The Commonwealth

Daddy's
Evening
Fairy Tale
By MARY GRAHAM BONNER
COPYRIGHT BY WESTERN NEWSPAPER UNION

THE YAKUTAT BEARS.

"We came from Alaska," said Mr. Yakutat Bear, "and now we are in the zoo. Most certainly we have come some distance."

"Indeed, indeed, we have." said Mrs. Yakutat Bear. "I hope people won't have trouble pronouncing our family name. It's rather a hard one to pronounce, I'm told."

"I notice that when the keeper tells our name to anyone they have a hard time trying to say it after him."

"I don't mind in the least if they don't pronounce it quite correctly."

"Neither do I," said Mr. Yakutat Bear.

Well," Mrs. Yakutat Bear continued, "I like it here in the zoo. I'm glad people seem to admire us, for it is pleasant to be admired when one is on exhibition."

"Now, you've used a word I do not understand," Mr. Yakutat Bear said.

"When something is exhibited it means that it is being shown and that people can look at it. Now we are being exhibited, so we are on exhibition, and that means that people can come and look at us."

"So it is nice that they like to look at us and that they think we amount to something as long as we are here to be looked at."

"They like our large heads and our great big bodies and enormous claws."

"They wouldn't like to be too near our claws, they often say, and they seem to be glad that we're separated from them by great iron bars."

"They think our brown fur is very good looking, and they admire the way we stand and they think we've such nice strong shoulders and such strong backs."

"Sometimes folks mistake us for the Kadiak Bears. The Kadiak Bears come from the Kadiak Islands, Alaska, as every one knows."

"I doubt very much," said Mr. Yakutat Bear, "if any one knows that. Perhaps they do know it, but you know I don't suppose people spend their lives finding out just what part of the world certain bears come from.
To many people we're just bears, and it doesn't make much difference to them if they know our names or not."

"True, true," said Mrs. Yakutat Bear. "And I wouldn't be in the least insulted if I were called a bear, and didn't have my family name of Yakutat used. My name means, too, that I am from the Yakutat Bay, Alaska."

"But still it is nice when it is possible to let people know more about the different families of bears."

"I'd like to tell them, if I got the chance, that we do look like the Kadiak Bears, and that the color fur we use is just the same."

"So naturally there is every reason why they would confuse us. Every reason in the world why they should. I quite understand. But I would like to explain that the Kadiak Bears have long noses, which look quite pointed, and ours are short and stubby, or should I say we have snub noses?"

"Perhaps that is what you should say," growled Mr. Yakutat Bear pleasantly.

"We're all of the great family of Alaskan Brown Bears," he continued. "I might add that bit of information along with yours."

"Thank you, thank you," said Mrs. Yakutat Bear, "I'm glad to add to the information I wish to give to people.
And I hope that though there may be other things more interesting in their lives to think about, such as ice cream and circuses and candy, they will still give a little thought to the great family of bears."

"And I hope they'll like to hear about us for, growl, growl, we're big, interesting creatures and we have had our adventures, too. And we have enjoyed salmon as much as they've ever enjoyed ice cream."

"In fact, I think we've enjoyed it more."

"I almost believe we have," said Mr. Yakutat Bear, "In fact, I'm pretty sure of it, growl, growl, w-o-o-f, I'm quite sure of it!"