
The reporter preferred to stand.
II you can find a certain Prof. Werner,
African traveller and lecturer, for me, "
said Director HOrnaday as he leaned back
and ran his fingers through his hair, Il will
bless you for all time to come. Now, this
Prof. Werner left this untamed ebony bunch
Of bother on our hands a few weeks ago with
the assurance that he would Re a drawing
card for the Zoo. Anyway, he aid he would
come back and get him in a week or 80
nd"
"Boola b~oola-boola boola, " crooned Ota
Benga softly in a delicate bass as he swung
himself to and fro over the head Of the
director. He playfully stuck u one bare
toe and propelled his hammock by getting
an occasional leverage with that member
on the mirror over the directors glass case
Of stuffed birds.
A | say, he promised to come back and
get this pygmy creature and take him
away rack to Congo or Timbuctu- the
further away the better. And he hasn't
come. And we don't know where to find
him. inc we are just about ready to take
to the psYchopsthic ward
The directors voice trailed away in a
sigh Of resignation. A deep voiced roar,
drawing nearer every minute, sounded from
outside the administration building.
Where's the wild man? Did you see the
wild man sneak this way2 Hey, tell us
where the wild man Isl" The noise OF the
jumbled voices without grew deaieninS,
AMI Suddenly a face appeared at the window
Of the directors Office, then another and
another, and a great cry went up when
one Of the scouts, with face against the
pane and hand shading eyes, announced
that the wild man was swinging in his ham
mock over Director Hornaday's head.
There's the crowd again, said the direc-
tor. Always the crowd; In the monkey
house. through the lion house, under the
trees by the wolf dens-always hunting,
hunting this African person"
-Rata-ta trat-ta-trat-ta-trat," murmured
Ota Benga, gently swaying to n fro, I'M
perturbed by the voice of the mob without.
Mr.. Hornaday motioned for the pygmy TO
come down. He did. laying a threatening
finger on an important button meanwhile.
NO, no! don't take EN- of seid the
distracted director. Put EN- on. You
see he's always wanting TO take of his clothes
when he gets excited.l Put 'em all on again
and get out!"
The director hurried Benga into his shirt
and shoes and hustled him out a back door
into the woodshed. The crowd, believing
that the pygmy had taken to the trees, ran
shouting down the path toward the reptile
house. Mr.. Hornaday sighed.
Here we're feeding and clothing this
ragamufin from Congo and listening to
kicks from certain citizens against making
an exhibit out OF a human being. And he
running wild all the time, climbing trees
and swinging his dinky hammock from
the limbs over the bear pit or just out Of
reach Of the elks' a~ntlers, coming for grub
at all hours, running about nights like a
cat on a stone wall.
Talk about your black lemon with a Bit
ter rind, well, we've had one handed to US.
Now, he is real -comPanionable with Do
hong, the o~himpanzee, but II We put him in
the cage, why there ONE a bunch Of
A knock sounded at the door. Four
bruno citizens entered
This am the directah2" asked the spokes-
man by way Of introduction. We'll wese
not come to register any kicks, Mistah
Directah. We repasent the Zion Benev'-
lent and Tontine Proteoshun Society, an
wese come to ask bout adoptin' this here
ILL oullud man. We thought"
uo DEuhC CltlAcH Wdb uOJ dliOWtu W
say any more. The director held up an
appealing hand with a smile glowing abou
his lips and without a word rushed to the
voodshed and brought in Ota Benga.
Intelligent Congopygmy, mild hammered,
clean; does not bite" said the director
breathlessly. Then he patted Ota Benga
on the head and looked TOWARD the bruno
citizens with appeal shining from his eyes.
Ota Benga took of both shoes in rapid
succession and laid hands on the hem Of
his shirt. Director Hornaday stayed the
movement with a severe hand.
"Hoo-rah, hoo-rahl Pennsylvania"
said Ota Benga with staccato u~tterance.
Then he drew from his pocket a handker-
chief containing a mashed tomato, three
pennies, a dead fish and a piece Of tinfoil
from a tobacco packag &c, selected the to-
mato and pouched IL at n gulp. Next
he strung his hammock from the door
knob 10 the top Of the hat rack and climbed
in. The delegation Of bruno citizens, who
had been watching Ota Benga ~nervously,
shifted uneasily and backed toward the
door.
A hashily dressed gentleman stumbled
over the retresting delegation. He brushed
the dust from his clothes with a pink silk
handkerchief and stepped up to Mr.. Hona-
days desk.
Names Dick Sweeny," said he. Run
the Thalia Museum and Dance Hall. just
Tot I'd drop in an turn me lamps on yer
1aa-- II --.@A . - -