Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-08-05

So we plead with every city in all
this great big land
To take a little pity and little pile
OF sand,
And make shady corner free In
public gardens gay
Where little children, such as we, can
have a place to play.
-Heloise Soule, in Springfield Re
publican.
WHAT DONALD TOLD THE BOYS.
Since the advent of the two "cubs,"
the bears cage had been very at
tractive place for children; but just
now only two boys were enjoying
their antics, and at the same time
plying the keeper with numerous Ques-
lions as he worked near by, the last
one being:
won't you tell US about bears,
Donald?'
The good-natured keeper, who was
said to know all there was to learn
about every animal under his care,
and was Donald" to old and young,
laughed, as he replied
''Tell you about bears! Well, boys.
/ am sure I can tell you something
about this kind, anyhow" pointing
to the mother bear and her babies
that were having a frelic together.
'@These are, as you probably know,
black bears, and they are to be found
In all the wild country of North Amer
lea. They never grow as large as
some others which / will tell you
about later on
"What do bears eat-'sides pea
nuts?" was Iaughingly queried, as one
of the boys threw a handful into the
cage.
'"They like meat and vegetables;
but, when wild, they will snoop
around and steal pigs and calves.
They will even climb trees and take
the honey from wild bees. There
are several other kinds of bears.
Some are in Europe, Asia and Amer
lea; but, strange as it may seem,
there are none in Africa and Aus
tralia. There's the polar bear, for
instance. Did you ever hear of him?"
"Oh, yesi" said one. They're the
kind that live where it's awful cold,
aren't they?"
"You are right, my boy, and they
do not like to come to our country,
as they are obliged to sometimes,
with shows and for parks; for they
suffer terribly with the heat, to which
they are entirely unaccustomed. Great
blocks of ice are kept in their cages,
and pals of cold water are often
thrown over them. They are also fur
nished with immense tanks filed with
water, in which they can cool off. In
the hottest weather they will some
times pant, like a dog. This kind of
bear always camps beside the sea,
as It likes to be near It's food, which
Is seals, fishes and sea-birds. 1t is
an immense animal, and sometimes
weighs fifteen hundred pounds"
"Whew! but that would be a big
fellow!" exclaimed one boy; "and
wouldn't care to face one alone"
Indeed, I'm thinking you would
not, my boy, and neither would l."
retorted the keeper, with jolly
laugh; 'Fbut you need not let the wor-
riment of it keep you awake nights.
I have story in my brains about
one of these polar bears that perhaps
you boys might like to hear"
At this they both called eagerly
for the story, and, after a moments
pause he continued: "These bears
are very sly animals, and will play
curious tricks to get for themselves a
dainty mersel of food. So, when one
day an old bear saw a seal lying on
the ice near hole, he wanted it for
his dinner. But, you see, he knew
that If he went after the seal ON the
dee, the little animal would dodge
right into that hole, and get away
from him. So he just put on his
thinking cap and what DO you sup
pose that sly old fellow did to get
his dinner?"
Couldn't tell to save my life" was
answered by one; and, please tell
us, Donald" was added by the other.
'WeH, boys, that old bear crept
along until ne got just as near Us ne
could without being seen, and then
he dropped himself into another hole
and swan under the ice until he
came to the hole into which that lit
tie animal was thinking to dodge, and,
coming UP through that hole, the bear
caught the seal and made a meal of
him."
'"That was rather mean trick, but
bright for bear" said the older of
the boys. "And now" he added, "tell
us what you know about the grizzly
bear"
T was intending to give you some
information about that kind next, any
how" laughed Donald. '"This bear