Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1912 — Zoo Keeper Says Lions Are Alienists [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Zoo Keeper Says Lions Are Alienists

NEW YORK.—"Bill” Snyder, head keeper atkhe Central Park menagerie, has qualified as an alienist. ‘'Bill” never graduated" from a cop lege, or served on an asylum’s staff, but whj>n a man named Fulberg tried to break Into the Hon cage, Snyder said at once he was crazy. How did he know? Because ’‘Bill” says the lions always try to make friends with an Insane person. "Yep, Tvs never seen it fall yet,” said "Bill.” “Whenever a crazy man gets near a lion, the animal just naturally comes up dose to the bars land tries to be a good fellow. He will wag his tail and purr like a cat. It’s wonderful, but it’s so. Why. J once knew a crazy num to take a lion’s food away from the brute, and the animal seemed to be trying to smile about the joke.” . >• 4a yqw makes a Hon so friendly with a cfazy man?" "BUI” was asked. “I never tried to figure it out but I i imagine It’s because when a man eraxv his animal nature cornea

out, and the lion recognizes itself In a little higher development "I wish I could be put on some lunacy commission*. I would bring the subject down here; take him up to the lion cage and mighty soon find out if heis sane-or not It would save the state and city a whole lot et money, as they wouldn’t have to hold a suspect under observation more than long enough to bring him to "Is the lion the only animal that tries to become acquainted with inna"No, they all do In some way or another. Fbr instance, the monkey makes an effort to search for fleas, and the elephant tries to give ths person a ride."