Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-16
GENTLE SPRING HAILED
WITH VARIED EMOTIONS
BY DENIZENS OF zoo
King of Beasts, in Satur-
nine Majesty and Closely
Cramped Quarters, Finds
Little Joy in the Coming
of the Vernal Season.
Rhino Hadn't Noticed 1t, Seal
Unconeerned, Mother Bear
Delighted and Her Polar
Brother Disguised - Pea
cock and Monkeys Happy.

Photo1ro phs Illustrating this article are
to be found on the back page
II see by your card" remarked the
King OF Beasts, you represent the
EVENING LEDGER. May 1 ask whether
the business or news department?
News" replied the reporter lie
laughed a little nervously as he said
It. The Zoo was d new field of Inter
viewing for him and he was not alto
gether sure OF his ground
ITS just as well,' the King OF Beasts
added; "otherwise I must have asked
you to excuse me- Any concern that
advertises a rate Of % cents lion, rs
somebody told me they did, shows n lack
OF conception of the dignity due my
kind. and they cannot IN return expect
much consideration on my part. But
what can | do FOR YOU MS reporter
You can tell me-" answered the re-
porter, regalnnE his nerve and taking
the bull by the horns. as 1t were. except
for the fact that II was n lion, not a bull,
and lion hasn't any horns, you can
tell me now you feel about the arrival
OF spring"
I'm one sense. there is no spring for
me from one years end to the other. not
in cage 10 by r." replied his Majesty;
but | suppose you refer to that deiint-
tlon OF the word In reference to " sea-
sons. Well, it allows me to find my place
in the sun. which is only fitting and
proper Is that what you wanted to
know?"
RHTNO AND SEALS QrERULOUS,
The reporter thought it was and pro-
ceeded on his way, Rhlno was next.
Spring." he repeated in answer to Il
request for his views "Is it? Hadn't
noticed. suppose in week or So now
that you say it's here, I'll begin to feel
that cold on the inside that Billy here
pointing to his white goat pla INNATE
told me from the outside had caught
several months ago MI during January
] have suffered intensely from a severe
case Of sunburned shoulders contracted
last August You see. I'm very thick and
IL takes some time for such things to
work from the outside In. But, you see
looking affectionately at Billy again,
nothing ever really gets my goat"
The reporter hurried on almost into the
pond where seals dispOrt. Don't bother
me with foolish questions their leader
shot at the reporter "lve had a bad
case of fish rash for tho last six years
They won't feed me anything else but
fish, and have no chance to get over it.
But a spring sun makes it worse. Go
away; I'm i'm a crouch, and If | We're to
you see ] am. Get away"
Which alone was taken readily enough
and the reporter next encountered Mother
Bear.
MOTHER BEAR HAPPY-A POLAR
CROUCH
Nothing would suit me better" said
she. than spring coming right now.
have two young babies and | don't know
hat -B,n, 10
outside to play. There is nothing harder
on ones nerves than having children
around the house all day"
The polar bears were in an awful tenn
per Cant YOU read%" they snapped
Don't annoy the animals that sign
says and here YOU come talking to us
about spring. Would YOU believe 1t. the
water in this tank has been above 80 de-
grees all week? Positively tepd! You
haven't piece of Ice in your pocket.
have you?"
he reporter hadn't and fed The mon
keys in a chorus greeted him ioyously
Spring! You bet we're glad. That
means out of doors for us. more peo-
pie and more food and more fun You
ought TO Join us. we'd make a monkey
OF YOU in a jiny."
one. swinging from trapeze a the top
of the cage. 1T might have its dlticul-
ties. His tale comes out of his head"
The hour was late and lest Keeper
Manly should lock him in the reporter had
TO hurry along with only word here or
there. The swans were, all In all, the
happlest animals i'm the Zoo over the
prospect of warmer weather. The pea
cock was only shade less joyous
Think" he said, how much more beau
tiful will be with the sun lighting up
the superb colors in my feathers" The
fnn fV,tA IL
their enthusiasm in their big brown eyes
AS the reporter passed out on the way
home Mr.. and Mrs. Rhino were talking 1t
over.
"Ain't he got crust. though" the lady
remarked, ito come buttng around like
that?"
yes" responded her lesser half, "it
must be as bad as ours"
illustrations on Back Page