Evening star., 1922-07-16
BY JAMES A. BUCHANAN.

tage that father must take the
little ones to the circus in order
that they may be properly safe
guarded. Not that father cares
whit about going himself-of course
not. He merely wants to be able to
shield the little folks with his strong
right arm. This same condition holds
good in regard to the zoo. and any
day you can see dozens OF fathers'
and mothers, too. for that matter
traipsing out to the beautiful place
where are housed the 1,500-odd ami
mails, birds and whatever the rest of
them are.
An estimate made during the last
twelve months discloses the fact
that more than 100000 people made
the trip to the IT'S acres that provide
the home of the monkey, the elephant,
the tiger. and the dozens of more or
less interesting exhibits that are
under the direction of the officials
of the park.
More than thirty years ago. or. to
be exact, in 1891. the first animal was
escorted to the place that now Is one
of the best ZOOS in the world. The
initial member of the now large fam
lily was Dunk, the elephant that de-
lighted the heart of many a young
ster and brought back fond memories
of early circus days to dad and mother.
Dunk was chaperoned on this trip
by Gold Dust, another elephant that
was the property of the old Adam
Forepaugh circus, and when the two
arrived at the zoo the news ran like
wiIdfire over the city, and many
youngsters missed an attendance
mark on that memorable day. OF
course. their parents also had to visit
the zoo in search of the missing Off
spring.
PREVIOUS to the time that Dunk"
made his bow to the Washington
public, at his new home, the animals
were kept in houses and sheds back
of the Smithsonian Institution. and
It was only after years of effort on
the part of Prof. Langley and Chief
Taxidermist Hornaday that Congress
could be made to see the Importance
of having a zoo as part OF the at
fractions of Washington. Hornaday.
who was a wonderful field naturalist.
had during his travels interested
many people in the idea, and so from
different parts of the world contri-
buttons came in. Finally. the array
became so large that Congress, in
self-defense, had to find some place
to put the gifts. and Pref. Langley.
a Commissioner and one other man
were commissioned to find a suitable
place. The present site was selected.
The action of Congress might have
been hastened by an accident that
fortunately resulted only in a portion
but not hurt. A large buffalo. that
had been sent on as a present. evinc-
ing a desire to see some OF the city.
managed to escape from it's quarters
and went galloping down through the
southwestern portion of the city.
Hurry calls were sent to the police
and FIRE departments by the frighten-
ed citizens. All available keepers,
and they were few at that time. were
1t was finally captured and brought
back to safety. 1t is said, but not
supported by proof. that two MEM
bers of the lower body of Congress
saw the animal dashing down the
street. and then and there declared 1t
was high time that their colleagues
voted enough money to, take care of
the "pesky varmints."
In 1890 an act of Congress estab-
lishing the National Geological Park
became a law. and from that time un-
tir the present there has been but lit
tie. opposition on the part OF Con-
gress to appropriating money for the
needs of the Zoo. 1t Is true, OF course.
that the lawmakers have not dealt
o,n1 sufficient cash to bring the Zoo up
TO the standard that it should have,
but as time goes on and many of the
constituents from back home wander
up to the big white buildings where
the coneressmen have their Offices and
tell how they have enjoyed the Zoo,
maybe there will be more money
ready for the needs of what can be
made the finest gardens of the kind
in the world.
THERE are paddocks and ranges
l. for certain of the animals: lakes
and ponds for waterfowl, seals, beav-
ers and others of this class; outdoor
and. indoor cages for birds; heated
houses and shelters for other classes
in fact, all the different species are
taken care Of, and the keepers are
constantly trying to do something
that will add to the comfort OF their
charges. for these men who spend
their days and nights at the Zoo are
real friends to animal. fish and fowl.
The summit is graced by an edifice
that stands practically in the center
of the collection, and this building Is
known as "the Lion House." Here
are the mighty kings of the animal
Kingdom. Here also you find the big
catss as keepers and circus folks call
the tigers, leopards, etc. In this place
are also the hyenas, the hippopot-
amuses and some tropical animals. as
we'll rs the reptiles. Close at hand
Won will find the monkey house and
the bird house; just beyond are the
antelope house. the elephant mouse
and the zebra house. The outdoor
wards and cages are located in diff
ferent parts of the grounds.
+ -
cTAND, some day, In front OF the
cages of the monkey house and
vou will be apt to take issue with