The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-03
LEARNED BEAR IN PARK zoo.
GREATLY AFFECTED AT PARTING
WITH MASTER WHO TAUGHT HER.


lie leOeJJa, the DcaT, ChIThtu on a II uCL
heart was breaking because OF h separa-
non from her master after four years OF
travelling together over much OF the
country. The master himself was greatly
Affected by the parting.
-Adieu, ma belle annie, adieui I say the
farewell for long time, pauvre Benedetta,'
said the Savoyard as he patted her on the
head and tried to appear u~nooncerned.
He started to leave and had gone part
way down the hill when he looked back
and caught Benedetta's eyes fastened upon
HIM. The appeal touched a soft spot and
he turned pack and again patted her on the
head. This time tears forced themselves
and ran down to the tip of his nose. He
tried to brush them away without being OBJ
served.
Have the consideration to my good
Benedetta when l am go, m'sieu'. She
find the great love to me and one day
maybe she love o same way. Nevaire
put / the ring in her nose TO make obey
the Savoyard explained. I'VE great friends
this long time and make the promenade
together along the roads. Sometime
we take the drink out Of the same brook;
the same loaf Of bread sometime give
us our supper. What you call meule de
foin-oui.. the haystsck-that often our
place of rest at night
He was going to Montreal to live and he
could not very well take the bear with him.
In addition to the fact that he would have
to pay customs duty il he imported a wild
animal into Canada, he could not keep q
performing bear at his home, however
much he loved IL.
II was to get a good home for his friend
49, H. -o0 ~ kha nA1~n IF nir0rt0r smith
of the Central Park menagerie one day
last week and offered TO make a present
of two bears to the city. One OF them, ne
explained, was a brown bear, Benedetta,
an accomplished dancer and performer
that he brought from his native Savoie,
and the other was an American black bear
he had taught to do stunts for the amuse-
ment Of such audiences as he could get on
his travels. He and his animals had been
over much of the country and the business
was so prosperous that he was going to re
tire and make his home among some OF MS
fellow countrymen in Montreal.
He said that 500 had been offered for the
brown bear by a Snowman, but M mao
declined the offer, as he wanted to make
sure that the animal would have gooo
treatment when it passed from his care.
That was why he offered it to the menagerle.
The director thanked him and told him 10
bring his bears along. He did 80 the next
fhe black bear, which is noted for its
mild nature, was put into a cage with an
other of its kind without any trouble ana
Immediately became contented In It's new
surroundings. 1t was decided to put the
brown one in a cage in which a young female
cinnamon Of irascible temper has her
home, There was a muzzle on the new
Gomez as her master led her up the aspnalt
walk to the bear range on the hillside.
The trainer ordered the bear TO climb over
the iron fence that separates the path from
the cage. This it did in its clumsy way ana
then looked around for the next oroer;
Several keepers stood about ana a man
crowd of visitors gathered in front OF the
cage. The man ordered the bear to give a
dance for their benefit. She got up on ner
hind feet and showed how bears can 90
the twostep and waltz when they make up
their minds to try. She also showeu the
other tricks that had been taught her.
After the little show the cage door was
opened n the keepers got ready Tor tine
trouble they expected in getting the bear
inside without letting II" other one out:
The cinnamon was at the further en15
with her eyes on the open door as II ready
20 make a dash for liberty, but the trainer
quickly called out:
~Entrez, Benedetta; entrezl' -,
The performer stood up and
into the cage and then turned around 70
see If her master was following. he g9t
In the doorway and removed the muzzle
and bid farewell TO his dumb friend.
1t took some time for B~enedetta 70 rean1e
LDHJ DCT uldsJC W1D kSANe
she cut up in real earnest. Never netore
aid anv bear in the park show such tntoler-
ance OF captivity. She paid no attention
TO her fellow captive, but just tried her
utmost to break from her prison: russ
She tried all OF the iron bars In the front OF
the cage TO see il she could force them.
One by one she tested their strength. her
way Of doing so was by putting one OF ner
big, paws against the iron m rod ana PIH t heIa
fast. Then she got her curved claws apou'
il and pulled. Nothing doing:
just as a human might do she went from
bar 10 bar and then walked about the interior
of the cage, looking for a weak spot IN tne
boards and testing all points with paw OF
claws. The cage was strongly punt, ou,
she was not discouraged In the hope oil
breaking out. - NJ
temnta 10 gain her freedom was a surprise
20 Head Keeper Billy Snyder. Inc noI
door slides up and dow and when closed
a steel chain and lock fastens II. me yea
saw the chain and seemed 20 understahuu
inst what its purpose was. She caught II
with her claws and tried 70 break 1t. Snyder
raped her paw with a SUCK as "ai
With a quick motion she made a snaI
with her teeth at his hand, but ne gov on
of her reach. She returned again and agar
10 the chain as the chief obstacle petWeei
her and liberty and when the keeper gave
her another rap she made a sWlpe az mn
with her paw through the OURS ho "~
too quick for her.
II never saw a wild animal 80 dead strci
on a raine as this n Is. It's not benz
cooped up in a cage that bothers her 81
much as il is being separated from ne
master. He must be one OF those telowl
hat can hypnotic wild animals" said tn
head keeper as he stationed a man in IRON
of the cage for the rest Of the day to watcl
her. p.-ou
Smith. who keeps tabs On the small thing
mat have a considerable influence on IN
disnosition OF wild animals. he ordere'
a BIC wooden ball put In the cage. IN
scheme worked like magic; The pea
stopped irving to get out and took TO Tn
wooden sphere. 1t a like a little gil
getting a new doll or a Teddy bear; every
thing else is forgotten.
Benedetta's whole mind went out to tn
plaything, and since then she has passe
most Of her time, when not eating or sIeeE
ing. in rolling the wooden ball about tn
floor. Apparently she is now quite con
tented with her captivity.
The black bear, named George, wa
paired of with Marty, another black Una
had been a citizen of the zoo for some time
-nzAnpfnhIA hA NIA0