Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

   It was found necessaryn Sunday last to repair the polar bear water tank at the zoo, and for the purpose the brown bears were driven into the right compartments, so that their pit could be occupied by the white bears temporarily. One of the iron doors of the compartment not being fully closed, one of the small brown bears discovered what he considered intruders in his family’s domain. Everytime one of the visitors passed this opening he rammed one paw through and tried to give him a swipe. Finally the male polar, when the paw was struck out, grasped it and dragged its owner through the narrow opening into the pit. The fight was terrific. The contestants were unevenly matched, but nevertheless the little brown bear stood up to the work with admirable pluck. Up and down the pit they went in the deadly struggle, the little fellow scoring the first point by bringing  blood from the polar’s head, for which he received a rap that made his teeth rattle and knocked him about ten feet. They came together again like a flash, and quicker than thought the polar rose on its hind legs with his enemy in his embrace. As the pressure  was applied the bones could be heard to crack. Presently the hug relaxed, and a dying bear dropped to the pavement. The polar now for the first time seemed to be fully enraged, and with great leaps jumped up and down on the prostrate foe, uttering deep, hoarse growls that called forth an answering chorus from all the animals surrounding. He at last held the carcass down with one paw and commenced rending the bear with his teeth. The keeper, who had opened the doors, making a passage way through to the polar quarters, now went to work with long pointed iron rod, and succeeded in driving the polars back to their quarters.-Cincinnati Commercial.