The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-07-20


he doesn't get his daily twenty POUNDS
of beef right on the minute. These
cat animals have very reserved dls-
positions, and never converse when
people are around. But this was long
after midnight, when the doors were
closed and the visitors gone, and even
the trees in the park outside we're
asleep and whispering softly in their
dreams. 1t was a good time Tor con-
fidences.
Friends" spoke out the head OF
the leopard family from the row OF
cages opposite the lions" Il have
proposition to make"
Even Bismarck listens with a good
deal of interest now when Father
Leopard speaks, for he is the one who
escaped from his cage a few days ago
and travelled a long way-almost 10
Fifth avenue--before the keepers
caught him.
MY recent journeyings," went on
Father Leopard with dignity, showed
me how sweet is liberty. Let us COM
bine to break Jail and escape"
Hear! Heart" clamored the AMI
mals-all except Bismarck. Bissy
lust shook his tawny old head.
Shall | draw up a set OF resolu-
tions?" asked Secretary eagerly Sec
rotary is the literary lion, uncle OF
Mrs. Helen's twins.
Yes! Yes!" doomed the others-all
except Bismarck. And for the min
utes there was silence, broken only
by q soft "z-z-z-z-z' as Secretary wrote
carefully with his tail in the dust OF
the floor. At last he lifted his head
and cleared his throat.
"Ahem!" he began, Whereas, the
silver Foxes, striped Hyenas, gray
Wolves and various other prisoners
of this menagerie have, by order Oh
Commissioner Slower of the Depart
ment OF Parks, had their runways en-
larged, while nothing has been done
to our cages; and
Whereas, even the Public has been
heard to say that we ought to be
moved to Bronx Park, where there is
more room;
Therefore, be it resolved, that we,
known collectively as the Cat AMI
mails, escape and fee to our native
iungles, or forests, or mountains, as
the case may be-
That's the talk" said Father
Leopard's eldest son approvingly. Il
call it a perfect outrage that we
should be mewed up here in cages,
while even those little prairie dogs
have a big open place to range in"
young Leopard" spoke Bismarck's
deep voice, "if you were where the
prairie dogs are, would you be con-
tent to occupy yourself digging harm
lessly in the ground, as they do?
Wouldn't you be over the fence, bit
ing off the head OF the first tender
baby you metz"
"Wel-l-" hesitated young Leopard.
Keeper Bill Snyder" said Bis
marck, "is--excuse the slang phrase
on to your curves"
81 am an expert in curves" admitted
young Leopard, casting a complacent
glance over his long, 1.-THE, spotted
form.
MY children, hear me-" said Bis.
marck suddenly, and when he said
my children" in that deep voice all
the animals sat up and took notice.
1T may be irksome to be impris-
oned, but our cages are clean and
comfortable. Men approach us not
with death dealing guns. as in the
! Jungle, but with hands stretched out
| to scratch our noses, when we are
mild enough to let them. Good meat
is placed before us regularly.
Besides, this jungle you would
seek, where is it? Many leagues from
here, on the further side of great
waters. How do you propose to cross
those waters? NV children, give up
your mad dreams"
"Oh, ze jungle is a dreffle place.
piped little voice from somewhere in
the rear. It was Sister, the orphan
baby lion brought over from Africa
last winter by party of hunters and
presented to the Central Park Zoo.
| The other lions don't regard Sister as
much, because she has to be fed warm
milk out of a bottle. and she is alb
surdly fond Of Biddy, the English
bulldog, whom Keeper Snyder, plying
her loneliness, gave her for a COM
panion. Still, they listen to her. be.
cause she brings the latest news from
Africa.
'Ze jungle's ze place where re owuel
hunters billed my mamma" Sister
went on.
"Oh. I couldn't take my twins to
the Jungle" Mrs Helen walled sud-
denly Now. Mrs. Helen is much re.
spected, because she doesn't eat her
babies, as many mother lions unfortu-
nately do. Leo, her husband, is de.
voted to her, and her cry melted his
heart.
Helen, we won't CO." he said fond
ly.
Let's drop It and go to Sleep"
| yawned Mike, the yellow puma