200 
LONDON BEARS. 
“ Never make a pet of a bear,” is the advice given 
by the experienced “ bear-ward ” at the Zoo. But 
though his conclusions are the result of longer and 
closer experience of the animals than is possessed by 
any one person in Europe, there is something so 
attractive in the apparent simplicity and bonhomie of 
the comfortable, warmly-clad, deliberate ursine race 
which appeals irresistibly to animal-loving Englishmen. 
Ever since the early middle ages the performing bear 
has been a favourite; and to this day there is in Turkey 
and Bulgaria a wandering race of gipsies who are 
known by the common name of “ bear-tamers,” from 
their traditional occupation of catching the young cubs 
in the forests of the Carpathians, and leading them 
through the villages as performers in all the feasts, 
whether Christian or Mussulman, of the ancient land 
of Thrace. 
The tame bear, which for the greater part of 1891 
and 1892 was exhibited in the London streets, and 
ultimately had an audience from her Majesty at 
Windsor Castle, was also a familiar acquaintance of 
