jl Greatest "Zoo" in the World. §j
Itasg
At last New York is to have a zo-1
ological garden in keeping with her
position among the great cities of the I
world. It will be the largest and
most complete in existence. The
vaunted gardens of the European cap
itals will pale into insignificance by
comparison. The final plans, says the
New York Herald, have been sub
mitted to the Park Board by Professor
Henry F. Osborn, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the New York
Zoological Society, and as soon as the
necessary preliminary arrangements
have been made the active work will
begin.
After eight months of careful study
of the adopted site in Bronx Park, and
after a systematic examination of the
large European zoological gardens,
Director William T. Hotnady sub
mitted to the Zoological Society a pre
liminary plan for the development of
the garden, which was reproduced in
the Herald at the time. This plan
was approved by the Executive Com
mittee, whose Chairman has been one
of the most active promoters of the
Isoologioal garden scheme, on a broad
cale, and the final plan, now matured,
s merely a careful elaboration of Mr.
lornady's first scheme. The design
if the central glade, formed by the six
arger buildings, is the work of Hein
»\i La Farge, architects, and for the
rest of the plan Director Hornady and
Charles N. Lowrie, landscape archi
tect, are responsible.
NEW YORKS, GREAT ZOO LOGICAL GARDEN.
In the distance are great drives for bison and deer, forests for monkeys and ponds for beaver—in all 2CI acres, by far the greates
"Zoo" In tlio world.)
This vista promises to combine pic
turesque natural beauties with every
possible device in establishing the
comfort of the captive animals. No
zoological garden in the world offers
such freedom to its inmates. The
buffalo will roam at will over a great
expanse of natural land, as untram
melled as though grazing upon his
native prairie. The monkey will enjoy
the freedom of his own jungle. Lions
and elephants will not be confined in
closed cages. Birds, beasts and fishes
of everv variety will be made to feel
perfectly at home.
And now a few words about tho ex
tent of this big animal park. Aside
from the natural beauties of tho loca
tion, which compare favorably with
those of any similar institution in the
world; aside from the advancement
which the plans show in the matter of
caring for the animals, aside from the
value of the collection, which we can
at present only hopefully anticipate,
aside from all this, the project must
excite universial admiration by reason
of its very size.
Washington's Zoological Garden
comprises 168 acres, but all of it is not
available. The Berlin gardens have
sixty acres,Paris,fifty acres; Hamburg,
thirty-five acres, and London aud
Vienna, thirty acres each. It will
readily be seen that 011 comparison
with these New York's monster zoo,
with its 261 acres of laud, must stand
as the monster of the world.
The bird house, on an unshaded
terrace, with ample air and light, a
one story building of brick and iron—
is planned to afford both within aud
without a great amount of cage room
for its occupants. The interior of the
aviary, whose ground plan is T
shaped, will have 330 lineal l'eet of
cage room, 011 n large portion of which
cages will stand in three tiers. There
will also be a huge water tank for div
ing birds.
The exterior of the building will not
be less interesting than the interior,
for here there will be 332 lineal feet of
cages for hawks, owls and such like
hardy perching birds. Then there
will be six large open wire dome cages,
and, most attractive of all, a huge-wire
cage 150 feet long, seventy-five feet
wide and fifty feet high, in which will
be pools of water, gravel, grass, rocks,
shrubs, bushes aud great trees. In
this great cage the birds, hardly real
izing their captivity, may dive and
swim, run and fly to their hearts' con
tent, and, with food to be obtained
without the discomforts of early ris
ing, may have all the enjoyment that
ever fell to the fortune of lucky birds.
As with the birds, so with the mon
keys, whose home of pleasing archi
tecture will be in keeping w j t jj t^e
aviary and the others of the six larce
buildings that will adorn the central
glade. The monkeys will have ample
cage room in the direct path of sun and
air. lhe most interesting part o{ th
monkey ca ge will be the g reat open air
enclosure, which is planued to occupy
a space of fifty by 250 feet in extent,
adjoining the house. This space,
which will be reached by an overhead
bridge, so aa to allow all spectators to
freely paBS between it and the cage, will
be enclosed by a high fence of wire net
ting, terminating nt the top with an
inwardly curved projection of metal,
which will prevent the nimble climb
ers from getting outside.
The monkeys will have practically
no restrictions on their natural pro
pensities, for this bridge and extend
ed tree covered play-ground will en
able them to graduated from the re
stricted kindergarten cage to the high
er brauches that will offer full scope
to their greatest possibilities. Here
they can hide in the underbrush,
scamper over rocks, ascend the trees,
leap from limb to limb, sport amid the
foliage and even form the monkey
span of life by joining claws to feet
and tail in one long chain of apish
links, and so swing from a projecting
branch to a tree beyond, over an in
tervening stream, as travelers say they
do in their native wilds.
Nor will the larger beasts be un
duly restricted. The elephants will
have attached to their imposing home,
measuring 78 by 144 feet, eight
paved yards, each 100 by 150 feet, and
in these yards, besides a swimming
tank, will be great trees, in the shade
of which the animals can stand as in
the jungles of Asia and Africa.
The lion will be in equally great
luck. There will be 110 restless and
persistent tramping up aud down be
hind the bars of a ten foot cage, no
snarling and ill tempered howling.
They will be housed in a handsome
building, 87x263 feet in size, and
they will be almost as greatly favored
as the elephant. In outdoor cages,
45 feet wide and 200 feet long, they
will have ample room for muscular
development.
And here comes a unique suggestion
from the director of the Zoological
Park, for while three sides of these
cages nre open, he proposes that the
fourth side shall be a painted land
scape that will in the closest detail
present an exact counterpart of the
lions' surroundings in their wildest
state. Any lion with a well developed
imagination will be in a position lo sit
upon his haunches, gaze fondly at the
counterfeit distance of wild jungle aud
fancy himself once more back among
the old folks at home.
The buffaloes will be highly favored
in the matter of liberty, for they will
have a range of twenty acres over
which they may gallop. Around this
ranee, on higher ground, will be a
walk, from which an unobstructed
view of the buffalo grounds will be
presented. This is significant in it
self. The American bison is rapidly
becoming extinct, and the few herds
of a once noble race that are left are
being carefully guarded aud nurtured.
Fire-Tub Over a Century Old.
Here is a picture of the fire-tub that
George 111. presented to his loyal sub
jects of Shelburne, N. S., in 1795.
This was in the days when the town
was a populous and thriving place.
Half the royalists who left Boston
during the Revolution built houses in
Shelburne, aud of course the King
PRESENTED BY GKOKGE in.
coi:M not "stVi—SUch loyal subjects
suffer for lack ofVP ro P er protection
against fir e . The in a fa ' r
state of preservation.
Massachusetts conviots iV e getting
fastidious. Not content wiK Boston
baked beans f or breakfast evVy day
they have just sent in a petitrt'A ' or
custard pie every Sunday. \
CHAMBERMAIDS WITH MUSTACHES.
A Remarkable Feature of Hotel Life in
Cairo, Egypt.
Although the two gentlemen from
Cairo here portrayed look like Oriental
dignitaries or high priests they are
really Egyptian chambermaids. They
are a remarkable feature of hotel life
in Cairo.
TWO QUEER CHAMBERMAIDS.
The first time one needs a chamber
maid in the latter place and finds the
call answered by a coal black man six
feet four inches high, in high cap and
narrow white gown, one is surprised
iind sometimes worried. Sometimes
these ebon chambermaids answer a
call in pairs, They are model ser
vants, and keep the rooms of the hotels
where they are employed exquisitely
neat.
STEEL ROADWAYS A SUCCESS.
Tlie Idea of Kulldliifi: Track* For Trucks
Takes Practical Shape.
For the first time there has been car
ried into practical operation a plan for
the improvement of public roads that
has heretofore been regarded merely
as an interesting theory that would
never rise to the region of fact. The
plan i3 to lay steel tracks along our
roads so that the wheels of wagons
SECTION OF A STEEL ROADWAY.
may run on a smooth surface instead
of on the rough and soggy path over
which for a great part of the year
horses are compelled to flounder drag
ging heavy loads. The results of «x
--periments by two prominent engineers
are here given. One series of experi
ments, made by Mr. Abel Bliss, of
New Lenox, 111., is particularly inter
esting, as will bo seen from the fol
lowing statement of Mr. Bliss:
"I have laid about 100 feet of steel
road in the public highway near my
home at New Lenox, 111. The road
was first graded in proper shape. The
rails are of steel, one-quarter of an
inch thick, eight inches wide, wide a
downward flange of three inches on
either side and an upward flange of
one inch on the outer edge to keep the
wheels or. These rails were laid on
the crown of the grade and pressed
into the soil to the depth of the flange
or until the soil supported the rail.
The downward flanges prevent the soil
from being pressed away from the rail
and hold it there, making a firm founda
tion, so that 110 ties are necessary on
which to rest the rails. These rails
are made continuous by the fastening
of the ends together with fishplates.
"A mile of road requires about sixty
tons of steel, which can be produced
in quantities for SI 800 or less. One
cubic yard of gravel is required to the
rod."
In Texas little Miss Fite, of Moran,
wants to pick cotton against little Miss
Ward, of Meridan. Both are six years
old, and they weigh forty-eight and
Wtv-three oonnds. resuectivelT-
Bobby'* Three-Incli Smile*
Sister measured my grinono day;
Took the ruler and me.
Counted the inches all tho way—
One and two and three.
"Oh you're a Cheshire cat," said she.
Father said, "That's no sin."
Then he nodded and smiled at me—
Smiled at my three-inch grin.
Brother suggested I ought to begin
Trying to trim it down.
Mother said. ''Better a three-inch grin
Than a little half-inch frown."
—Boston Traveler.
After the North Pole.
If the North Pole is not discovered
in 1898 it will not be because brave
explorers have ceased to be interested
in it. Some time ago we told you
about Lieutenant Peary's proposed
expedition, how he will establish two
or three Eskimo stations iu the far
north which will be in the nature of
stepping stones to the pole. From
the last one he will make a dash with
a sledge and dogs and only one or two
companions, and he hopes to discover
the pole and get safely back to his
last station during the summer. But
Peary is not the ouly man who will
seek the "farthest north." Captain
Sverdrup, who commanded Nanßen's
famous ship, the Fram, in the recent
expedition, will soil away in 1898 with
sixteen men aud several hundred
sledge dogs. He will get as far north
as he can in the ship and then try to
cross the vast stretches of ice on
Rleds. The Norwegian government
has furnished the money for fitting
the ship, and Captain Sverdrup feels
sure that he cau reach the pole.—
Chicago Record.
Saved HUT.ire by a Jest.
Amelia WofTord tells of"The Court
Testers of England" in St. Nicholas.
The author says of one of them:
Archee Armstrong was the beloved
jester of King James VI of Scotland,
afterwards James I of England, and
this is the traditional story of their
introduction:
"One day a shepherd with the car
cass of a sheep upon his shoulders
was tracked to his cottage on the
moorlands by the officers of justice.
In the cottage they found a vacant
faced lad, rocking a cradle with more
attention than a boy is accustomed to
give that duty; this, however, did not
arouse their suspicions. They searched
the cottage thoroughly, but failed to
discover the sheep. They were
i about to depart, when one of
j their number accidentally looked
I into the cradle, and—the stolen sheep
lay there! The lad, who was snp
j posed to be the thief, was brought be-
S fore King James VI of Scotland. He
i was tried, convicted, and sentenced to
die. He began to plead with the
i king. He was a poor,ignorant fellow,
| he said; he had heard of the Bible and
! would like to read it through before
Ihe died. Would the king respite him
until he did so. The king readily
; gave his consent, whereupon the cul
j prit immediately said: 'Then hang
me if I ever read a word o't, as laug
as my een are open.'
The witty reply captured the king.
He pardoned the prisoner, and took
him into his service as jester. In this
capacity Archee was soon a prime
favorite.
Oarberry's ChrUtinas.
Last Christmas there was a great
surprise iu the little town of Car
berry. For years and years—ever
since the boys and girls could remem
ber—there had been a public celebra
tion in the town hall, with a huge
Christinas tree lighted from top to
bottom with candles and bright with
all sorts of presents for the boys and
girls of the village. Usually old Cap
tain Conklin in his big buffalo over
coat, which was buckled tight with a
string of sleigh bells, ncted as Santa
Claus and kept everyone laughing and
expectant, as he passed out the gifts,
reading off the names one by one in u
big, hearty voice.
But last year it was all differeut, so
different, indeed, that Carberry is
going to try the same kind of cele
bration again this winter. Audit was
quite unique enough to furnish ideas
for any of our invontive boys and girls
who wish to get up something new
and striking for this year's Christmas
entertainment.
You see old Captain Conklin was
taken sick early in the winter and had
togo south, and a Christmas tree
without Santa Claus would have been
no celebration at all. So the principal
of the Carberry school and some of
the older pupils got together and dis
cussed tho situation. As a result they
were appointed a committee on ar
rangements for the celebration, it
being understood that they were to
have the entire work of decorating the
hall and of arranging the presents.
From that time on a dense cloud of
secrecy hung over the school. The
teacher and his little band of helpers
—which included about a dozen of the
older boys and girls—held a meeting
early every night at which the details
of the great plan were discussed. By
day they all went around with wise
glances at one another aud frequent
mysterious conversations, until tl e
younger folk of the town were all lint
wild with curiosity. It was also the
topic of conversation among the oldei i
folk, for they were not allowed to
know anything about it either. Mys
terious bundles of all sizes and shapes
were carried into the hall, the windows
of which had previously been closelj
curtained, so that no prying eyes
could ffeep inside and discover the
secret. Two weeks before Christmas
six of the prettiest little girls in
school, all of about the same size,
were chosen for some mysterious pur
pose, and they were at once enveloped
in the general cloak of secrecy.
Christinas eve arrived bright and
crisp and cold. At 7 o'clock the doors
of the town hall were opened and a
crowd of boys and girls, who had been
waiting outside for an hour or more,
surged in and filled the front seats.
But as yet there was little to be seen
for a big curtain covered tlie entire
front of the hall, shutting out all view
of the stage. The members of the
committee bustled about mysteriously,
ran in with covered bundles, and out
again, shadows flitted across the cur
tain, and there were occasional
smothered bursts of laughter,at which
all of the younger children would
stand on their tip-toes and fairly
shriek with anticipation. But there
was one sound that was wholly unox
plainable and which set every one tc
guessing and wondering. It was a
slight squeaking noise which no one
had ever heard before in connection
with a Christmas celebration.
Before 8 o'clock every seat in the
house was filled and a large number
of men and boys were standing around
the stove and lined up close to the
wall. There was only a moment's
delay, and then from somewhere be
hind the curtain came the voices
of the six little girls singing a Christ
mas carol. Just as they reached the
last verse the curtain began to rise
slowly and their voices were drowned
out in a wild burst of applause. In
deed, the audience was 011 its feet with
craning necks and eager eyes trying
to take in every detail of the brilliant
display.
"A wheel, a wheel!" cried little
Susie Jenkins, her shrill voice sound
ing above the roar of applause.
And a wheel it was—a Ferris wheel
which any one would have recognized
in an iustaut. It occupied the very
centre of the big stage, and it was
slowly turning round and round. The
cars were loaded full of gifts with
dolls for conductors. There was
candy and crockery, toys jack-knives,
skates, new red mittens, caps, books,
and almost everything else you could
think of. Every car was blazing with
light from several wax caudles, and
the rim of the wheel, the supports and
the spokes were festooned with strings
of popcorn and twined with ribbons
and evergreen. Besides that the stage
was beautifully decorated.
But another surprise was in store.
Up from behind the wheel stepped
Jack Frost, Santa Clans' son, dressed
in natty knee breeches and coat, and
wearing a powdered wig of the style
of the last century. Every one re
cognized him at once as Captain
Couklin's nephew, who was one of
the brightest boys in the Carberry
school. It was some time before he
could speak owing to the cheering,
and then he told the audience that
this new Ferris wheel was invented in
Santa Claus' workshop, and that Santa
Claus had placed the gifts in the cars.
After that there were a number of
songs and recitations, during all of
which the wonderful wheel turned
round and round, and 'he doll con
ductors leaned out of the windows to
see that tlie machinery was in good
working order. Of course the exer
cises were very interesting, but I am
sorry to say that they were frequently
interrupted by "ohs" and "ahs," and
many other whispered exclamations
from the front rows.
At last Jack Frost arose and ordered
the wheel to stop. The six little girls
bounded forward and the distribution
of the presents began, and continued
until the great wheel was empty, and
every one in the hall was happy.
Do you wonder that the folks of
Carberry are going to have the same
kind of a celebration this year?
The Ferris wheel was easily made
by three of the boys of Carberry.
They took two old carriage wheels and
cut awaj parts of the spokes, and
fastened them together on a central axis
running through the hubs. The cars
were made of large pasteboard shoe
boxes obtained from one of the stores.
These boxes were about thirty inches
long by ten inches high by fourteen
inches wide. Doors and windows
were cut in them, and they were sus
pended to the wheels so that they
would turn easily 011 their pivots.
The wheels were then supported by
a light framework of wood and pro
vided with a crank at the back side.
This completed the framework. It
was fun for the committee to meet
night after night and decorate the
wheel with colored paper pasted on
the boxes, and with evergreens and
popcorn strings. Caudles were fitted
everywhere there was room for (hem,
and then the cars were filled up with
presents, care being taken to load
them so that they would swing easily
and without tipping. During the
celebration a boy turned the crank
that kept the wheel going.
The whole wheel only cosfc a few
dollars, and any of our boys who are
clever with a hammer and saw could
make one like it. For a Christmas
surprise it cannot be excelled, espe
cially if the people who are to attend
the colebration expect au old-fashioned
Christmas tree. It may be used either
for a home gathering or for a public
celebration.
HELPS FOR HOUSEWIVES.
To Make )tl«?lte<l flutter,
up a quarter of a pound ol
butter into small pieces, put it into a
saucepan, aud dredge over with a ta
blespoonful of flour; then add one
wineglassful of cold watev and a sea
soning of salt. Stir regularly one way
until the whole of the ingredients are
melted and amalgamated. Let them
just come to a boil; and then serve.
Spots on Furniture.
To remove spots from furniture rub
well with sweet oil and turpentine,
then wash with warm soapsuds and
polish with crude oil. For a good
polish for old furniture,try the follow
ing: Put equal parts of kerosene and
sweet oil in a large bottle and shake
well; then apply with a flannel cloth,
rubbing the oil in well. It can be
used on either oiled or varnished sur
faces.
Preserving Delicate Color**
The following simple formula, given
by the Society of Arts, is for cleaning
fabrics without changing their color:
Grate raw potatoes over clear water,
in the proportion of two fair-sized
potatoes to a pint. When the last bit
af fine pulp has dropped into the wa
ter, strain the mixture through a
coarse sieve into another vessel hold
ing the same amount of clear water,
and let the second liquid stand till
ihorouglily settled. Pour off the
jlearer part to be kept for use. Kub
or sponge the soiled fabrics with the
potato water, wash in clean water, dry
»nd iron.. The thick sediment can be
kept and used for cleaning thick ma
terial like carpets and heavy cloth.
T.emona and Orange*.
It is not generally known that the
|uice of lemons or oranges treated like
any other fruit juices will make a clear
jelly without gelatine if a pound and
a quarter of granulated sugar is al
lowed for each pint. Kipe, juicy fruit
should be chosen, and the sugar and
juice boiled together for fifteen min
utes; at the end of this time take out
a little on a saucer, putin a cool
place, and if it shows signs of setting
it is done. Some of the most perfect
oranges or lemons should be picked
out, and, after cutting oft' the blossom
end carefully, the contents scooped
out (of course saving the juice), the
shell may be preserved whole and
tilled with the jelly made as directed
above. As the shells are emptied they
must be thrown into cold water, then
simmered until transparent in alum
and water, in the proportion of two
teaspoons of alum to a quart, of water;
they are then to be putin a pan of
cold water once more; this changed
every three hours for three times; then
to stand over night in cold wa*er. In
the morning they are to be covered
with boiling water, boiled gently for
an hour, then drained and weighed.
To every pound of these shells allow a
pound of sugar and one-half piut of
water; boil and skim; add to this the
juice saved when scooping out; then
put the shells in and simmer until ten
der and clear, when they are to be
spread separately on flat dishes and
they and the syrup allowed to stand,
carefully covered for two days. After
these shells are tilled with the jelly
they are to be put, the open end down
ward, into glass jars,the syrup poured
over and the tops screwed on. The
sugar will insure the keeping. The
jelly should not be made until the
shells are ready, as it must be poured
while liquid.
llecipe*.
Fried Sweetbreads—Cut a suffi
ciency of sweetbreads into long slices
and paint them over with yolk of egg.
Strew each slice with a seasoning of
pepper, salt and bread crumbs and fry
in butter. Garnish with crisped but
ter and thin rolls of toasted bacon.
Haricot Bean Balls—Wash one pint
of cooked beans through a sieve; put
the pulp into a basin, break two eggs
into it and beat up with one beans;add
four tablespoonfuls of bread crumbs,
the same of finely chopped fat bacon,
saltspoonful of pepper and tablespoon
fill of minced parsley; 1 oil the mix
ture iuto balls, flour them, dip in egg
and bread crumbs and fry in deep hot
fat.
Coffee Jelly—Coffee makes an ex
cellent jelly. Soak one package of
gelatine in one pint of cold water,
then pour over it one quart of boiling
water, add one pint of granulated su
gar, the same amount of very strong
coffee, and one teaspoonful of brandy.
Strain this into a ring mould and put
in a cold place. When serving, fill
the centre with whipped cream, sweet
ened, also put the cream around the
outside.
Stewed Cucumbers 011 Toast—Pare
three good-sized cucumbers and cut
into quarters lengthwise. Slice thin
and putin granite saucepan, with one
tablespoontul of boiling water; cover
closely; they will cook tender in
twelve minutes and look transparent.
When about half done add one table
spoonful of butter and a saltspoouful
of salt, a shake or two of white pep
, per. Just before serving add three
| tublespoonfuls of sweet cream, and
spread 011 slices of toasted bread.
I This is a delicate, delicious breakfast
dish, and quickly prepared.
Shoulder of Veal a la Francaise—
I Get a shoulder with about two pounds
' of meat 011 it. Cut the veal in square
» mouthfuls and parboil them. Put the
bone and trimmings in one-lialf pint
water and stew slowly to make the
gravy. Place the squares of meat in
• a baking dish; season with one-half
I teaspoon of salt, one-eighth teaspoon
1 cayenne pepper, one-eighth teaspoo.)
mace, one-eighth teaspoon nntmeg
and the grated rind of the lemon left
from luncheon. Strain the gravy,pour
' in dish, sprinkle over one-half cup
bread crumbs, with tiny dots of but
ter, and bake a delicate brown.
i