Evening star., 1939-06-15

friendliest pos sssM M -
sible spirit. They W. H. Shipper, jr.
wanted to put their hooves on the
visitors shoulders and lick their
noses. The young naturalist, pref
ty husky citizen, was having quite
a tusSle trying to restrain his
friends" and keep it all on dig
nif1ed plane. He kept calling for
his assistant
You know the guanaco, yes?"
painted the naturalist, making con-
versation while his assistant came
on the run.
1--WE met few" replied WASH
ington Zoo Director William M.
Mann, 'but that's the first time one
ever kissed me before we were in
troduced!"
please to excuse" The naturalist
sighed with relief as he turned over
his armload of necks to an assistant
with rope halters.
MY friends, they come here when
they are very little I make them
my pets because I am much alone.
I have other pets. Will you come
and see. please?"
Deer Seen in Numbers.
We had landed from a Govern
ment launch on Victoria Island in
Lake Manuel Huapi, where the
National Parks Service is estab-
fishing a game refuge in the virgin
forests and clear waters that lie
under the snow-capped Andes The
naturalist in charge led us up the
pathway toward his lodge of cedar
logs set in a clearing on a knoll
overlooking the lake.
A Great Dane came bounding to
meet us, and a canary chirped a
greeting as We entered the lodge.
A poodle was stretched before blaz-
Ing logs in the fireplace, and from
the windows we could see deer graz
Ing along the lake shore.
L have many friends to keep me
company in the winter when the
snow comes down." the naturalist
said. He showed us photographs
he had taken of the deer feeding
In little yards he had cleared from
the drifts.
He had been much alone on the
Island during the months he had
st9rCed
He showed us his grand piano
by the windows overlooking the
lake, where he tried his hand at
composing; his studio on the sec
ond floor, where he developed his
photographs, sketched and exc
cuted wood cuts of life on the
pampas and in the Andes; his COL
lection OF curioS (boleodoras, las
soes. Gaucho knives, ponchos, In
dian handwork, old silver and duel
ing pistols and his Winchester
rifle and revolvers.
Take Stroll in Virgin Forest.
The naturalist then took us for
. stroll through a virgin forest of
pines and native trees from which
hung Spanish moss and strange
parasite plants. One of these
looked like our honeysuckle and
Howered the year around. Humming
birds darted among the blossoms,
although the fall season was we'll
advanced, and the first snow had
drlfted we'll below the timber line
on the granite mountains that tow
cred into the clouds above us.
The naturalist, he said, was re-
turning with us in our launch, the
tQme Is miles to Bariloche. Back
~ the lodge he excused himself
while he dressed. When he showed
up again he was outftted in flow
Ing Gaucho trousers gathered into
naf boots, broad, silver decorated
belt with cartridges and revolver
holster, a tweed coat and Tyrolean
hat. His brown beard was neatly
trimmed and he wore a monocle. He
was en- route, he explained, across
the lakes and over an Andean pass
10 Chile to negotiate for some fla
n1ingos. The snow had stopped |
automobile traffic through the pass, |
and he planned to make that part |
Of the journey on horseback.
AS we approached the boat land |
ing one of the guanacos broke free |
and made straight for DR.. Mann, |
nudging him suddenly from behind |
The startled zoologist jumped a
good distance down the trail. Our
host, embarrassed all over again, |
wrestled his 4-footed friend behind |
fence
Fails to Make Good His Threat.
Come on over" grinned DR..
Mann, land I'll give you a poke
on the jaw"
The guanaco obliged, and was
about to leap the fence when DR..
Mann retreated to the launch.
Perhaps I make pests of my
pets" smiled the naturalist, "You |
see, I am a lonely man on my
island
AS our launch moved out into
the lake, however, we noticed the
naturalist furtively reading a let
ter in a feminine hand-it bore a
Chilean date mark
Il wonder" said DR.. Mann, "if
that young fellow is riding through
a snowy pass in the Andes just to
bring back some flamingoes
maybe his pets will have a mistress
this winter to teach them the proper
respect for their elders!"