Lebanon, Ohio
						June 5, 1887
Miss Callie Malone,	
	Dear Sister:
			I wrote to Ella this morning while waiting in the Depot.  I write to you now because I will start early in the morning for Boston, and will be traveling a day or two, consequently will not have another opportunity of writing soon.
While at Cincinnati we found that we could not visit the Zoological Gardens until 1 p.m.  So taking a walk up the street, we saw a very fine building into which people were crowding. I supposed it to be a church and induced my lady Friend to go with me.  On entering we soon found it to be a catholic church.
You were never in such a place were you?  Well, I wish I could bring the picture of it all to your mind as it is now before my mind’s eye.  The building was very beautiful inside.  The altar was very beautiful, and reminded me of the picture of the cathedral at Milan (you’ve seen this picture often in geographies).  The many beautiful candles burning like so many stars, and the statues of angels, and paintings of the Savior (I didn’t notice any of the virgin Mary) made me feel, especially after the wonderful music had commenced, that we were in the house of God.  The respect with which the catholics enter their church and deport themselves after being in is a rebuke to us.
They cross themselves on entering the door, and bend the knee on entering their pews and remain on their knees some time after entering.  All is quiet and ordered.  Six boys with white upper garments and black skirts entered three on each side of the priest who had in addition to a black cap upon his bald head, a tallow stiff covering for his back, very much resembling a turtle shell.  I shall not attempt to describe the various bows, movements and &c they went through, nor the unintelligible muttering, which would bring to your mind the “moanings” of our own negroes.  Another priest, escorted by two other boys, ascended the pulpit, which resembled a very fine judge’s stand at some fair, and which was located on the right of the house.  He preached a pretty dry sermon in English of about 30 or 35 minutes duration.  Seeing a man take a basket with a long stick handle to it and commence to pass through the house, we concluded it was time to go back to the station and eat some dinner.  Our food by the way costs just about half what it would in Memphis.
But you see I’m getting sleepy and I’ve already written four pages, so you must be content with a short description of the Zoo.  You’ve been in a show?  Well, this is a very big show.  bears, foxes, kangaroos, Llamas, Emus, Esquimo dog, deer, seals, snakes.  Every kind of carnivorous animals from little baby leopards to the great king of beasts.  Birds of all kinds, and Monkeys (would without end!).  Buffaloes, Zebras &c &c.  By the bye one of the Zebras came close to the fence.  I gave him some grass and he felt so grateful that he gave me the invitation to stroke him, which I did gladly, and few strands of his mane is now in my pocket book as an evidence that I’ve had my hand on a real live Zebra.  I didn’t try to stroke the hyena nor insist on shaking hands with the monkeys.  We were in the gardens over two hours yet we never had time to stay longer, even if we had strength enough to have walked further.  The great pleasure in visiting the gardens is in seeing the animals in a state of nature.  The bears in the trees, the pelicans in the pond, &c &c.
You will excuse me if I quit off right here by saying that Mr Holbrook met us at the depot and escorted us to the lyceum a large building we now lodge in.  He has been very attentive to us.  But I must wait until I get back from my trip to the east before I can tell you much about Mr Holbrook or the school.  I am well pleased with what I have seen.
You can show this letter to all our friends and relations as a sign of my good will to them all.  										
						F. M. Malone