THE RIDDLE OF THE RHINO.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1930, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE RIDDLE OF THE RHINO.

At midnight all the cages in the Zoo opened. They opened once a year for ten minutes only. . “Whirr-rr!” out flew the birds. “Grr-rr!” out leapt the animals.' “Siss-ss!” out rolled the snakes. All were wild with delight to be free for ten mfniihji?. . “I want Mie rushing, foaming Amazon.’’ sniffed 'the alligator. ' ■ “I want my sunny African desert," roared the lion. “I want my deep, trackless jungle in Bengal,” snarled the tiger. ' * . “Free. free, set' us free altogether,’’ piped the kiltiwake. “Let us fly with the winds over the waves.’’ “How would the White Man like to be caged?” howled the black baboon; “Oh, that he would send us all home again. As it is ” “I will, ask you a riddle,” bellowed the rhinoceros from Java. “The riddle, D White Man's Magic, If you answer aright, the cages wilt open one day, never to shut again. Then the White Man will send you all home." “Wh-oop!” whistled the birds, fluttering madly with excitement. “Grr-good!” roared the animals, pawing the ground in ecstasy. “Ss-splendid!” hissed the swaying with delight. Then the African elephant trumpeted: “Freedom For AU.” “Now for the riddle,” cried George the giraffe,. “0 Rudolph, the rhino, the riddle.” “0: captive creatures in feathers and fur,. this is the riddle:. What wiki animal reminds you of golf?” '* ‘“What is golf?” growled Bingo the bear from the Atlas Mountains. “A game,” scoffed Henry the hyena, with a bitter laugh. “We are all ‘game’ to men.” ‘ ' They puzzled, and pawed, and whined uneasily. “Give it up,” snapped the Siberian wolf. “There isn’t any answer,” screamed the green cockatoo. He was cock-sure there wasn’t! “There is,” insisted the rhino. “The answer.is ait animal.’' “'Does the animal-answer know?” grunted the camel from Cairo. ■“He doesn’t know, but I know.” The rhino was excited for their ten minutes freedom was nearly over. “Quick!” lie bellowed, “What wild animal reminds you of golf?” “Lynx!” screeched the parrot,- the Great Macaw, “Why lynx?” roared the Zoo. “Golf-links,”, laughed the hyena, “Are we right, Rhino?” “You are!” he bellowed, as the cages closed on them again, “And, the White Man’s Magic will work.” It will. One day the cages will open, never to shut. Then all the captive creatures will be sent back home again. And the African elephant will trumpet: “FREEDOM FOR ALL.”