The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-10

It's Polar Bear weather-isn't 1t?
 The very kind in which to write a story about those great big furry fuzzy things that look like small mountains Of snow in their big warm overcoats.
 There are eight of them Round at the Orpheum this week, and they look like Dr. Cook or MT. Peary in their Arctic ''get-up," as they prance and dance and cut up their antics which they've been taught by their clever trainer, Mademoi- selle Berenice.
 It would be "kind of,' nice to be a Polar Bear in the winter-wouldn't it? Because when you get up these cold mornings. you wouldn't have to take a cold plunge. or dress, or huddle up over the fire, but just jump out of bed and there you are.
 MT. and Mrs. Polar Bear" can sleep out of doors if you please, too, and never catch cold, like.
 'The Esquimau sleeps in his little bear
 skin
 At least so I've been told;
 But last night l slept in my little
 bare skin,
 And caught pretty pad cold.
 Any way Mademoiselle Berenice and her bears are a very interesting lot and yesterday afternoon just before the Mati- nee, when the big iron bars were being put up for the performance. and the bears were walking restlessly about-up and down, to and fro. I was very curious to know something about them
 What are they doing now?'' asked es one of the biggest, did sort of Fur key Trot' stunt, and then a real Bunny Hug.'
 "They were merely exercising." Mile. Bernice told me.
 'oh, I see.' ventured. Every Little Bear Has Movement of His Own.''
 The prettiest thing in the Act how ever, is Mademoiselle Berenice.
 Petite and graceful, with big, brown eyes and the winningest smile. Mile Bere- nice told me how she had been an opera singer for several years of her theatrical career. having sung in Grand Opera with Henry W. Savage's companies, and later. appearing with Francis Wilson In several of his productions.
 Mile. Bereniee Is absolutely fearless, and it was this fearlessness and her love of animals, that made her leave the le- gitimate stage for the thrills and delights of training animals.
 Are you ever afraid?'' I asked.
 "Oh, it's foolish to say that don't have peculiar sort of sensation every time go in the cage with the bears, because I do. Look at my arm, for instance, (ponting to an ugly gash made recently by one of the Bears) That's only love pat, however"
 q have the honor of being the only woman trainer of Bears in the world, '' said she proudly. For my part I assure you. there will be no effort to wrest that honor from you" I suggested quickly.
 "Of course" said Mile. Berenice. q can never allow the animals to see that have any fear whatever of them. That | is the secret of training them. The big gest Bear in the lot Is seven feet tive inches tall and weighs 75o pounds. The smailest-'Peggy'- is my pet. i' Just my heisHt anu WeiShs ohiy fVe pounds
 You speak of her as though she were a little kitten," I suggested. shes my clown" said Mile. Berenice and really a very kind, gentle little animal.'
 Are Polar Bears more dangerous than the old fashioned Grizzly Bears?' asked.
 ''Oh yes" was the answer. "Mucl more dangerous. In the first place they hate captivity so. We are only able to get them during the month of Au- gust, and the way they are caught is very remarkable. The hunter kills the mother and father. and lassos the young bear. You see when we get them they are nearly two years old"
 And exactly what place do they come from?'' I asked From Spitzenburg" Mile. Berenice told me-" the point nearest the North Pole, which Is inhabited by human be 1 lings'
 T regard the Polar Bear as the hard est animal in the world to train" she continued" because of the absolutely } different conditions that they arc placed in when brought into captivity Every thing is different. Their food their manner of sleep, their habits everything"
 What DO they eat?" asked. Flight loaves each of bread a day and ninety quarts of milk" said Mile Berenice."
 "The milk diet" l suggested. Two barrels of codliver oil. are pur- lchased each month for them," said she but we never give them meat of any kind or description" They really take very nice care o1 themselves. You can see how snowy white they are." she went on. They are scrubbed once a week. And the hose turned on them" observed.
 No, indeed" said Mile. Berenice Their keeper uses a brush and Ivory Soap, and gives them a bath just likt any human being would take" Have you no means of defense ex- cept the whip you carry when you are | in the cage with the bears! l asked None at all.' said she, and ever {, that Is slight, for it couldn't possibly mako any irapraSsion through the1l