Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-18
LIBERTY tUk ANIMALS
Desire Of John Burroughs, vener-
able American Naturalist.

John Burroughs. whose long career
as q naturalist. author and exponent of
simple living has brought him wide re-
pute, took walk through the Lincoln
park zoo in Chicago the other day and
commented thereon. Mr.. Burroughs,
who was returning from four months
trip to the Hawaiian Islands. stopped
In Chicago on the way to his home.
The theme Of his remarks as he pass
ed from one cage to another in the zoo,
searching the inmates with his keen
eyes, was, There is really no legiti-
mate excuse for keeping these poor
children of the wild in captivity"
Mr.. Burroughs opinion of Gagged col
lections of live animals and birds ap-
plies to all.
If were the absolute ruler Of this
country" he said. every one OF these
animals would be turned back into the
woods and fields l don't know why
we need geological gardens. If we
must keep animals for study they
should be turned loose in large nation
al parks where they can be free and live
the lives intended for them by nature.
Nobody gets any good from Gagged
animals. They are only objects of idle
curiosity. Their real habits are OBJ
scured. It really is awful for them to
be dragged from their proper surround
ings and shut up within four walls.
All that can be learned from them here
is how they adapt themselves to the
conditions Of an inferno. And to learn
even this would take weeks Of observa-
ton, SO great is the lethargy into
which they soon fall.
Just look at those poor birdsv'
The aged naturalist stepped up to
the railing outside the large, dome
shaped cage of the owls and eagles.
Two bald eagles were hunched mo-
tionless on a perch few feet above
the ground.
'That IL the bird which this nation
has chosen as its emblem" he said, his
eyes showing the pity he felt HE is
a bird of the rugged cliffs and the
mountain tops. He loves the high air,
the freedom Of the upper attitudes, the
wild winging life Of the bird Of prey.
And see to what state he is brought
how detected ne looks! His plumage
Is all frayed. and his beak hangs open
as II he didn't care what happened to
him. he knows he is in prison and
seems almost to feel the shame.
II wonder if he remembers how it
feels to circle high up in the sky and
see the earth spreading out beneath
him? A stuffed eagle would answer
this purpose-to sit and be gazed at
as well as live one. Stuffed animals
would answer the ends Of the painter
and sculptor too. Taxidermists are
such artists in these days that they
Gun reproduce life. In the New York
museum are groups Of animals shown
In their natural surroundings SO ac-
curately that the effect is marvellous.
have seen a stuffed stag so poised that
1t seemed you could even see his breath.
Groups like that afford much better
education for people than all the ami
mails in captivity"
Mr. Burroughs went to see the Amer
lean birds. In cages in which there
were ten or twelve special kinds he
called them by name almost as quick
~ as his eyes could see them.
"Hello! There's a little mistake"
he exclaimed. THAT cage is labeled
Snow Buntings.' but those are not
snow buntinss They are snowbirds
or. as they are called. juncos. The
snow bunting is a larger bird, and its
plumage is white"
Nothing about the imprisoned crea-
lures escaped Mr.. Burroughs eyes. OF
nearly every species-birds. foxes,
zehras. kangiroos, bears. sea ions-he
had bits of learning to 1mpart. He
seemed to be acquainted with every
creature he saw.
The naturalist locked long time at