Evening star., 1950-09-17
Lawyer Has Odd Talent Training Bears at Zoo
By Corter Dawson

by Sorter Oowson
When Justus r. Moll is in the
mood for show, he goes to the
Zoo and produces one.
Bear training is his speciality.
It's his way of getting a change
from his duties as a lawyer with
a firm of labor union advisers.
En- route to meet his favorite
actors on bear row" at the Zoo,
Mr.. Moll said he wanted to "stop
of and say hello to some of his
old friends"
Haven't been out here in a
couple of months due to sickness
in the family" the 57-year-old
impressario explained. "'Til then
averaged two and three nights
week at the Zoo teaching bears
tricks. Been on that schedule ever
since T came to Washington eight
years ago on my present job,
fresh from 10 years as chief clerk
to the Secretary of State in Mis-
souri,. Today I'm returning to my
old schedule.
Tried Golf and Poker.
Tried golf and poker as diver
sions when I first came to Wash
ington. But I gave them up.
Training bears is better. 1t got in
my blood one year with one trick
I taught circus bear named
Burnie in Colorado. I was just a
high school kid. but I taught
Burnie to drink sweet water out
of beer bottle"
Just then Mr.. Moll spotted
some of his old friends.
Hi, Rudy" he called out.
A shaggy two-humped camel
standing with his hind-part
toward an audience eager to turn
him around, turned his head
toward Mr.. Moll.
Get out of that shade and
come over here" Mr.. Moll in
structed Rudy (short for Rudolph
Valentino). Rudy came over. He
even showed his few remaining
teeth on request. Mr.. Moll tossed
him a little lump of sugar and
the spectators tossed Mr.. Mol a
wide-eyed look.
Wild Horse Next.
Haven't seen you in a long
time, Mongo." Mr.. Moll called to
q Mongolian wild horse. busy eat
ing some 35 feet away in his
wooden hut. He left his food.
Bow for the reporter" the pro
ducer" said and the Mongolian
wild horse did just that.
After greeting Sam Camel, Lem
Llama and zebra, Mr.. Moll was
ready for his bears.
Peaceful Parson Brown, a bear
who Mr.. Mol said came from the
Vienna Zoo and understands Ger
man, watched for Mr.. Moll to give
him his cue-a thin slice of whole
wheat bread. Then he acted like
he was in church.
Took me two years Of patient
trying to get Parson Brown to fold
his arms and look pious in a
church pew" Mr.. Moll explained.
81 almost gave up. Then I told
him it was Sunday, and he came
through
Pretends to Weep.
"Mr. Bluebeard, show you're
sorry you killed your mate. Mena,"
Mr.. Moll commanded another
brown bear. The bear sat down
and pretended to wipe tears from
his eyes.
II see you, Arthur, I'll be there
in a minute" Mr.. Moll called to
a big hybrid bear trying to steal
the show by patty-caking in the
next cage. Mr.. Moll made him put
away such childish things, how
ever, and go into a dance. He
stood on his two hind feet and
jumped a foot in the air. Some
one swore the cement moved.
Arthur @. Murray isn't the only
bear who can dance. There's Will
lie the Poo, the biggest bear at the
Zoo. Besides assuming the role of
a "nonchalant" bear and showing
people they bore him. Willie does
the Charleston.
TIeeS Roth Paus for Mooda
Until Mr.. Moll came along,
Willie made use of only one paw in
looking bored. After many months
of work, Mr.. Moll convinced Willie
he should use both paws to project
a mood. Mr.. Moll claims anybody
can make the bears perform. but
the ones who tried yesterday with
out his help didn't succeed.
Willie is Mr.. Moll's favorite.
He's a pure Peninsular bear who.
when he gets the word from Mr..
Moll, will rise to his full 10 feet
and come out even with the iron
curtain" of the cage.
Just as a little boy in the
audience loudly told his mother
he could smell the Zoos skunk
from the bear cage" Mr.. Moll
pulled hunk of limburger cheese
from a pocket and tossed it to VII
lie. He said it was Willie's IA
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