Evening star., 1926-11-19
new zoo G|RAFFES
Il ARE CHR|STENED
H.Boy and Dot Given Names
in Ceremony Attended by
Contest Winners.

H.Boy ana Dot are not Just two
8iraffes-excellent specimens Of a
Eooligical species rare in the United
States.
They are two curious. affectionate.
mischievous babies with personalities
Of their own. They are-well, they
are Boy and Dot. They were chris
tened yesterday. Before the ceremony
was over not only the 16 children.
prize winners in The Evening Stars
naming contest. but their parents were
I'm love with the two babies. Human
babies couldn't have stamped their
personalities into the memory OF their
visitors more firmly than did these
two jungle infants.
What can you say when Hi-Boy
comes running over when little Mil.
dred Smith Of Edgemoor. Md, Is
introduced 70 him, sticks his long
tongue through the wire and tries to
kiss her" Then he tried to kiss a
couple OF others in the little group.
It may have been just a coincidence,
OF course. but YOU couldn't convince
anybody out there yesterday that
such was the case. They al insist that
Hi.Boy knew just what he was doing
and wanted to show the children how
much he liked them. And. besides.
Mildred gave Hi-Boy his name. And
maybe he wanted to thank her.
Ceremony Before Cage.
The ceremony took place before
the big cage In the birdhouse at the
Zoo. with all the children who won
prizes in the naming contest conduct
ed by The Star present to enjoy the
occasion with the two baby eiraffes.
Eut Hi Boy and Dot got the most fun
out of it.
Ever since they have been in Wash.
1ngton they have looked out, day after
day. on continually changing sea
or eyes. 1t has been monotonous.
AS Dot was saying to Hi.Boy only
yesterday: IT'S dreadful. I'm tired
and sick OF seeing nothing but eyes
and I do wish something would
happen"
1t happened yesterday afternoon
when Assistant Supt Baker of the
Zoo screwed the brass name plates
presented by The Star upon their cage.
While he was at work both giaffes
came over. looked over his shoulder
and watched the progress Of their
ofiicial christening intently.
The giraffes are certainly curious
creatures. Every new thing stirs
their interest. When the first cam
eras were put in their cage they
came over and poked them with their
noses to see what they were made
OF. When any new individual enters
the cage they come over and make
his acquaintance.
Will Be Well Educated.
Curiosity, the philosophers say, is
the beginning OF knowledge. If Hi.
Boy and Dot continue on their present
tactics they will be we'll educated
giraffes by the time they grow up
and have children Of their own.
After the name plates were in place
The Star, took charge of the cere-
monies. He congratulated the chill
dren on the ingenuity shown in their
name suggestions. and the deep inter-
est they had manifested in the con-
test, and on having such pretty play
mates. Then he explained just why
the two names were selected out Of q
mountain Of suggestions. Mr. Kuhn
made clear that the judges had ar
rived. after a long process Of elimina-
ton, at the two names which they
considered most likely to be per-
manently attached to the giraffeS-
names easy to say. easy to remember,
and suggestive of the nature Of the
bearers. This, Of course, forced the
elimination Of many clever sugges-
tions.
He then presented the newly minted
coins to the winnerS-$20 gold pieces
to Mildred Smith and Herbert Martyr,
3r.. a $40 gold piece to William A.
Maidens. IS to Louise Grotlisch, and
q new silver dollar to 13 other boys
and girls.
Disturbed by Applause.
&,,ck
Ing to the two animals. That was
when everybody started to clap hands
when Mr.. Kuhn presented the SEQ
gold piece to Mildred. Both giraffes
started to run about the cage and
DIR. Mann explained that hand-clap-
ping is one form of appreciation they
are prejudiced against. When they
were captured the great ring of ma.
tives who surrounded them drove
them into the net by clapping their
hands. The sound has disturbing as.
sociations.
DIR. Mann superintendent of the Zoo.
then took charge Of the ceremony
after the prizes were awarded, and ex.
planned to the children and their par.
ents just how" he came to bring the
two giraffes from the Tanganyika
Province of East Africa to be their
playmates here in Washington. 1t
NdS idl NOih, LII. MANN explained,
Few giraffes have been brought alive
to the United States. They get sick
and die easily at sea.
But these two, DIR. Mann said, not
only endured the voyage well, but
have taken we'll to their new home.
They are eating regularly. They have
not caught cold. They appear per.
fectly happy. The most critical period
Of their lives in captivity is over, but
they will not be entirely safe until
after the first six months. After then.
II they are alive and well. they should
live for at least 90 years.
Then everybody had their pictures
taken. the children came in one bv
one and said good-by to the giraffes
and the party was over.