The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-02
Would You Like A
Red Bear As Pet?

III the larry tdle. lneSe are oihy
make believe bears. but real ones
are just as interesting, if you know
enough about them.
The bear is a very widely distrib-
uted family. but never large one.
They inhabit every part OF the
globe, except Australia and Africa.
The little creature, sometimes
called the Australian Bear" Is re-
ally connected with the oppossum
group. and has nothing to do with
bears. Before giving any descrip
ton of them. the writer would like
to say a good word for bears in
general, because these creatures
have been much maligned. "As
sulky as a bear" Is a common say
ing, and people who are rude and
rough are said to have the manners
of a bear. Yet the truth is that
these creatures are remarkably
gentle, docile and intelligent. and
very far from ferocious. Even the
grizzly bear can be tanned when
caught quite young. The polar
bear is said to be quite untamable,
but it Is doubtful whether many
serious attempts have been made
to tame him.
Polars Have Hairy Feet.
A Scandinavian saying runs, "A
bear has the strength of 10 men
and the sense Of ~" They are ex-
ceedingly capable animals in many
ways; they can both swim and
dive, and also climb trees when In
search of the spoils Of the honey
bee. Most bears seem TO prefer
vegetable food, especially anything
sweet. Even polar bears, in cap
tivity. have been known to live en-
tirely on bread for years together.
These are among the largest of the
bear tribe and measure nearly nine
feet in length, frequently weighing
1900 pounds. The soles of hei'
feet are thickly covered with hair
and this enables them to walk or
the most slippery Ice with ease ant
safety; all other bears have naked
soles.
Polar bears have great powers OF
swimming, and Of long endurance
in the water; they have been seen
swimming across straits 40 miles
in width, and, as they are fire.
Quently carried out to sea on float
ing ice. this ability to swim long
distances must often be of great
service when the ice disappears
under the influence of warmer lat
itudes.
Bears feet are peculiarly shaped,
with Eve toes and powerful claws,
which are blunt and net retractile
which means capable Of deIng
d-aEn back. Ti1ey Use these to ale
them ii climbing trees and rocks
in tearing away bark and wood
when they have located and reach
ed bees nest. But, in spite of
their tremendous strength. bears
seldom attack human beings or
other animals unless driven to 1t by
hunger; and. If left alone, they
seem to prefer nuts, berries. honey
and roots, to most other food. A
bear has been known to live a long
time in the neighborhood of flock
of sheep without attempting to
modest them. -
Bears Genial Company
Probably the real origin of the
bears supposed bad temper lay in
the extreme cruelty with which
these poor creatures have been
treated. when In captivity. Chain
ed. muzzled. beaten, dragged about
the country as a show. exposed to
heat and cold. 1t is no wonder If its
temper became suriy and it's man
ner rough. In a description Of
gentleman of England. in
the seventeenth century, II is stat
ed that he MAINTAINED in his
grounds bear pit, a cockpit. and
ring for batting bulls and bears.
because he was so foud OF ami
mails" Happily. these horrors are
Of the past.
But, when bears are treated
with kindness and consideration in
and are taken young,
they show an extraordinary affec-
lion for their owners; and this will
be extended to the other pets. The