Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20

~ the Initiation of sadness and
~ the home of melancholy. From
Il the pastoral groves and sylvan
glades arise the Indignant roar
OF the sea lion and the sad snort of the
erstwhile peaceful peccary. 1t is fall and
II Is moving and housekeeping day. Ev-
erything is chaos. The polar bear has
discovered that his new fall suit is COM
ing along handsomely and the tapir is
In the possession of a new coat-of fat.
And yet there is an unwonted atmosphere
of discomfort about the peaceful reserva-
ton
September is the month of cleaning up
and moving in the Zoo. At this time of
the year the animals are preparing for
the winter when the shedding of summer
fur and the growing of winter fur and
the melting Of the feather proclaim the
arrival of King Boreas. The energetic
keepers are busily engaged in clearing
out cages, moving animals from outdoor
TO indoor quarters. changing TINS anu
changing that, and carrying struggling
and protesting beasts TO such places as
are intended for them.
The animals are not fond of moving ana
cleaningup time. III some respects they
resemble the henpecked family man Let
them alone and they can peg along some
way without the kindly assistance OF "a
gentleman who persistently and insist
emily, prodS them with d brush ard har-
res them out of their senses. But they
like TO be alone. OF course the. can I
appreciate the advantages of oil stove
in winter. They only know that the
weather is fire and the- are comfortable
End obSoSsed OF . desire for sleep.
SO the silent and stately pines border
ing the sinuous course OF Rock creek
echo and revert erate with the walls of in
JuTed animals who regard the whole NOV
ing and cleanine-up business as tom
fColeTy.
There are the turtles. for instance. Now
take the turtles-not literally or trouble
may follow. but in a figurative sense-and
watch their pathetically awkward efforts
10 get out of the path of the relentless
keeper who rolls them on their aged
backs and Tugs them he would a chunk
of wood into their glass cage. Their an
Gent eyes fill with tears of modification
They struggle and flip their iappers or
flap their fiippers feebly They resent and
quite properly, the disrespect shown their
age
A turtle is arranged physically that
he is prevented from making a snarl or
Nelp indicative of wrath and indignation.
This is unfortunate for the turtle While
ne is inwaTdly bursting with anger aud
longing for an opportunity To berate the
prcsumptuous individual who is tossing
him about. he is forced to gasp in silent
Indignation and submit To the treatment
merely voicing his opinion by the aforesaid
dipping of his 1appers or Tapping of his
hippers.
Other animals there are who protest
more vigorously than the turtle. The
black leopard. for instance. is not going
to stand for any fall nousecleaniu2 about
his premises. and he doesn't attempt to
disguise the fact. Tie mere sight of d
keeper with long-handled brush makes
lin quite wild. He shows his long yellow
rangs in thoroughly depraved and evil
manner and shuts his devilish little eyes
and fattens his short ears while from
his throat comes steady melodlous
-roWi like the bass notes of d pipe organ.
Leopard Is Avoided.
The wise keeper avoids the leopard In
the fall housecleaning. The leopard Is
not possessed of a strong sense OF humor
and nc invariably refuses TO see the Joke
of being turned out of his cage while
ofYicious keepers hustle and hustle around
messing up his domain.
Fall ousecleaninS is a period dlShkeu
by many of the we'll regulated animals or
the zoo. They inquire why they must be
periodically swept up and brushed around
What gain, they ask. can be derived rom
this proceeding! There has been OF late
such a critical attitude on the pbrt OF the
animals that student of Jack London
and Or. Long, who, b. constant appilca-