f. The Animals in Omaha's Zoo at Riverview Park
OMAHA'S ZOO AT RIVEUV1EW I UFFALO-Photo by Louis H Hostwick
ril HOUGH the zoological garden at Hlver-
* - view park has barely passed its second
anniversary , it is already regarded by the
Omaha public , and especially by members of
v
the younger generation , as a pleasant -.ml
profitable place to spend leisure hours.
Its growth since its inception in l.S'.tS ' has
been most gratifying to the park commis
sioners and to all south-ciders. The com
missioners plan extensive Improvements for
the coming year and if present designs are
carried out the zoo will be still mote of a
favorite resort for park frequenters before
the close of the season. Not the least grat
ifying feature of this project Is the fact that
little actual outlay of money has been made ,
nearly all the most valuable animals and
birds having been donated by the public
spirited citizens of Omaha.
It is the purpose of those in charge of the
zoo to keep only such animals and birds as
v are indigenous to North America , as to
maintain others would require special care
and skill as well as nn additional expense
in the way of artificial heat and housing.
This rule , in a general way , has been ob
served , the only exception being In the
cases of two alligators , six guinea pigs and
. a cockatoo. These , however , under the
watchful eye of M. P. Anderson , the care
taker , seem to bo standing the cold weather
admirably.
Last summer the commissioners had con
structed a bear pit at a cost of $600 and alien
lion cage at a cost of $110. A row of smaller
cages , costing ? 1,200 , made of lumber , iron
and strong wire , was built near the bear pit
and constitute a permanent fixture at the
park. During the coming summer an aviary
will bo built for the birds. It will bo made
principally of wire netting , large quantities
of which have been bought for a small con
sideration of the wrecking company now at
work on the exposition grounds. The pad
dock for the deer will also bo moved later
to the newly acquired portion of the park
on the north side and greatly enlarged
These are the principal improvements con
templated by the board.
The cost of maintaining the zoo Is. esti
mated at $ liO a month , the principal Item In
OMAHA'S ZOO AT HIVERVIEW-THK
WOLF Photo by Louis R. Uostwlck.
this expense being food for the animals
In purchasing HpeclmenH less than $75 has
been expended.
Most of the animals now at the Hlvervlew
zoo were donated to the city two years agt
by the South Side Improvement club , thougl
a large number have since been contribute
by individuals. The nucleus of the preaeni
collection consisted of a gray wolf , two coy-
otes , several prairie dt gs , badgers , rae-
coons , a wildcat , eagles , lm\\ks and owls
TL-i'ii ' came a black bear , donated by J K
Markcl , and two buffaloes , contributed b >
W. F. Cody. Dr. George L. Miller presented
two deer and two ethers were purchased , so
that the herd now numbers six , two f.iwns
having been horn recently. A moose and alien
lion cub were also bought , but both died
of pneumonia , A black she > bear , brought
up from Texas as a mate for the one do
nated , succumbed to the rigor of this com
pnratlvely mild northern climate , and bruin
ia now a widower.
Besides these there- have benn onet or two
cases of mortality in the paddocks , chiefly
on account of the combative tendencies of
the buffalo. I ist summer a deer was
geared to death by the bull and soon after
wards ho claimed another victim in the
antelope. The two coyotes could hardly be
considered a happy family , as they light
almost incessantly , but seem to thrive on It ,
and are as hardy as ever.
The depopulation of the prairie dog town ,
however , is perhaps the most notable and
Interesting Incident in connection with the
zoo slnco its establishment. Of an odd
dozen of these fat little rodents a year ago
not a vestige remains. In the opinion of the
caretaker they found their quarters too
cramped. They wanted to extend their
town limits , pay their own taxes , elect
their own mayor and be Independent. They
were tired of the roasted peanuts and col
ored popcorn tossed to them by a gaping
ciowd. How they managed to climb over
the stone wall that surrounded their cn-
O.MAIIA'S 5COO AT HIVERV1I3W THE
IlADGElt Photo by Louis H. Hostwick.
closure , or to burrow through the concrete
bottom , Is a mystery , but escape they did ,
and now there's neither hide nor hair of
them.
Caretaker Anderson has a rich fund of
anecdotes concerning the habits and unties
of his half-tamed pets und under the proper
conditions relates them with evident relish.
Ills favorite of this collection treats of Deb ,
the black bear.
Ono Sunday afternoon about eighteen
months ago , while Hob's mate was still liv
ing , before the digging of the pit , a crowd
was standing In front of the bear cagi
watching the restless movements cf the
beasts to and fro behind the Iron bars. OIK
woman wore a largo , llashy hat of whiel
she waa obviously proud. She was In hlgl
Hplrlts , giggling at everything her escort
halil , and Ecomcd not averse to attracting
intention. In her hands she carried a reticule
culo , handkerchief , pair of gloves , flcli
glass , parasol am ] bouquet and seldom i
> : ulmito passed that one * of thcso article
1 was not dropped.
"Clumsy things , ain't they ? " she gurgled
Indicating the bears.
"Reminds me of a certain person I knov
dancing the mazurka. "
OM1IS ZOOT IUVERVIEW THE
EAGLE COLLECTION Photo by Louis
It Mnstwick
"Nothing per Oh ! theie goes my Hold
gjass ! "
The glass struck the ground and rolled
toward the bear cage. Leaning ovei the
low railing , the young woman nmdo a dive
for it.
Then she screamed.
An instant later , from every direction ,
people were running toward the scene and
borne arrived In lime to see Hob dr.ig hi
between the bars of his cage 11 large straw-
hat , goigcous with ( lowers and ribbons. Sit
ting on his haunches , bruin began to dissect
the millinery. How after bow , ribbon after
ribbon and llower after llower were slowly
plucked apart while Mrs. llruUi stood by
contentedly btiiillug the fragments.
Meanwhile the young woman was not to
bo comforted. She wept softly while her
escort tied his handkerchief over her head
to keep the wind fioni blowing her hair out
of curl. Later she applied many uncoiin-
plimentary adjectives to the bears , but the
word "eluniby" was not among them.
Anderson tells another story of a man
who wanted to donate a parrot to the zoo
and who became otteuded because It was
not accepted.
"I told him I couldn't taho anything like
that , because we'd have to keep a fire going
for its special benefit all winter. Hut he
seemed to think I doubted the bird's value
and kept repeating its vocabulary a d tell
ing me under what conditions it cuuld ihe
Induced to speak. It talked better when
alone , he said.
" 1 told him that was an argument in lit
favor , so far as I was concerned , but thai
I couldn't lake the bird. Then he got mail
amd the upshot of It nil was he took the
parrot's head In his hand and wrung Kt
neck.
"I afterward learned that the bird couldn't
HP oak a word cnly scream and whistle
and that the fellow wanted to get rid of ll
berauso it woke him too early In the
mottling.
"At another time 1 was aanuscd at a dis-
ciibslun between two men as to wholhei
coyotes howl or bark. 1 don't know win
I hey were , but they looked like college pio-
ft-ss rs or professional men of some son
and they stood in front of the coyote cagi
and argued for an hour trying to agree ni
to what kind of a nolso the coyote makes
Ono bald it barks , but never howls , tin
other said it both howls and barks. I don *
know how they bottled It , or if they eve
did.
"If they had asked for my opinion
hhould'liavo bald the coyote both howls am
barks that Is , the coyote in a state of ftee
dom on his native heath. In captlvit ;
( liny seldom make a nolbo further thai
to whine. "
Bunch of Short Stories
in the seclusion of the house cliukioums i
story it being told on a westein member
says thu Washington Post. There iiro 3i
men In the house. Three hundred and fifty
six are hereby released from any comiectlo ;
with the story. The other man and th
other man's wife will recognize the trut
of what is hero recorded.
The western member went homo at
very early hour In the morning. Ho ha
rondo a night of it with some friends. II
know that his conduct would bo considerc
reprehensible by his butter half , and so a
he ascended the stops of his modest horn
ho racked his brain for borne plan to avoi
the lady's wrath. As ho entered the hall li
saw an umbrella. Instantly it occurred t
him that the umbrella might bo his ua
vatlon.
He carried the umbrella upstairs. Seatln
himself on a chair In the corner of tl
bedroom , bo ralbod the rain guard over b
OMAHA'S ZOO AT HIVEKVIEYV THE ANTELOPE Photo by Louis It Hostwick
hiMil and then ho coughed loudly. Ills wife
avoke ami saw In the dim gaslight her Hogo
lord sitting Mileumly under the mined um-
biella.
"What are you doing ? " aho. asked In nat
ural surprise.
"It is It o'clock , my dear , " said he , "and
1 nm waiting for the storm. "
The congressman's ready wit saved him
from a Caudle lecture , lie Is worrying now ,
however , to find an equally effective act for
Uio next time he stays out late.
Geneial Grasvetior was walking tluough
the conidors of the capltol recently , relates
the Washington Pout , when a woman approached
preached him.
"I beg your pardon , " said she , pleasantly
enough , "but Isn't this Congressman Gro -
venor of Ohio ? "
"Yes , madam , " was the rrply.
"I thought so , " she continued. "You see ,
I recognized you from your picture * * In the
papers. " Then she paused a moment , while
General Qrosvenor also waited.
"General Grosvenor , " said the woman , with
a touch of timidity In her voice , "couldn't
you glvo me a ticket of admission to the
galleries ? "
Quito gallantly the Ohio congressman pro-
O.MAMA'S ZOO AT HIVEIIVIEW ON Till
I LAKE Photo by Louis II. Hostwick.
i ; u rod a card , tilled It out and slgnod hi
, name. The woman wont on her way n
jolclng. General GroHvenor stood for a mo
ment thoughtfully. "Well , " he said , "tlisi
Is , the first lime I over know I really looko
as bad as my pictures. "
1 An Afrikander , trcKKlng dom Schuln
Iloogte to Palapslu with a load of hlltoii )
? halted by a fontcln at the foot of a kloo
reports the New York Sun. A Voortreklu
1 wiiddonly appeared from behind a kopji
3 waving a vlerklour.
' "Oorlog ! " shouted the Voortrekker.
"Doiil" replied the Afrikander , who was
1 man of ready wit ,
I "Produce it , " flald the Voortrekke
u "though I am no doppor. "
II The Afrikander's voorlooper , who wi
s standing on the dlssolbonm inunchli
" mealies , jumped off and started on n rt
t toward a krautIn jumping a olult hlx fee
o slipped on a klip and he fell * Into a ( long
o The others , after much dop , gut Into n heati
argument In Tool over the quickest way
the nearest dorp , Ono said ho should Ui
K the drift aver the spruit and the other the
o ho nliould pent over the pan. A zarp cui
Is along and took thorn both around the v
and tliiotiKh the poort to the laager , where
they should bo nafo fiom roulueKs.
It IK said In a cjnlc of the masuulliio
Kinder that a man ne\or jlolds when ho
knows ho Is In the right , or a woman when
slut is equally cortnin she IH In llio wrong.
In tin Amsterdam avenue car the other titty ,
lohites the Now York Iforald , wblln the
conductor was forwaid collecting fines , a
woman , followed by a large English hull-
dog , entered and Heated herself.
"Madam , " said thu conductor , "dogs are
not allowed In tin-no cars. "
" 1 am going to l''lfty-sovonlh stieet ; here
is my faro , " was the answer.
"I cannot lake It , madam. It Is us much
as my position is worth to let thai dog
ride In this car. "
"Horo is my faro. "
"I must enforce the rule. It would bo hot
ter to get elf quietly ; otherwise I shall have
to call an olllcer. "
"I've taken the dog In those cars before. "
"Only dogs that can bo carried are allowed
to rldo In these cars. "
"Como , daillng , get In mother's lap , " she
mild to thu boiist , and after oonslilerabln
olfnrl succeeded In drugging "darling" up mi
her kneos. She flashed a look of scorn at
the conductor and exclaimed : "Now , aren't
you ashamed of yourself ? "
Love
Detroit .loin mil : Nowhere , it Is likely ,
duo't the eiiutse of Into love run more tin-
fiinoothly than In grand npora.
"Ho mine ! " loais the hero with tolerable
dintlnetnesH.
' ! " shrieks the heroine
'M er ynh-nil ,
t. OMAHA'S ZOO AT RIVEUVIEW SNAP
SHOT AT THE DEER Photo by Louis R
is Hostwick.
K
n fulminating an arpeggio Inho \ upper reg-
> t Ister with a piolonged trill on the C In alt.
a. "Oh , this terrible uncertainty ! " protests
'd the hero ,
to The beautiful girl regards him yearningly ;
id she would speak , only everything has teat
at be Hting In grand opera ; and then , too , her
no maidenly reserve restrains her more or
el Use.