The Irish are a sensitive people. Three hundred members of
the Hibernian Societies of New York have a grievance,—we do not know whether they would call it a sentimental one,— against the Director of the Central Park Zoological Gardens, for calling, or allowing his keepers to call, ugly animals by Irish names, while ornamental English names are reserved for the more beautiful creatures. The two monkeys are, it appears, called affectionately 'Pat and Bridget O'Brien.' The baby hippopotamus is called 'Miss Murphy,' while the chimpanzee is called Crowley ' and the female Mrs. Crowley.' On the other hand, the swans are called 'Princess Maud' and 'Reginald,' and the gazelles have names of the same class. One of the deputation was anxious that the baboon should be called 'Balfour,' instead of Pat O'Brien ; ' and, in a word, that the names of the uglier animals should all be taken from those of the oppressors of Ireland. No doubt a New York election might be made to turn on this grievance, and Tammany Hall may yet be convulsed by the battle of the baboons. It is a pity the Irish cannot see that, if the baboons bad been called Lord and Lady Salisbury,' or Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone,' Englishmen would have thought this a special reason for liking the baboons, and not for sending a deputation to the Director of the Zoological Gardens.
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