davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-09-04

Ice Cream Freezers, "aoth
Century" for small families only,
stag size for Doc. Try one
three dogs free.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

but 1t Is Mr.. Blackburn who Is responsible
for the welfare of his charges What with
twelve years service as animal man with
a great circus menagerie before he came
to Washington to take care of the miniature
Zoo back Of the Smithsonian Institution
Mr.. Blackburn has been associated so long
with the profession that the eccentricities
and individual peculiarities of the different
species and groups of animals are to him
like similar traits in lifelong friends. He
knows animals and has the real animal
mans amused contempt for the mature
faker.''
Mr.. Blackburn in his capacity as Zoo
chief superintends the distribution Of the
daily natural and prepared foOdstuf1s
among the cages and Enclosures. DR.. Baker
and his office force handle the marketing
problem and dabble in figures, but the
veteran animal man and his helpers pre-
pare and serve the daily menu to the brute
boarders. 1t may appear to the casual
observer a simple matter to pass from cage
to cage. tossing in a loaf or two of bread
here, some hunks of meat there and fork
of hay thither. but 1t isn't. That Is to say,
the mechanical action Is simple enough,
but the thought and care expended before
the food Is tossed into the cages would
hardly need augmentation fittingly to cater
to the appetites Of a similar number of
human beings representative of as many
races as the animals of animal families.
The first great problem falls to DIR. Baker
and his assistants 1t Is created by the
necessity of purchasing the best and fresh
est meat and fish IN the market and get
ting IL in large consiKnmeuts For any one
who thinks that stale meat and fish is
served to the boarders at the Zoo has at
least a dozen additional guesses advancing
in his or her direction Nothing like that
for the furry. feathered and hippered ag-
gregation out by Rock creek. In the first
place the majority OF the flesh and fish
eaters would wrinkle their noses or beaks
in disguest at such fare and refuse to par
take thereof. In the second place. the
less fnicky boarders that would condescend
to gobble such vituals would assurediy be-
come deathly Ill and pass to the animal
kingdom of glory.
No. maam, DIR. Bakers market wagon
Is driven daily to the local branch Of one
OF the great western packing houses and
loaded with the cleanest, sweetest and most
wholesome meat that can be purchased.
To be sure, porterhouse and sirloin steaks
and choice cuts of rib are not in evidence
in the wagons cargo. 1t Is scarcely neces-
sary to rifle Uncle Sans excheouer to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

that extent. What the Zoo marketers want
and get are cheaper cuts that are not as a
rule put on the market for human consump-
ton. Beef Is the only meat purchased, and
the cuts used are from the neck and fore
quarters of the animal. The meat is tough
and great hunks Of bone covered with thick
and gristly masses of fbrous flesh are espe-
cially to be desired.
A part of the meat is later cut into bits
for hesh-eating birds and smaller animals
and to be used in some Of the specially
prepared dishes. The large bony masses
are for the big cats consumption. It would
never do to serve these fierce creatures
masses of solid meat. When in their lost
jungle homes the cats had to get out and
rustic for their dinner. In doing SO they
spent a great deal Of nervous and muscular
energy and got all kinds Of splendid exer-
else. And any physician will tell you that
there Is nothing like exercise to keep ones
digestive apparatus in tune. But captivity
is conducive to laziness and laziness Is no
liver tonic,
The wise gentlemen who wait on the big
cats table take this into consideration, and
as it Is impossible to make their charges
take daily constitutionals, they adopt the
expedient of making the creatures work
their masticatory engines of destruction
as nearly as possible to the prescribed
hygienic limit of forty chews to the mouth
full. Were nice. juicy hunks Of lean meat
tossed into the cages of these beasts there
would ensue a gluttonous sobblin8 Of I'M
chewed food that would seriously effect the
mechanism Of certain inside information
bureaus. Not only this. but In cases where
two or more cats occupy one apartment and
eat at the same table. as It were. the bully
OF the cage would. II possible. bolt his food
first and then take away his companions
dinner. As 1t 10. the same bully has to
spend SO much time gnawing the flesh from
his own dinner bone that the weaker ami
NAL has plenty OF opportunity to get In a
little fine mastication on his or her own
hook.
In the matter Of providing fish. even
more care is necessary. OF the $40 man.
mails. $50 birds and 100 reptiles in the Zoo
fair proportion subsist on little else than
Ash diet. with occasional pieces of bread
and other vegetable foodstuffs. Nothing
but the freshest fish win serve. The market
wagon goes daily to the fish market and
returns loaded with more than $50 pounds
Of fish that is in every way in perfect con-
dition to be served at the tables of Wash
ington's most particular citizens. The
soft scaled varieties only are purchased. in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07
ATE UP THE SHOW.
Goat That Will Figure No More In
Wild West Scenes.

From the Lynn Item
He was only a goat. a supplemented WILL
liam goat, but with such an appetite! II
was this capacity for devouring things that
caused his downfall and suspension from
one OF the biggest wild west shows that
ever struck East Lynn. Not that he got
his walking papers, but because he ate up
the show.
1t all happened in the sand pits off Mel
vim avenue. His goatship that is owned by
Charlie Farnum and band OF Juveniles
who have become enthused with the stories
of Wild Bill mot the goat and his stunts
with the Apaches in the far west were de-
plotting those scenes true to life. They had
the necessary (homemade) paraphernalia
of burned cork. old sheets for blankets and
other accouterments, even to real guns.
which we're without powder.
Just as Wild Bill, set upon by big band
of bloodthirsty Indians. was, singie-handed,
wiping them out of existence, mounted on
his handsome bronco the goat, box 52l
came in The lads saw the fire and In an
instant Wild Bill was to the tall pines. and
as imaginary fire engines they were hotfoot
for the Hunt grain store fire.
The goat was left behind, but Sir William
did not mind 1t In the least He found those
blankets pretty fair. although a trifie dry.
Tin cans were not In it with those guns and
other things And he nunched away as
contented as q small boy over his Thanks
giving dinner.
A fire cannot last forever, especially when
such trained firemen are on the scene SO
after a couple of hours the boys returned
to the scene of the great battle. What was
their surprise to flnd-not pile OF dead and
dying Indians about Wild Bits steed. nor
any bows, arrows or tomahawks, but "A
cleanly-swept field Of battle There stood
Sir William, meek as Marys lamb,
munching something red and white Alas,
a closer inspection revealed the fact that
even old Glory had failed to resist the
powers Of Williams appetite. and as a
pleasing dessert to his meal of wild west
scenery William was finishing up the
American flag.
The goat still lives and is still hungry,
but hereafter he Is to be banished from the
role of charging steed in any production. no
matter how big. for with such appetite
even the actors themselves are in danger.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

There Is one part of the animal dinner
service upon which 1t may be we'll to touch
but lightly. II you are a child you must
stop reading at once, lest your sleep to-
night be disturbed by strange and fear
fully creepy dreams.
In one Of the animal houses at the Zoo
may be seen a cage filled with the cutest
little guinea pigs Of all ages and sizes.
Somehow in spite of their well-known ten
dency to multiply with extreme rapidity
there always seems to be about the same
number In the cage. To find the answer
one must return to the houses where the
big cats live. Near the door are the glass
partitioned cages of the snakes. Were one
to hide in the tiger cage until dark one
might see Mr.. Blackburn or an assistant
keeper enter with lantern and basket.
He stops at one Of the snake cages. takes
from the basket the wriggling form of
little guinea pig. slides open the wire door
OF the snake box and drops the poor little
furry thing in among its deadliest
enemies Several more follow and each
cage is visited.
Holding their prey paralyzed with fright
with tho gleam Of their wicked, beady
eyes, the snakes slowly uncoil and glide
toward their meal. Suddenly they dart
forward, seize their trembling victim. whip
their coils about 1t and slowly crush 1t to
death. Then follows the slow and difficult
muscular operation of swallowing the
crushed guinea pig whole. In this manner
practically all the snakes get their nourish-
ment Sometimes rats and mice are used
instead of guinea pigs or young rabbits for
big reptiles-it all depending upon the indi-
vidual taste of the snake to be fed But
it is almost always necessary to serve the
snakes with live prey.
Even then 1t is often difficult matter to
get a captive snake to eat anything. Sew
eral years ago a remarkably fine speci-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Zoo and its Oldest fourfooted inhabitant.
For sixteen years this big favorite with
the children has uttered his silent but sin
cere~cry for more hay" at the local Zoo,
and were some one with a mania for daily
ing with figures to work out an approxima-
tion Of the number of tons Of this rustling
delicacy that old Dunk has made away
with the result would no doubt be- as
founding. About forty-one years ago
Dunk saw daylight In his Indian jungle.
Forty years from now, II all goes WELL
he should still be tossing his trunk upward
and opening his mouth while joyous Wash
inston children try to toss peanuts in the
triangular, pink tongued opening.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

men of diamond-back RATHER was sent to
other rattlers, but as weeks passed and he
was noticed not to have eaten anything, he
was separated from his fellows and live
mouse, rat or little guinea pig kept in his
cage every night. In the morning the IN
tended meal would be found. frightened into
spasms, but still intact and unframed.
Weeks passed into months and months
rolled on until nearly two years had passed.
and still the old RATHER refused to eat.
His long fast appeared to cause him little
inconvenience but 1t was apparent that
unless he could be made to eat he would
finally die of starvation.
In the hope that the sight of his fellow
rattlers attacking and devourng their food
would encourage him to similar action, the
big snake was put back with a number of
his kind. For several months more he still
tasted and more than two years had passed
without a particle of food entering his
serpentne ''tummy." Finally, one night
the keepers put three live rats in the cage.
To their surprise they discovered the next
morning that their friend had at last
broken his fast. He lay in the cage in
state of innocuous desuetude, while three
large Jumps along his body indicated tho
last resting place Of the three rats. I'm
fortunately the shock OF so much food at
once was too much for the snakes rusty
digestive works and he died within an hour
or two.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Head Keeper Blackburn. an animal man
whose experience dates back more than a
quarter OF century. is the Pooh Bah of
the Zoo boarding house. Not only Is he
chief cook and bottle washer, head waiter
and housekeeper for his animal guests. but
he personally looks after every detail OF
their daily lives, with his weather eye
open for the slightest symptoms of ILL.,
ness. The assistant keepers work under
his direction and perform the greater part
of the manual labor necessary in caring
for such an host Of troublesome boarders,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

now lnat the
good old summer time seems to
have become a torrid reality and
II you are absorbed to the point of
nervous decrepitude In the prob
lem of catering to finicky, hot-weather ap-
petites. 1t should be cheering to read about
Uncle Sans troublesome District boarding
house If family OF Ave presents oppor-
tunities for acquiring a propensity for
conniption fits. imagine what it must be like
TO be the slave of nearly 1900 fastidtous
palates. Add to this the always imminent
danger of putting something on the table
that will upset the harmonious action Of
ones boarders' 'innards" with probable
fatal results and one has a problem to
solve that makes pampering paps dys-
pepsia a sinecure by comparison.
This is the problem that Uncle Sam,
through his specially appointed representa-
tives, has to face each day in the District.
To add to the difficulties. all his boarders
are mutes and have no way of communi-
eating their desires or needs to their ca
terers. But while they are speechless and
cannot dictate what shall be set before
them. experience has taught the men in
control of the dumb boarders just what Is
best for them. That IL what they get no
matter how much they would like to put
their inner works out Of commission with
delectable but un wholesome diet.
The District boarding house comprises the
National Geological Park and the three
departments of the District government for
which Congress annually appropriates large
sums toward the maintenance of animal
boarders. OF course. the Zoo is a separate
establishment and directly under the con-
troll of Uncle Sam, while the fire. police
and street cleaning departments are con-
trolled by the District authorities. 1t Is
the Zoo boarding house that offers the
varied and different provender problems.
The District departments are simpler.
horses being the only animal boarders to
be cared for. But strange 1t may seem.
1t costs far more to set the simple table
for the horses dining room than provide
for the 300 assorted animal kindgom ap
petites in care OF Superintendent Baker
and his stan of experienced assistants.
The following table gives an idea of what
the cost Is in both cases. The figures re-
late to provender alone and do not include
the expense OF maintaining the STATS of
attendants or equipment Of buildings and
grounds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

cur with increasing frequency until the
illness reaches chronic stage and the big
beast gradually wastes away and dies
usually after not more than two. years OF
captivity.
Gastric troubles are the most prevalent
among the animals and cause the greatest
amount Of deaths. Pneumonia takes Sec
ond place, with tuberculosis ranking next
in order. Watchfulness and tenderest care
have kept the record Of the local Zoo Up
to the highest standard. and DR.. Baker and
his assistants, notably Mr.. Blackburn. feel
that they have reason to be proud of their
achievements in this direction. The pre-
ventive system is In vogue at the Rock
creek Zoo. DR.. Baker and Mr.. Blackburn
are not believers in waiting until an animal
gets sick and then endeavoring to cure the
malady Their efforts are bent in the
direction Of nipping the prospective illness
in the bud. To this end nothing Is Of
more Importance than diet. e
Perhaps the hardest of all the animals
and the easiest to care for Is the good old
shaggy bruin. And because of his generous
appetite and kindly disposed digestive ar
rangements he gets about the most varied
and pleasant meals of any Of the Zoo
boarders. Special bread, made of corn
meal. molasses, beets. carrots and bits Of
meat. Is baked at the Zoo for his delecta-
ton, and he gets fair share Of all the
other delicacies provided. In season his
menu often includes large quantities Of nice
juicy berries. and altogether his lot is about
as happy as that Of any Gagged creature
could be.
Sunfower seeds are a great delicacy for
the birds and monkeys. The parrots crave
this article OF diet and scream with de-
light whenever 1t appears on the bill Of
fare. But they don't get sunnower seeds
very often. as 1t has been discovered that
this food leaves a starchy deposit in the
throat, which hardens into an enamel and
causes throat trouble and often partial loss
Of the beautiful parrot voice. The monkeys
also dearly love the little sunfiower seeds.
and as they appear to thrive on this food it !
is often part Of their menu. For the little
birds Mr.. Blackburn has his men dig up
nice fat little worms. The larger birds
need choice bits Of meat, corn, seeds. green
stuffs. bread crumbs. meal and great
variety of other tidbits.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Guiding such species as herring, trout and
butterfsh. The marketers examine each
fish and nothing with the slightest sugges-
ton of faint is taken. This is not so much
a matter Of pampering palates as Of SAM
tary precaution. Ptomaine poisoning is as
much to be dreaded in the animal world
as in the human. Especially Is this true
with the seals. Feed husky young seal
with few tainted fish for few days and
ones husky young seal will be FOUND one
morning floating face upward" in his
pool.
One Of the obstacles to completely SAM
tary system Of feeding the hesh-eaters lies
In the fact that all the beef has been re-
frigerated In their native state the big
cats were accustomed to killing their prey
and ripping out nice, warm. palpitating
mouthfuls. They can't get anything like
that here and their digestive arrangements
are almost always more or less in need Of
repairs from constant dalliance with cold
storage beef. In New York. where at the
Bronx there is the largest Zoo in this coun-
try II not in the world. this difficulty Is
partly overcome through the maintenance
of q special abattoir. Somewhere in the
neighborhood Of the Bronx Park Ia kept q
stable for ancient and decrepit horses Only
horses that have passed beyond their stage
of earthly usefulness and yet are not SUI
fering from any contagious or infectious
disease are purchased. They are fed and
fattened and. one by one. butchered to
make leonine menu. Here in Washing
ton. the Zoo authorities say, 1t is i'm
possible to carry on such an enterprise.
mainly for the reason that Washington's
horses are never known to become too
decrepit for service on night hacks. ash
carts and hsrdic lines.
The flesh and nsh eaters are not by any
means the most fastidious of DR.. Bakers
animal boarders nor the ones that require
the most careful dietary supervision.
Among the army of mammals and birds
are many whose entire strangeness to their
present climatic and geographical sur
soundings render the matter Of diet one Of
peculiar difficulties. For instance. there
Is the moose. one of the most difdcult OF
all the animals to keep captive in a state
Of health. Accustomed to browsing amid
the trees Of his northern forests this big
creature suffers on being transported to the
Zoo the complete loss of this form Of
dietetic amusement. Almost invariably
after six months of captivity this noble
animal is gripped with a gastric malady.
Careful treatment brings temporary recov-
cry. but few months later a second and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

China and Japan together produce 1885,
600 tons of silk annually.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Hay and oats and bread are the staples
that go to fill the cavernous NAV of old
Dunk. the elephant-the first settler at the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

more severe attack ensues. The spells oc-
cur with increasing frequency until the
illness reaches chronic stage and the big
beast gradually wastes away and dies
usually after not more than two years Of
captivity.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-01
CANDIDATES ARE
PLEASED WITH PLAN
No Candidates Have Yet An
nounced for Chief of Police
FURNACE is SHUT DOWN
Machinists and Boilermakers at Wood
ward Go Out on strlke-Demand
Advance of 5 Cents
an Hour.
FURNACE is SHUT DOWN

Bessemer, February S.-(Special) 1.-The
action of the democratic subcommittee,
which was held last night In the city hall,
was the chief topic of discussion on the
streets of this city today. All the candi-
dates express themselves as being salts
fed with the arrangements made and the
price of assessment named, realizing that
the money is not compelled to be paid in
until March 81, and then, after paying the
expenses of the two primaries, the balance
will be pro-rated and returned to the can
didates, so they will only be out their
money few weeks.
By March 81 many candidates will be
able to tell whether they have a chance
of winning or not, and 1t is not improb-
able that the present list will be consider
ably cut down by that time.
No announcements have yet been made
for the office of chief of police. and If the
vote goes against the commission, the
candidates will only have something like
a week in which to make the race. as the
second primary will be called nine days
after the first
Announcements are expected to be made
in the next few days for places on the
next democratic committee. The chairman
will be selected from the city at large,
and two committeeman from each ward.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-01
IN THE BIRMINGHAM
REAL ESTATE MARKET

Deeds of conveyance were filed In the
office of the probate court yesterday in
which the transactions of $1,000 and up
ward were made.
]. w. Mcconnell to George B. Edwards,
lots % and "a in block S4S, Bessemer; con-
sideration $500.
j. d. Carlisle to N. e. Baker and A. r.
McCarley, lot 1, according to Jennie Coch-
rane's survey. being a part of southwest
quarter of the southeast quarter of Sec
ton %, township II, range g. west; con-
sideration $500.
Jasper Satte rheld and wife to Miss Ma
tilda Gabriel, the southeast portion of
lot 1. In block 1888; consideration $3.50.
Pratt Land and Improvement company
to Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
company, part of block 4 of the Garden
survey, being the east half Of the south
west quarter of section 36. township H.
range 4, west: consideration $500.
H. T. Moore and wife to ]. Sims Smith,
half interest in lot %. w. ]. Vann's ad-
dition to Bellview; consideration $1,000.
John S. Hall and wife to A. G. Overton,
lot 8, in block l, according to map of
Palmer terrace; consideration $500.
w. L. Raney to Joe Baer, lots 10 and IA,
in block IL. addition to North Johns; con-
sideration $1,000.
d. A. Burgin and wife to G. B. Ed
wards, lot II, in block 2, Brighton; consid-
GRAFTON $1,000.
c. B. White to s. B. Eaton, lot 6, In
block 4. in Johnson's survey of Wood
lawn; consideration $1,000.
Peoples Realty company to Sarah C.
Southland, lots II and IL, in block ~"
Ensley; consideration s1575
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-01

Sierra, Sonora and Ventura of the Oce-
anic line from the operation of the bill,
empowering the Postmaster General to
make contracts with citizens of the
United States for carrying the mails on
these steamships.
Mr.. Brdsell of Iowa closed the general
debate for the opponents Of the BILL and
Mr.. Grosyenor of Ohio for its advocates.
During the morning hour the house
agreed to the conference report on the
military academy bill.
A joint resolution was adopted creating
a commission of five senators and five
representatives to revise and report to
the sixtieth Congress upon the work of
the commission to codify the laws of the
United States.
The conference report on the bill re-
lating to the repatriation of citizens was
agreed to.
BY vote of 2H ayes and no noes the
House further insisted on its disagree
ment to the provision in the army ap
preparation bill relating to retirement of
paymasters' clerks.