along and revise it if I can scrape up enough ambition after a 
few days at sea. 
The af ternoon was spent in the "backyard", visi+i ng with 
Dick Kroner, Gargantua’s keeper, who gave us a demonstration oi 
ho?/ to handle a stubborn gorilla. If Gargantua won’t go into 
the shifting box at feeding time, Dick borrows a large indigo 
snake from the lady snake-charmer, and the minute the gorilla 
sees the snake, he makes a wild dash for the part i t i oned- off 
portion of his cage, leaving the main part free so that the 
attendant can get in and do any necessary clean ing. 
\ 
Dinner at Luchow's was quite a banquet. The Knights and 
Steels joined us, Mort and DeBarry, Gene Penn, and Hoy. Bill aa d 
I were both too tired to eat, and about nine o’clock we started 
down to the pier, stopping on the way to buy some can openers 
some beer, and a to ttle of buttermilk (the last for me). 
The ship was crowded with those who had come down to see their 
friends off/ Kot until our own friends had left, and we were 
standing at the rail waving to them, did we see the Shippens, or 
Dr. Gray. To our great surj/rise we found that Dr. Swingle was 
also aboard, and Sasha Siemel, the tiger nan. Never have we sailed 
with so many friends on the passenger list. 
Exactly at midnight wre sts,rted sliding slowly down the North 
River, and a few moments later the famous skyline of lower Man- 
hattan, brilliant with lights even at that time of night, was left 
behind. Frances stood at the rail and wept, overcome with emotion. 
But we all went to bed without the formality of a wave at the 
Statue of Liberty. 
April 8th. At Sea. 
We awoke to find wind and rain sweeping the deck, and the 
sea running high. Immediately after breakfast Bill and I fought our 
way out to the spot between decks where most of our animals are 
stored, and under uncomfortable conditions, staggering as the deck 
heaved, managed to feed and water the bewildered little Zoo. 
April 9-11 At Sea 
Things settle down, of course. We make ray friends among 
the passengers, among them Sasha's companion, Miss Bray of 
Philadelphia, who is going to shoot jaguars with bow and arrow; 
Mr and Mrs. Burns and Mr. Brooks, all of Hawaii; Mr. Edwards 
Mrs. Massie and her daughter, all of Barbados. 
Food is good, service excellent, the ship comfortable, and 
the days breezy but gradually getting warmer. One night there is 
a floor show, another night a movie or a bingo game. Stars get 
brighter, and. the Southern Gross begins to lift above the late 
horizon. 
Bill Shippen has taken over my job of assistant animal 
keeper, and he and ray Bill work for an hoi.tr or so every morning 
