The Washington herald., 1914-11-08

) lBruno, Clara, and key. They were
of dusty brown, with long curling
noses tipped with white, and fat, tan
colored bellies. When father Bruno,
on his hind legs and bare feet, waddled
down the stage, he resembled He
brew gentleman in a brown bathing
suit who had lost his waistline. VAS
he tripped doubtfully forward, with
mincing steps, he continually and
mournfully wagged his head. He
seemed to be saying: %This water is
much too cold for me" The mamma
bear was dressed in a poke bonnet and
white apron, and resembled the wolf
who frightened little Red Riding Hood,
and key, the baby bear, wore rakishly
over one eye the pointed cap of a
clown. To those who knew their vau-
deyille, this was indisputable evidence
that key would furnish the comic re-
lief Nor did key disappoint them.
He was a wayward son. When his par
ents were laboriously engaged in box
ing match, or dancing to the %Merry
Widow Waltz" or balancing on step
ladders, key, on all fours, would
scamper to the footlights and, leaning
over, make a. swift grab at the head
of the first trombone. And when the
Countess Gichy, apprised by the shouts
of the audience of keys misconduct,
waved a toy whip, key would gallopI
back to his pedestal and howl at her.
To every one, except Herrick' and the
first trombone, this playfulness on the
part of key furnished great delight
The performances of the bears end
ed with Bruno and Clara dancing heav-
ily to the refrain of the @Merry Widow
Waltz" while key pretended to con-
duct the music of the orchestra On
the final call, Nine. Zichy threw toI
each of the animals beer bottle filed
with milk; and the gusto with which
the savage-loolcing beasts uncorked the
bottles and drank from them greatly
amused the audience. I1ey, standing On
his hind legs, his head thrown back,
with both paws clasping the base of the
bottle showed the neck far down his
throat, and then, hurting it from him,
and cooking his clowns hat over his
eyes, gave a masterfuI imitation of a
very intoxicated bear.
That" exclaimed .Herrick hotly, ''is
a degrading spectacle. 1t degrades the
bear and degrades me and you"
No, it bores me-" said Kelly.
'If you understood nature" retort-
ed Herrick, "and natures children, it
would infuriate you"
81 don't go to a music hail to get
infuriated," said Kelly.
Trained dogs / don't mind" ex-
claimed Herrick.- Dogs are not wild
animals. The things they're trained to
DO are of use They can guard the
house, or herd sheep. But bear is
a wild beast. Always will be a wild
beast. You can't train him to be of
use. It's degrading to make him ride
a bicycle. l hate i'll If I'd known
there were to be performing bears to-
nightOI wouldn't have GOMEZ
"And if I'd known you were to be
here tonight, l wouldn't have comel"
said Kelly. Where do we go to nextf"
They went next to a restaurant in a
gayly decorated cellar. Into this young
men like themselves and beautiful
ladies were so anxious to hurl them
selves that to restrain them a rope was
swung across the entrance and page
boys stood on guard When young
man. became too anxious to spend his
money, the page boys pushed IN his
shirt front. After they had fought their
way to a table, Herrick ungraciouslyI
remarked he would prefer to sup in
a subway station. The people, he point !
ed out, would be more human, the dec
orations were much of the same Tur- {
kish-bath school of art, and the air
was no worse.
"Cheer up, Clarencel" begged jack I
son, you'll soon be dead. Tomorrow
you'll be back among your tree-toads
and sunsets. And, let us hope" he
sighed, mo one will try to stop you r. I
what worries me is this" explained '
Herrick. a can't help thinking that, if S
one night of this artificial life is so {
1ard upon me. what must i be to those b
oearsP II
Kelly exclaimed, with exasperation: c
'CoHfound the bearsi" he cried Tfl i
fou must spoil my supper weeping over n
animals, weep over cart horses They I
work Those bears are loafers. They're Q