BEARS AS PETS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12773, 21 April 1910, Page 1

BEARS AS PETS.

"' ' uw^ me years a S° London ag ielegraph") the King's Own regin- ment was presented with a fine speci|O- men of a Canadian bear. It was as a© übiquitous as Mary's famous lamb rs everywhere the regiment went tho >■■£ bear was sure to go. It was uominal--3t ly in charge of an Irishman, but the & animal was so weli developed and musi©\ cular that it might more appropriately J - |, be said that the bear was in charge of « the man. Whatever the exact characl- ter of tho relations between the two, J " racy were soon inseparable, and the "t ; private would claim that his coinpanh ion. was more civilised and faithful " niu 8^ m ° ic °^ *^ c men P 1 Q regiment, c lhfe'fuerotion of the animal to his guar- • , «!•' JUftj Larry, became in time the most V s 1 Jigiiar feature of regimental life, and y I Vhen l «he man was asleep on. ft drowsy " ; summer afternoon the bear would > j watch over him with unflagging atten,- --"• I tion, waYning off any who would dis- • • turb his master's siesta. They were o | the best oi friends always, and for the } amusement of the regiment they were ii wont to enact wrestLing matches, tha 1- bear thoroughly entering . into the. c spirit of the friendly contest. The s animal certainly had the sporting*-in--0 stinct very well developed, and these c contests never had any untoward re- - suit, so faithfully did the animals r understand tho rules governing the • game. At last the end came, owing > to the unwisdom of Larry and two ' other men, who were^charged to take ■ care of their favourite «!uring the rail- ' way journey from Chester to Aldershot " when- the regiment was being transforr red from this Midland garrison town • to the south. Bruin and his eompan- > ions were in a carriage by themselves, ' and for a short' time peace reigned. 1 .The journey was, however, unavdid--1 ably interrupted about six miles outside Chester, owing to a .misunderstanding between the pet and his guardians. The later had looked fori ward to the journey as an occasion for a "spree," and they not only had some spirituous liquor themselves — to wit-, some rum — by way. of refreshment', but they permitted — or rather, tempted — Bruin to have some also. The result was as might have been expected. Bruin's heart was strong; but his head was weak. He was intended for a life-long abstainer; like Bill, in one of W. \V. Jacob's inimitable stories, " ho did not know his strength and his companions suffered accordingly. The drink got to his head, he became obstreperous, bit his companions, and finally escaped. The regimental surgeon attended the wounded men, and go his dismay he Learnt that they haii given the bear a long drink of rum, ■without thinking of what the effect would be. On arrival at Rugby the colonel received a telegram from the police at Chester, stating that the bear had returned to the city, where id been, regarded as mad, and instantly shot. Its head adorned tho officers' mess for many years, while a hair-dresser bought the carcase, and "The King's Own Bear's Grease," ;s reputed "to have made a large addition to his income. The 17th* Lancers also for many years had a bear as their pet. Its mother was shot in Casnmere by Prince .Adolplrus of Teck, -who broagnt the cub to Lucknow, where the regiment was stationed, and gave her as a present to his troop. The beast soon became the special pride of the Landers, until one day, to everyone's dhmay. it could not be found. The pot •t.i been given up ' {»•*, -thru ■ man came to the station with a very intelligent performing bear, and this animal the troopers recognised as Lizzie, their former companion. They at once took steps to regain possession of her, and for many years she continued a member of the regiment, living the simple life, and eating chiefly bread and milk, jams and fruit, and thus ' escaping from toothache, gout, and all the other ills which vegetarians attribute to a flesh diet. One idiosyncrasy even this pct — a model in its diet— soon acquired; it got into tlie habit of daily visiting the- canteen and was duly served with a pint of beer, which it consumed with a relish.