Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
BY GEORGE III. DACY.


IF you were assigned the task of
disposing of So baby boa constric-
tors, how would you go about the
i job?
Suppose you had to doctor fe-
rocious tiger suffering with acute indi-
gestion, what would you do?
Hnw would you enjoy the business
OF playing dentist to deadly rattle
snake?
Would you tremble with fear if you
had to yank tooth as large as a
! small potato from MA Hippo's'
rcomy mouth?
IL the mere thought about any OF
these doings makes you quake ana
culver in apprehension, you were not
cut out to be head keeper or assistant
keeper at the modern 200.
Out in Rock Creek Park, where
the National Geological Gardens are
lpcated. the everyday doinGs or the
enimal fair involve some such deeds OF
Caring The experts who have charge
CT the 1900 specimens of rare and
/. important bird and animal life are
so accustomed to running risks in
catering to the needs of the captive
kings and queens of jungleland that
they never give such matters second
thought.
1t is more interesting than SIX
ring circus and more amusing than
a Punch and Judy pantomine to Watch
their antics and capers from early
morning until late at night. That Is
why the Zoo is crowded with visitors
on Sundays and holidays. 1t Is really
sight of eye" college, where Wash
ingtonians study natural history. 1t
Is an educational clearing house,
place of visual instruction. where
young and old see and study strange
birds and wild animals which they
, otherwise would probably never meet.
Newcomers to our National Capital
who rent houses and apartments
within hearing range Of the zoo. are
awakened and amazed early the neAI
morning by the roars and rumbles OF
the African jungle. 1t is only the
hungry animals notifying their attend
ants that breakfast time is near at
hand. Mighty bars of steel and cages
as strong as prison walls contine the
CAPTIVE beasts. However. there is no
known practical means of controlling
their early morning vocal entertain
ment. The ZOO chorus" completes
with the invisible voice from the
ether which leads Westinghouse in
their breakfast calisthenies.
The dawn days of Washington's
Zoo. the source of Juvenile delight
back to one Summers day. SO years
ago, when William II. Blackburn,
fresh from circus life, escorted two
adult elephants from the Smithsonian
Institution On q crosS-clty Jaunt TO
Rock Creek Park. Arriving at the
park. Mr.. Blackburn chained the pom
derous pachyderms to mighty oak
trees, anchoring the elephants both
fore and aft with belts of steel, in
III,
and running amuck through the ad'
Joining residential districts.
That pair of African elephants was
the beginning of what is today one or
the finest public geological collections
in the world. For five months. Con-
gress deliberated and debated before
it eventually appropriated funds TO
pay for building sheds and stables
pens and paddocks for the wild beasts.
BY that time, Mr.. Blackburn had as
sembled quintet of buffalo. nve eik'
half dozen deer. SIX pears ana ss.-
eral other smaller beasts in the PUBIC
park to keep the elephants company
All these animals We're tethered Sc
rurelv to large trees and were spaced
far enough apart so that they couid
not stage a battle royal" in natural
setting.
THE current National geological
Il Park was Matched from that 70
mantle beginning. The second winter
Mr.. Blackburn arranged with some OF
his former big top" associates, the
management of Forepaugh's circus
to winter Is menagerie animals in the
Government park at Washington:
This attraction brought throngs OF
visitors from all sections of the city
The Washington animal fair devel'
oped into a place of popularity
condition which has existed ever since.
Visitors to the Zoo always bring
sacks of peanuts, popcorn and capdy
along, with which to feed the animals.
Despite official rules to the contrary.
they smuggle the goodies" to Bruin,
.Reynard, Jumbo, Pa Hippo and other
captives. To see the cinnamon bear
sit up and beg for more and to watch
the antics of the monkeys and tropi-
cal birds as they strive to crack
tough-shelled nuts amuse the specta-
tors.
Uncle Sam, however. feeds his ex-
hibition animals and birds liberal ra-
lions. The tidbits, nuts and candy
which visitors toss to the beasts more
often than not cause sickness and
eventual trouble for the keepers. The