Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-27
zoo POLAR BEAR
PICKS OUT A PAL
LONESOME TILL DOG ARRIVES TO
COMFORT HIM
Now Both Are Happy and Play About
the Enclosure the Best
Friends In the
World

NEW YORK, July 26.-Doctor Nansen,
the big polar bear which arrived at
the Bronx geological park few days
ago, seemed lonely for a while in his
new quarters, but yesterday he be-
came reconciled. And the medium Tor
his reconciliation was another animal
of another species.
Doctor Nansen is a trick bear. For
many years ne travelled with a circus
which toured New Jersey. His prln-
cipai tricks were to waltz and to eXer-
else with a pole, balancing it on his
nose and pointing it from his shoulder
as though it were gun. When ne
arrived at the park and was intro
duced to the long-vacant polar bear
den, with its great pool in the center,
the stick with which he had per-
formed in his circus days was showed
through the bars. The keepers thought
1t might amuse him.
But Doctor Nansen, after exploring
his new home, set up dismal howl.
The noises made by the other bears,
the grizzlies and brown bears ana Jap
anese bears, in the cages near py'
seemed to brighten the polar bear. Al
together he was very sad. That was
until yesterday. He is apparently as
happy now as any animal in the PARK.
near Doctor Nansen's cage early yes
terday morning, before the CROWDS pc
e 900 70 arrive He had tempted the
FEAR with fresh meat for breakfast,
Inf Doctor hansen would have none
of It. He sat with his sharp snout
held straight up in the, air ana nov
and then a deep-chested moan Wou ttS
come from between his clenched teeth.
"Too bad, old fellow, to take you
ewav from the circus" said Keeper
Spicer.
hansen Finds Friend
Inst then there was scraping SOUND
on the asphalt walk behind. Inc heep5
ar turned and saw a small, nail starved
dog, such as is to be seen on alnios' "n'
back street in the Bronx: 80 q,
GLOW in the dickens did you get IA
bore 2" said Spicer, and he clapped MS
hands at the visitor to drive MIN away
The dog lodged, but did not run away.
He had smelled the meat Ihe nSeR he
had put in the pear Cage 'iio
All right, old chap, If you are as
hungry as all that l will get chunK
Of the bears breakfast for you, salo
Spicer, and he walked closer 10 t1e
cage and began fishing with long pore
at his heels and stood looking through
| the iron bars.
Suddenly he sprang forward. and be,
| fora the keeper could stop him mao
s01eezed between the bars and was IN,
| side the cage. Doctor hansen hau
been watching the whole performances
He likes the sound of human voice
and when the keeper had begun to talk
! to the dog he had become interested
| Snicer exDected to see the bear crush
| the life out of the dog at once. But
| instead - ,tora tho
dog was squatting on its haunches
of
Lwas watching the bear out OF the cor
ners of his eyes, but he made no effort
| to RIM away. He apparently was not
at ali frightened or else hunger had
dulled his fear. Doctor Nansen stop
ned and looked down at the dog Tor a
moment. Then he lifted one paw ana
nut ii gently or the dogs back. Then
he lowered his snout and began to lick
his canine visitors head,
| The dog kept on chewing the meat
and still showed no sign or rear. Ihen
Doctor hansen lay down and began TO
play with the dog, much as kitten
nIays with a ball. But his play was
very gentle. The sharp nails on his
| feet were sheathed in the fur. They
never came out as he softly kicked the
dog and fondled him. -,
TIoctor Nansen kept at this play until
the dog had eaten his fill. Then the
| dog scrambled to his feet and looked
about him. -. >,
81 guess he will make tracks now
| said Spicer to himself.
But instead the dog began to play
with the bear as though he had known
him all his life. Soon the two were
romping about the cage, lodging the
deer tank. The dog was yelping with
hanniness and excitement. He had
had a good meal, perhaps the first In
many days. and he had found a play
fellow who would not kick and cuff
him. at least, if he did, the kicks and
cuffs were so gentle that they did not
| hurt. o
watched them. The other bears in the
the noise and crowded over to that
side to see what was going on. The
grizzlies growled their disgust at the
performance.
But Doctor hansen did not mind.
He was having high old time with
his newfound friend. High up on the
rocks that form a background to the
polar bears cage scampered the dog