davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
bros ON THEIR NESTS
In THE ANLAr.

head to the end of his tail Not long
ago some unthinking person gave a mon
key small looking glass. The animal
started in to fight the monkey in the
mirror, and in the one-sded mix-up the
glass was broken and the monkey badly
cut about the mouth.
There is one monkey that never fails
to attract attention. because of a peculiar
movement He starts ahead and after
going a short distance throws himself
backward. walks 10 the other end OF the
cage and repeats the performance. This
he does ceaselessly. Most of the visitors
consider IL a motion peculiar to that
particular species and on the order of
tumbler pigeon. But Mr. Blackburn = ex-
PLANTATION is simple. The monkey was
once a pet and wore a collar and chain,
and Ii can be readily reasoned out that
he still follows and turns on the imagi-
nary leash"
Leaving the monkey house. however
unwillingly, the seeing the Zoo" party
is plotted by the guide to where a mag
nificent zebra. the gift of King Menelik
TO Theodore Roosevelt, is kept. In the
next Enclosure is a young hybrid zebra.
of which the Zoo officials are extremely
proud. 1t is half zebra, half donkey, and
is a queer mixture OF both species. IL
has the stripes OF a zebra, the ears OF q
donkey. and the bray is mighty but
meaningless. Keeper Blackburn denies
that its name is Teddy"
On to the bears cage goes the tired but
happy party and just in time to the
bears get the afternoons allowance OF
bread. After much experimenting Mr.
Blackburn has produced a bear-bread
which is at the same time nourishing and
appetizing. II is source of never-failing
delight to the grown-ups well tho
children to see the bears shuttle up on
nofr fn atf
a paw. receive a loaf of bread. shuttle
back. sit down on their launches and
gravely begin to eat There are thirty
three bears at the Zoo, and they manage
to consume It's pounds of bread per day.
This bread is made after the Blackburn
recipe and is baked on the premises.
About half a year ago a clerk at the
city post office handled a box postmarked
Brazil, and addressed 70 a man in Italy
The box was about to drop to pieces and
the clerk was preparing to mark IL re
ceived In bad condition. when the pack
age suddenly collapsed and out ran q
tarantula. The clerks needed no instruc-
ton. nor We're they at all choice upon
their order of going. They just went. So
did the most poisonous OF all spiders. and
did not stop until he reached the ceiling.
He was carefully and deliberately cap
tured and would have met sudden death
but for the fact that some one suggested
that he might be an acceptable specimen
for the Zoo.
The feeding of the anaconda was also
scheduled for the day. The women did
not seem to greatly enjoy the unusual
performance, but the men were all In
terest nice fat hen feathers and all.
weighing about five pounds. was placed
inside the half-net half-glass cage and
Mr.. Anaconda swallowed IL yard at .
time. Not yard Of chicken at a time.
but chicken going down n yard of ana
conda at time. In about two hours tho
hen had reached the snakes stomach
which is located midway between the
tail and the head.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

being touched. Failure to close means
in most cases, that the oyster is dead
and liable to be contaminated.
1T 10 good sign for an oyster in the
shell to be extremely hard to open with
the knife, as that means that 1t is In
prime and hardy condition. II oysters
are to be kept for any length of time be-
fore being taken from the shell 1t is
best to wrap them while damp in such
. way as to exclude all the air possible.
II kept from the air. oysters may be held
with perfect safety in large quantities
for as long as four. or In very cold
weather. even six weeks.
"Oysters In the shell on beginning to
become weak will rattle like the break
ing of chinaware when moved about, and
when opened will be ropy and Shiny,
and will have mud in the gills. A strong
odor also is present. Good oysters when
first opened should have a clear-cut
shape. and should be Of a creamy color
and sound. Remember that II stale oys-
tiers are found in lot 1t will be neces-
sary to condemn them all. as the con-
tamination from bad ones has probably
penetrated to others.
ut Is really difficult for a person who
Is not in constant practice to detect an
oyster that has been artifcially fat
tened by having been soaked in fresh
water in order to make 1t appear plump
The taste will tell it at once. however,
as an oyster so treated is fiat and stale
1t is against the law to so treat oysters,
and the practice is almost unknown in
It is noteworthy that oys-
tiers soaked in water after being taken
from the shell will turn white. and if
soaked long enough will lose all their
flavor
Does the presence of green gills in
oysters mean they are bad?"
II think not-at least. that is not sign
they are bad Feeding on seaweed is said
to cause this color. After obtaining per-
mission from DR.. Young, I took a sample
OF green gills to the Department of Agri-
culture, where they were submitted to a
test by a bacteriologist. in order to de-
termine il there were any impurities pres
emit. Nothing was found in them tat
was detrimental to health.
1T might be interesting to note that
oysters brought up by the dredges from
deep water are killed more quickly than
surface oysters by cold weather; this is
SO because their shells are much thinner
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

hence is heard 'Tansier,' 'Pocomoke' and
York river and other varieties, all Of
which have slight differences In quality
and flavor.
Oysters have the quality Of readily alb
sorbing the impurities from the water IL
which they lie, but have the virtue OF
cleansing themselves from pollution wher
placed In pure water. However. oysters
that are kept out Of pure water after be-
Ing caught have no opportunity OF cleans.
ing themselves. and II polluted win re-
tain 1t. When inspectors Of the govern
ment, who constantly patrol the oyster
beds, And the slightest trace Of pollution
in the water Of the beds they at once
close the bed, and remove the shellfish
to pure salt water. where they are al
lowed to purify themselves before beine
caught for sale. The inspection Is 50 rigid
that practically no polluted stock Is ever
offered for sale here"
The marketing and inspection Of marine
products has been the life work of Mr.
Evans. Born in Wicomico county, Nd.
as a young man he entered the fish and
oyster business with his father. for many
years running an oyster and hsh boat to
Baltimore. Later he ran boat to the
Washington markets. where for years he
has been Familiarity known as Capt
Frank" He has at least speaking &C.
quaintance with most of the throng Of
fish and oyster dealers that continually
is about the Washington wharves. his
practical knowledge Of sea foods, coupled
with much study on that line. making
him a valuable Judge. His decisions are
never controverted.
-
THE greatest care is necessary in as
certaining that oysters and CLAIMS are
perfectly fresh. especially II bought in
the shell, for If bad they are very
poisonous said Mr.. Evans in speaking
of tests to apply in inspecting these ar
ticles Of food. "All oysters should be
alive when opened. and should be eaten
as soon as possible after being opened,
as dead oysters decompose rapidly in
warm weather.
1T is possible that the symptoms of
poisoning that sometimes follow the eat
ing of oysters comes from the contami-
nation which is spread through . whole
load OF oysters on account Of q few dead
ones that may chance to be present In a
batch. Weak oysters should be at once
removed. Tho shell Of q healthy oys-
ter IL always tightly closed, and IL found
slightly gaping should close at once on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
.EEWZ
7 UNUSUAL Facts Concern

UNUSUAL Facts Concern
~ ing Animals of the Capt.
tails Zoo-Elephant Eats One
Hundred Pounds of Hay Each
Day, While the Anaconda
Partakes of Food But Every
Two Months-Exhibits of
Zoo Are of Great Variety
A Guide Gives Some Interest
ing Points Regarding Certain
Anima,s-The Tarantula That
Came by Mail.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
TN Crown. CRANE P1cx.s OUT HIS W1fEs Tor. 61or

what might have proved a serious trick.
She was in the animal house and her
cage adjoined that of a hyena. One or
the attendants remarked to me that ne
constantly found wisps Of straw in the
hyena's cage, and as straw is never
placed there We were curious. Between
the two cages is a door which was kept
closed, but in this door was a good-sizeG
keyhole. Peeking through the aperture
the monkey had spied the hyena and en-
deavored to do his worst.
"Supt Blackburn and the keepers
watched the performance and decided
upon quick removal of the monkey.
First she would side up to the keyhole
and begin a chatter and half whistle.
AS this did not attract the hyena the
monkey selected hard ball that she
used ordinarily for a plaything. and
the keyhole. Then the hyena investi-
gated and finally put his eye as close to
the hole as possible. This was the chance
for the monkey, watching on the other
side. In an instant she had viciously
through the keyhole and directly at the
eye OF the unsuspicious hyena. That was
her last chance and fortunately it was
unsuccessful.
I'm a party l conducted here some
time ago one OF the members. in spite
of rules and regulations, gave one of the
monkeys a large piece Of gum. The
monkey chewed and chewed and finally
became puzzled. He took it out of his
mouth and inspected it closely, and in
transferring 1t from one hand to another
saw that II stuck and was elastic So
he fastened it on the tip end of his tail
and then pulled 1t from there to his
mouth. stretching 1t carefully.
when the crowd left, very much
amused. the monkey was a tangled web
OF chewing gum from the top of his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

putrid smell is not always a safe guide,
however, for II the fish has been kept on
Ice it may smell fresh and yet rapidly
change when taken OF Of ice. while the
to fish to brighten them up has a tend
ency to keep down tho offensive smell.
Dddaculty arises when the fish Is between
the fresh and putrid states. and the de-
gree of odor Is doubtful. In such cases
there Is nothing to do but subject the
Ash to other tests. and form a decision by
them collectively.
when g. fish is fresh the flesh will be
II decomposition Is present the flesh will
be soft, fabby and will pit very much
under slight pressure from the finger. II
fresh the flesh Is not easily stripped from
the backbone. neither does II come away
so clean as when II has commenced to
decompose. II the housewife asks, al
most any dealer will strip the fish enough
to demonstrate that II Is fresh. Another
test Is to hold it between the thumb and
finger. exerting a moderate pressure. II
the flesh readily parts it may be con-
sidered unsound.
The presence OF a diffused red line on
the under side of the backbone is a posi-
tive indication that decomposition has
commenced, or is strongly present. &C.
cording to the depth of the red color
When the abdominal walls show well
marked discolorations, and have a soft
red. pulpy appearance. together with an
unpleasant odor. decomposition is well
established. Do not confuse this with
the cuts that sometimes are present In the
abdominal parts of fish, owing to the
sharp corners of ice, in which II has been
packed for shipment. breaking through.
Rightly and stiffness are q sure guide
for fresh fish, but rigor morris passes of
in the course of time. The length Of time
that fish remain In rigor mortis depends
upon . number of conditions, such as sea-
sonableness. method Of capture. storage
handling etc. But the absence Of rfgor
mortis is not proof of unsoundness. and
should not be depended upon alone.
while all Ash show practically the
same indications OF unsoundness, there
are some differences. For instance. in the
shad and herring. when they commence
to get stale their heads will turn red
their eyes lose their brightness and sinh
into the head The giils will turn dark
and afterward, as blood is lost, the gill.
Will Turn White. and meat BECOME soft
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
FEEDING The BEARS

tarantula. now in the captivity at the
Zoo. about six months ago escaped from
pasteboard box at the city post Office,
and the clerks as well as the fugitive
spider tried to run up the walls?
That a most wonderful example of ami
NAL gratitude is exhibited by the funny
faced little pig-tailed monkey, who cares
for Its blind foster-parent. the black
baboon?
II you don't know few Of these things.
at least. you don't know and have not
half enjoyed the National Zoo.
The average visitor, "ah's' at the
aviary and obs at Dunk: chuckles with
delight when one of the monkeys throws
a handful of sawdust at a tormenting
parts contented. But to the seeker after
truth the National Geological Park is
delight and an inspiration, full Of queer
facts and fancies and stories Of high
order Of animal intelligence.
Ak
The story begins when you leave the
car at the western Zoo entrance. You
hear the long-drawn-out "P-a-o-n,
Pa-o-n." 1t comes from the woods on
the left and, as the last sound dies away,
is answered by "P-a-o-n," from the
hollow on the right. 1t Is the cry Of the
peacock. which. in France. Is known as
lie Paon,'' after the strange haunting
call it gives Once inside the gates, four
or FIVE Of the argus-eyed birds are seen
Haunting their widespread. kaleidoscope,
rainbow tails. Not at all afraid of the
visitor. they will royalty approach and
condescend to eat from the hand
The aviary looms UP, skeleton-like, and,
aside from its passing interest 1t is one
Of the most instructive sources OF pleas
ure at the park. Inside is an enormous
Usage orange tree, at this season OF the
year guiltless Of a single obscuring leaf,
SO that the fifty more birds some
building. some sitting on their nests, can
be distinctly seen. The easy careful move
ments Of the mother-bird as she covers
her eggs more closely and warmly; the
importance Of the father bird as he drives
awaW an fnterloper or swoops down for
a bit of straw with which to strengthen
his intricatelywoven home, are wonder
fully fascinating. 1t is matter OF COM
ment that all the birds nesting at this
time appear to be Of one species, while
other varieties fly or hop or swim around
uneasily looking for a place to lay their
heads-or their eggs
The explanation Is simple. The birds
on the nests are bla ok crown herons and
are hardy enough to live out Of shelter
all winter Naturally, with the very first
tiny call Of spring they select the most
advantageous building sites, so that when
the weather is sufficiently warm for the
rest of the birds to be taken from inside
quarters and placed in the aviary all the
select and safe spots are gone and the
late nesters must do the best they can.
The exhibits at the National Geological
Park are Of greater variety. Importance
and value than in any other park In
America" explained one Of the guides.
The reason for this is obvious. Ameri-
can consuls in every part Of the globe.
In isolated and almost unknown stations.
are on the lookout for rare and fine ami
mails to be placed in the Zoo at Washing
ton. Gifts Of foreign governments and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

and dark. while along the backbone decay
first starts.
a.
I'm the case Of catfish, the gills first
turn dark. and a6terward white. The alb
dominal parts will swell and turn green.
while the skin on the back becomes
white. In the mackerel the eye loses
brightness. the gills turn dark and AFTER
ward white. while the meat becomes SOFT.
but does not change much in color ROCK
fish, or striped bass. show the change by
the eyes becoming gray and shrunken.
the gills losing their characteristic tinge,
becoming dark, and afterward white.
The flesh strips readily and clearly from
the backbone. Nine inches Is the shortest
length that this fish is allowed to be sold
in the District OF Columbia The symp-
toms for black bass are the same as the
other bass.
'sWhen the halibut becomes unfit for
food the skin bleaches and becomes vel,
low. and q milky substance Is exuded
from the skin. AS said before, 1t usually
is the case that no one of these tests IS
absolute. although II any condition given
is markedly present it Is best to pass on
to another dealer.
.sWhy is it said that oysters are good
only during months with the letter r in
them?" Mr.. Evans was asked.
We'll, to tell the truth about the mat
ter, there is nothing wrong with oysters
during the four summer months that are
without the r." he replied. TT Is true.
however. that during these months the
oyster is spawning, and the flesh Is rather
fabby and tasteless. Most oysters in
their prime are from four to five years
OF age, although some are considered best
between six and seven years of age. The
age Of an oyster can be readily told by
counting the external successive layers OF
shell. one for each year Of life. This
method is reasonably certain up to seven
years OF age.
The size Of the average oyster received
in Washington ranges about three inches
in diameter. while primes and selects are
as large as four and q half inches. Two
and half inches In diameter Is the
smallest oyster allowed sold by the shell
hsh laws OF Maryland and Virginia. Oys-
tiers that reach this market are named
from the locality on the Chesapeake bay
OF the Potomac wherss they are caught,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

o YOU happen to
know that the Bac-
trian camel at the
Zoo, now a year
old, has just been
weaned from his
bottle? That the
baby" hippopota-
mus, born last
May, still prefers
her twelve quarts
OF milk a day
condensed milk at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

~ RrTH the coming Of hot wealth
W. er. when meats. especially
AA{ sea foods. rapidly deteriorate
w In quality. housewives OF
the capital are seeking
means Of quickly detecting foods offered
for sale when UNIT for use. To be sure
the best protection offered marketers Is
the integrity Of the dealer. and 1t Is to
the credit Of Washington that the aver
age marketman here Is strictly honest In
ofartng only the proper quality Of edi-
bles to the public.
However. the necessity OF continual In
spection plainly shows that, whether with
tho oosnixance Of the dealer or not foods
untitled for human consumption are fre-
quently exposed for sale. and in spite OF
-igid inspection the purchaser must per-
force be called upon to shun tho bad.
Pressed to tell Of the methods he uses
in detecting bad foods m the regular
round Of his duties. A. Frank Evans.
who May celebrated his fifth anniver-
sary as inspector OF marine products for
the District under DIR. Woodward, health
officer. told a reporter for The Star just
what he goes by in detecting unit sea
foods.
Since the prices on various kinds OF
ash make this form Of food about the
most economical to be had. II win be bes,
perhaps to begin by describing the way
TO tell a good fish from a bad one" said
Mr.. Evans. Fish OF all kinds undergo
decomposition much sooner than meat
when killed. This Is caused chiefly by
the conditions under which fish are
caught. iced and packed. Once decom-
position has started. icing or cold storage
will arrest IL only temporarily, for when
taken out of cold storage the flsn rapid ~
decomposes.
The quality of fish as an article OF
food Is Influenced by the act OF spawning
just previous TO spawning the flesh Is Al
its best. II is fatter and richer than al
any other period. while later the store
OF fatty matter Is lost and II becomes
poor. thin and fabby. The fish then Is
out Of season. the flesh is blush in color
wanting i firmness OF texture. and re-
cures uuse ~ recover its condition. III,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

rulers to the President of the United
States find their logical way to the Ma
tional Geological Park. The COMPRESSION
al appropriation is all too small for the
growing needs of such place and thus
far there have been no public-spirited
endowments-as in the case of the New
York zoo-and yet for natural scenic
beauty and rarity of specimens the Ma
tional Zoo is unexcelled. Sufficient and
more commodious buildings for the ami
mails will be but a matter of time.
On past the sacred bull he leads you,
past the sad-faced, now burdenless drome-
daries the old buffalo. who, if he had
remained with the herd, would long ago
have been killed off because of the
tribal age limit: on to that never-failing
spot of interest, "the house where Dunk
lives" Every man. and woman visitor
at the Zoo knows "Dunk"-and every
child loves him. Dunk who is now
fifty years old, weighed 5000 pounds when
placed in the collection, and now tips the
scales at IL coo pounds. He is the largest
elephant in captivity and was placed in
the Zoo by Forepaugh because twenty-one
years ago he was even then too large to
pass safely under a bridge on a circus
train!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

Dunk is disconsoiate these days. He Is
pinfng for his private bathing beach to
open. and Supt. Blackburn delays on ac-
count of the chill In the atmosphere
Mr.. Blackburn whispers in the pets
ear that two weeks hence the big
concrete pool behind the elephant
house will be full of Potomac water, but
Dunk is impatient and trumpets shr1lly.
In the meantime. to appease his high
ness. a hose is played ON him once a
week
From the elephant house to the house
where the small and delicate birds are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

that-to generous allowance OF bran.
bread crusts and chopped carrots? That
the hundred pound anaconda is fed only
six times a year-every two months
and seldom rises between drinks, as 1t
were?
That the monkeys piece de resistance is
boiled onions?
That Dunk eats 100 pounds of hay per
day-to say nothing of bushel of bran
and oats?
That the mandril monkey has a craze
for parasols and umbrellas and has al
ready accumulated nine from unwary
Zoo visitors7
That the lions each eat on an average
ten pounds of meat day-and then roar
for more?
That the bears subsist almost entirely
on bread? That this a special brand of
bread-the discovery of Head Keeper
Blackburn-and that It's pounds Of this
dainty are baked each day by the Zoo
chef?
That the sealons are not satisfied
with less than fifteen pounds, each. Of
fresh fish day?
That the crowned crane permits his
crown to grow to its extreme length and
beauty but jealousy picks his wife's
topknot-her Easter bonnet-out as fast
as IL appears?
That eight of the black monkeys, con-
trary 10 all monkey habits, eat and sleep
out of doors ali winter and have never
had "A sign OF cold or pneumonia so pre-
vaient in the species?
That the largest known bear in the
world the Kadiak, weighing 1.16O pounds
= an unwilling guest at the Zoo?
That tarantula, the feared ard hated
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19

~ 1rTH the coming Of hot wealth
Nv er. when meats. especially
NAI sea foods. rapidly detertorate
w In quality. housewives OF
thu capttal are seeking