Evening star., 1925-08-09
BY GEORGE III. DACY.

r F YOU reside out near Rock Creek
Park in the latitude of the great
National Zoo, you do not require
L the services of a trusty alarm
clock to arouse you every morn
ing. for the roaring of lions. the fierce
growing of big bears, the bellows OF
the hippopotamus and the clarion calls
of terrible tigers will signal you when
1t is time TO arise and prepare for
another busy day.
Chanticleer has been supplanted by
representatives of the African and In
dian jungles; the cheers of the mod
ern menagerie have taken the place
of the ancient and honorable cock
crow. Breakfast time is the signal
for the wild animal fair to work the
stiffness out of its vocal chords.
1t is fitting finale to a tiendish
nightmare, that pandemonium and
riot of jungleland warwhoops. which
awakens you the first Spring morning
that the Washington wild beasts are
placed in their outdoor pens and cages.
The wild animals with the cunning
and sagacity of their kind know
exactly when it is time for the keeper
to appear with their breakfast rations.
Regularly they welcome him with an
avalanche of sound which makes as
much racket as though all the col
lege students in the country were
participating in a championship cheer
ing contest.
1t is strangely curious that nobody
has ever made objection to the Wash
ington Zoo early morning anvil
chorus. The probable explanation is
that the residents of the National
Capital most concerned realize so
many benefits from their proximity
TO Uncle Sans spacious geological
park that they are content to put up
with these unavoidable disadvantages.
1t is really but another of the Gu
riosities of America s most beautiful
city, this idea of sleeping within one
mile of the White House yet being
awakened the next morning by the
bloodthirsty cries of ferocious wild
beasts.
Just 33 years ago William H. Black
burn led two huge elephants from the
doors of the Smithsonian Institution
to the forested solitude of Rock Creek
Park. Selecting two mighty oak
trees which looked as enduring as the
rock Of ages, Mr.. Blackburn fastened
the steel chains of the wild beasts
around the trees. That simple cere
mony was the Inauguration of our
famous National Geological Park.
For five months the mighty ele-
shelter of the twin oaks. They were
fed and watered regularly by an at
tendant who was always careful that
no untoWard movement of the big
beasts resulted in his being packed
away for keeps in an elephants port
able trunk.
BY the time that Congress finally
awoke to the fact that it took money
to feed hungry wild beasts and that
national funds were needed to pay
for the elephants meals and to pro-
vide suitable lodging, Mr.. Blackburn
had added 5 elk, 5 buffaloes, deer
and half dozen bears to Washing
toms first public menagerie. Finally
sheds and stables were built Secure
pens and cages were erected. Forth
with Washingtonians were inoculated
with the Zoo habit which they have
had ever since.
*
WILLIAM BLACKBURN was a
w graduate of the circus ring, an
animal expert who had spent 10 years
with Americas leading tent shows.
1t is three years and three decades
now since he has appeared under the
big top" and during that time Mr..
Blackburn has been head keeper of
the Washington Zoo. He has faced
death as many times as the most of
men get their hair cut. Daily he has
braved dangers which would bring re-
wards Of military insignia and honor
ary medals in modern warfare. This
Washingtonian, schooled in the perils
Of the circus, student of the likes
and dislikes, the habits and haunts of
wild beasts, has thought nothing of
the multiplicity of dangers he has
dared. To him the hazards were just
a regular part of the days work.
Fiction writers who make their
headquarters in Washington, when
ever they run short of ideas and ma
terial might profitably visit with
Keeper Blackburn. He can tell them