Evening star., 1927-08-07

sounded through the buildilS'
"WiIiaIn," -" asked one OF the specta-
TORS what would you do if that ami
mai got out"
The other surveyed the building
nhiloscphicaily. His eyes failed TO
light on any place where he could leap
OF climb 10 safety.
samuel" he replied slowly i
would just close my eyes.
William H. Blackburn. head keeper
AT tho Zoo. who has watched ana
studied crowds in the animal houses
for 30 Years, vouches for this story,
ana it illustrates, he believes, the men
tai attitude Of many persons VINO are
10 he found day after day before the
a @cs Of the great beasts. The roar ol a
cl-ed lion or the snarl OF Gagged
,ic,r affords them the thrill OF danger
which they can enjoy i'll perfect
safety. They always are imagining
what would happen IL the animals
c~rapcd Vet they know perfectly well
that escape is impossible.
The record OF the National XOologi-
c7l Park as the most popular spot in
Washington is being sustained fully
this simmer. and the types of visitors
afford an interesting study for the
veteran keepers. The guests like
beasts that make a noise and look
"a
'llat only a grid of steel bars stands
between them and the mouths of the
jungle creatures.
rs a matter of fact. the thrill is
enurelv synthetic. Even If one OF
The lions broke out, il is extremely
doubtful whether there would he any
serious consequences. Likely enough,
>.y 200 attendants. he would stink
INTO corner and lie down. He would
hn almost as afraid Of tha human he
ju@~. once the protection ut his bars
was s,nuYeG. II they would he ot hlnl.
\ttcr a week o4' SO without food, -,
,'rn re. II" might 81 far overcome MS
roars - 70 uttacl "A man, hut not untii
ha was very hungry would he resort
10 such q dcSns gate undertaking.
Dr William ". Mann, director ot
tfn Zoo. has made a close study ot
he 400 crowds" during the past two
ears. often minGlinG among them in
rocuito to learn the reactions. lie
ias becn particularly interested III
Tie viewpoint of children. since the
educational value of the exhibits is
their great justification, aside from
their utility as scientific material
The commonest question. says DR..
N9nN. is:
Mister. could get into that cage"
This ie asked dozens cf times in the
course of every week. The stereo-
t2red reply is.
Yes, Of course. The only difficulty
vii he in getting out again
Little girls are specially prone TO
ASK this question, and it illustrates,
h. believes. Il quite different phase OF
human nature from that displayed by
the thrill; seek aTs. 1t is the mother
ing" instinct. similar to that. which
leads a child to play with dolls. They
want to Get inside the cages and pet
the creatures. especially the monkeys
and the smaller mammals. In quite
a few cases it would he safer to get
inside cage with a lion. But there
always IS Il temptation 10 stroke soft
fur. and that is enc of the chief rea
sons for strong guard rails.
THEN there is the nice old lady
who pities the poor creatures.
shut up in cages so far from their
native habitat. and is convinced that
they are terribly abused. The classic
case of this kind at the Washington
ZOO il that Of the old lady who ap
preached Mr.. Blackburn one day III
front of the cage OF the shoebill stork
The bird, as is its habit, was standing
on one leg, the other drawn UP under
its wing.
sir" demanded the lady, ARE you
connected with this instltution?'
Mr. Blackburn admitted that such
was the case.
Then | just want to tell YOU" she
said, that YOU and all the others
should be in Jail. Men who would cut
off this Door birds leg"
Just then the shoebill put down its
other leg and walked away.
You see, madam" said Mr.. Black
burn.
"Disgusting:"' snorted the lady as
she walked away.
And the other day one Of the keep
crs was standing beside lagoon Of
the creek where several species OF
storks are kept.
\ land Of little boys gathered
around him.
What are those birds?" the boldest
among them asked finally.
Those are storks. You've heard OF
st0rks?" the keeper answered.
Come on. mister. yer can't Kid us.
said the boy. ''W hat you think we
are? There amt no such thing as
storks."
All OF which anecdotes illustrate the
different types Of personality which
must be dealt with by the modern
geological park. Different people pre-
fer different animals. but the two
qualities most sought after are the
strikingly opposite attributes Of feroc-
ity and cunningness. The giant hip
poptamus. one of the wonders of the
animal world, is SO placid and peace
Pul thar hundreds of persons pass
through the lion house without seeing
her. She is too good humored 10 eat
ANYBODY, even If she had the run Of
the park. and her thick, rather Shiny
skin offers no temptation for stroking.
y IL ll.Sa, 1f sr1l..ia