The Lady and the Panda

by Vicki Croke

  230 Calvert whiskey Harkness to Perkins, 1 Dec. 1937, refers to ad; author has a copy of one from Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 1938.

  230 There was a jointed “Baby Panda Here Has Own Amah, Passport,” China Press, 16 Jan. 1938; also newspaper ad from the Brookfield Zoo archives.

  230 By Christmastime “Study Mystery of Su-Lin's Death,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Apr. 1938.

  230 Dionne quintuplets Correspondence between the Brookfield Zoo and the Dionne Quintuplet Guardianship, 15 Dec. 1937 and 26 Mar. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  230 None of the profits “Panda Andy,” article from an unidentified newspaper, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  230 Adding in the money Harkness to Pierce and Perkins, 16 Dec. 1937.

  231 She gauged the competition Harkness to Pierce, 10 Dec. 1937.

  231 Although Smith had not “Floyd Smith in China to Hunt Elusive Panda,” Washington Post, 29 Dec. 1937.

  231 His indignation Fragment of letter from Floyd Tangier Smith to his sister Ruth, n.d., but must have been written in fall 1937 from, most likely, London, Floyd Tangier Smith Papers, Library of Congress. See also Floyd Tangier Smith, “Collecting a Zoo in China,” Home and Empire, Nov. 1937, p. 6, Smith Papers.

  231 With his latest associations Floyd Tangier Smith, “Hunting the Giant Panda,” Listener Rack, Smith Papers.

  231 He was even feeling upbeat Smith, “Collecting a Zoo in China,” p. 6.

  231 And in another article Smith, “Hunting the Giant Panda.”

  231 He said the giant panda Ibid.

  231 “contented, well fed brood sow” Smith, document/letter 12 Oct. 1937, Smith Papers.

  231 He could not Smith, “Collecting a Zoo in China,” p. 6.

  232 Things began to look up Harkness to Pierce and Perkins, 16 Dec. 1937.

  232 Despite the mood-lifting Harkness, Lady and the Panda, p. 19.

  232 She still believed Harkness to Pierce and Perkins, 16 Dec. 1937.

  232 Once she had made up Ibid.

  CHAPTER 12: ONE GRAND THRILL

  235 Ruth Harkness's days “Panda Is Bored by Jap Air Raid,” Associated Press, dateline Hankow, China, 6 Jan. 1937, Brookfield Zoo archives; and “Su-Lin's Baby Sister Braves Hanchow [sic] Raid on Way Here,” Chicago Daily News, 7 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  235 Resplendent in a turban “Second Baby Giant Panda Caught Alive Arrives Here,” China Press, 14 Jan. 1938, with many pictures of Ruth and Su-Lin, one on ship.

  235 Japanese air raid hit “Japanese Air Raids on Hankow, Many Fires Blaze, Hospital Wrecked by Planes' Bombs,” South China Morning Post, 7 Jan. 1938.

  235 A sortie of pursuit planes “Su-Lin's Baby Sister Braves Hanchow [sic] Raid.”

  235 As Harkness emerged “Another Baby Giant Panda Found by Mrs. Harkness in West China,” New York Times, 8 Jan. 1938.

  235 United Press “Chicago Giant Panda to Get a ‘Sister’ Soon,” United Press item, no newspaper affiliation attached, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  236 The bloodshed “Panda Is Bored.”

  236 Beginning on December 13 Spence, Search for Modern China, p. 423; and Iris Chang, The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II (New York: Penguin Books, 1997), p. 3.

  236 On December 18 New York Times, 8 Jan. 1938.

  236 a hidden adult panda China Press, 14 Jan. 1938.

  236 As the animal fled “Panda Hunter Tells Story of Patient Quest,” Chicago Sunday Tribune, 20 Feb. 1938.

  236 The days without “New Trip Planned by Mrs. Harkness,” New York Times, 27 Feb. 1938.

  238 In the big city Ruth Harkness, “In a Tibetan Lamasery,” Harkness says this party was thrown in the beautifully appointed home of her American hostess.

  238 The China Journal China Journal, “Travel and Exploration Notes,” Jan. 1938, p. 38.

  239 She was convinced Harkness to Edward Bean, 3 May 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  239 Harkness had come Tuchman, Stilwell, p. 180.

  239 upper reaches of government “Baby Panda Here Has Own Amah, Passport,”China Press, 16 Jan. 1938.

  239 Later, this one too Morris and Morris, Men and Pandas.

  239 Officials in Hankou New York Times, 9 Jan. 1938, reports Harkness arrives by plane in Hong Kong from Hankow on Sun., 8 Jan. 1938. Says she plans to sail for U.S. Mon. Also “Panda Is Bored.”

  239 “the queerest passenger” “Baby Panda Here; Curious Air Passenger Arrives from Hankow” South China Morning Post, 10 Jan. 1938; and “Panda Playmate for Su-Lin Starts Long Trip to Chicago Zoo,” Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo Archives. Called Mei-Mei here. See also South China Morning Post, 10 Jan. 1938; “Giant Panda Expected in Colony To-day,” Hong Kong Telegraph, 8 Jan. 1938, p. 1; and “Su Lin and Friend,” Chicago Times 9 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives (called Diana).

  240 “the dark, sharp features” “Second Baby Giant Panda Caught Alive Arrives Here,” China Press, 14 Jan. 1938.

  240 Understanding just what they “Panda Hunter Tells Story of Patient Quest,” Chicago Sunday Tribune, 20 Feb. 1938.

  241 The city was still Dong, Shanghai, p. 256.

  241 The International Settlement “Canadian Pacific and Dollar Ships Resume Shanghai Calls Soon, Empress of Asia Due from Vancouver Monday,” China Press, 20 Jan. 1938; and North China Daily News, 26 Jan. 1938.

  241 plate glass in its front Dong, Shanghai, p. 257.

  241 Ernie Kaai's Ad from China Press, 20 Jan. 1938.

  241 And the movies “‘The Good Earth,’ Epic Film of China, Opens at Nanking Tonight,” China Press, 6 Jan. 1938; and “Great Picture Opens Tonight at Metropole; Gala Premiere of ‘Lost Horizon,’ Starring Ronald Colman,” China Press, 27 Jan. 1938.

  241 Fights broke out “‘Incident’ Mars Evening of Night-Lifers at Ballroom,” China Press, 15 Jan. 1938; and “Four Japanese Cause Trouble in Dance Hall; Want to Fight Patrons, Hostesses in Great Eastern Ballrooms,” China Press, 20 Jan. 1938.

  241 The Japanese were beginning “Whither Shanghai? The Conquerors Show Their Authority,” Hong Kong Daily Press, 8 Jan. 1938.

  241 the papers would report “Terrorists Hurl 4 Bombs in Foreign Areas Within Hour,” China Press, 28 Jan. 1938.

  241 To cope “Baby Panda Here Has Own Amah,” North China Daily News, 23 Jan. 1938; and China Press, 23 Jan. 1938.

  241 Photographs of the woman “Exhibited to Aid Refugees,” Shanghai Times, 27 Jan. 1938.

  241 But with Diana “Baby Panda Here Has Own Amah.”

  241 Harkness's celebrity “Sea Voyage of a Baby Panda,” Christian Science Monitor, 1 June 1938, p. 10.

  242 With the publication “Lady & Pandas,” Time, 24 Jan. 1938.

  242 The New York Times Book “The Adventurous Lady Who Captured the Panda,” New York Times Book Review, 16 Jan. 1938.

  242 For better or worse Poore, “Books of the Times.”

  242 And The Christian Science “Lady and Panda: Book News of the Day,” Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jan. 1938, p. 20.

  242 Time grumbled “Lady & Pandas.”

  242 Because she didn't write Poore, “Books of the Times.”

  242 What no one could miss Ibid.

  242 And its Sunday New York Times Book Review, 16 Jan. 1938.

  243 While a winter chill “Baby Giant Panda Slated for ‘Personal Appearance’ Here,” China Press, 22 Jan. 1938.

  243 The upending of everything Mu Soeng, The Diamond Sutra: Transforming the Way We Perceive the World (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000).

  243 While the press “Panda Hunter Tells Story.”

  243 When she first wired Telegram, Ruth Harkness to Brookfield Zoo, 30 Dec. 1937. Full text reads: HAPPY NEW YEAR SMALL SISTER NO HUSBAND, AND IS SIGNED HARKNESS, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  243 “Su-Lin” had wired back Telegram, Brookfield Zoo to Ruth Harkness, 1 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  243 The Chicago Times “Sorry, Su-Lin. It's a Girl! Love Hopes of Giant Panda Blasted,” Chicago Times, 7 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

 
; 244 The Chicago American “Here's Chance to Get Rich, Find Su-Lin a Playmate,” Chicago American, 20 Jan. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  244 Even without Dan Reib Jane Reib Pollock (Reib's daughter), telephone conversation with author, 2 Dec. 2003.

  244 Sowerby showed “Baby Giant Panda Invades Sanctum of Shanghai Club Bar,” China Press, 25 Jan. 1938; China Journal, Feb. 1938, p. 97, reports the date as Sat., 22 Jan. 1938; “Baby Panda Here Has Own Amah”; and “Second Baby Panda Leaves for America,” China Press, 29 Jan. 1938. Visit at noon on the day of Harkness's departure.

  244 Under the sponsorship “Baby Giant Panda Slated for ‘Personal Appearance’ ”; “Baby Panda Earns Lot [sic] of Money,” Shanghai Times, 28 Jan. 1938; ad that ran in the local papers, including North China Daily News and Shanghai Post and Mercury, and China Journal, Feb. 1938, p. 97.

  244 From 5 to 7 P.M. All the ads said from 5–7 P.M., but China Press reported it lasted three hours—from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. “Panda's Debut Here Attracts Large Crowd,” China Press, 27 Jan. 1938. Later Harkness told an American reporter that the event was two hours, “Mei-Mei Entertains Self by Playing with Plumbing,” unidentified clip. Albuquerque paper, Feb. 1938.

  244 Diana alternately sprawled “Ruth Harkness Completes West China Expedition,” China Press, 27 Jan. 1938; “Travel and Exploration Notes,” China Journal, Jan. 1938, p. 37; and Shanghai Times, 28 Jan. 1938.

  244 This time her visit “Baby Giant Panda Invades Sanctum.”

  244 Thinking of Smith's fiasco “Second Baby Panda Leaves for America,” China Press, 29 Jan. 1938; “Baby Giant Panda Slated for ‘Personal Appearance.’ ” Also Associated Press, 29 Jan. 1938, says Seattle, and that it departs on the 29th; China Journal, Feb. 1938, says Vancouver. It was a Canadian line; historical information about the ship suggests that Vancouver must have been the destination.

  245 At 5 P.M. on Friday China Press, 29 Jan. 1938.

  245 Within minutes “Sails with Baby Panda,” New York Times, 30 Jan. 1938.

  245 Out on the Huangpu “Shanghai Experiences First Snowfall of This Winter,” China Press, 29 Jan. 1938.

  245 It would be good “Season's First Snowfall a Happy Omen for New Year,” Shanghai Times, 30 Jan. 1938.

  245 The press was certain Herschell Brickell, “How a Dress Designer Became the World's Best Panda-Catcher,” “Books on Our Table,” no publication on clip, but Brickell wrote for New York Herald Tribune, New York Evening Post, and Saturday Review of Literature. Clip has to be from January, by reference to Diana. Also “Lady & Pandas.”

  CHAPTER 13: HELLO, IMUSTBEGOING

  247 After she docked “Baby Panda Coming Here by Plane,” clip from an unidentified San Francisco paper; “Baby Panda Arrives—Beds in Tub,” San Francisco paper, 15 Feb. 1938; and “Mei-Mei Entertains Self by Playing with Plumbing,” in unidentified Albuquerque paper, Feb. 1938.

  247 before boarding “Sought Pandas Because Few White Men Caught Them,” undated article stamped “New Mexico State Tribune Company,” Feb. 1938; “Mei-Mei Entertains Self”; and “Su-Lin Greets Sister with a Poke on Nose; Then 2 Pandas Kiss and Make Up at Zoo,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938.

  247 At every stop “Sought Pandas Because Few White Men”; “Panda's New ‘Boy Friend’ Is a Girl!” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12 Feb. 1938; and picture from unidentified San Francisco paper, marked 14 Feb. 1938.

  247 As the two sat “Baby Panda in Chicago After 15,000-Mile Trip,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938, Associated Press, dateline Chicago, 18 Feb. 1938.

  248 Before the assembled crowd Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938; some details from photographs of the scene from Mary Lobisco's family archives.

  249 During the course Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938.

  249 That bound her to the Chinese Ibid.

  249 The group was soon “Baby Panda in Chicago”; “Panda Hunter Tells Story of Patient Quest,” Chicago Sunday Tribune, 20 Feb. 1938.

  250 The newsreels covered “Mei-Mei Entertains Self.”

  250 Appearing with staff members Robert Bean to Ruth Harkness, 5 Mar. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  250 At first, Su-Lin Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938.

  250 Su-Lin, known Edward Bean to Harkness, 9 Dec. 1937, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  250 By now Diana “Giant Panda Expected in Colony Today,” Associated Press, 6 Jan. 1938; Associated Press report dateline Hong Kong, 8 Jan. 1938; Hong Kong Telegraph, 8 Jan. 1938. According to China Press, New York Times (14 Jan. 1938), North China Daily News, ad, 25 or 26 Jan. 1938, Shanghai Times, 27 Jan. 1938; “Panda Flies to San Francisco,” New York Times, 13 Feb. 1938.

  250 Taking a suite “Panda Hunter Tells Story.”

  250 Zoo life seemed Harkness to Perkins, on Stevens Hotel Chicago stationery, dated “Tuesday.”

  250 In light of his continuing “Study Mystery of Su-Lin's Death,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Apr. 1938.

  250 Harkness owned him Chicago Daily Tribune, 19 Feb. 1938.

  250 When she swept “New Trip Planned by Mrs. Harkness,” New York Times, 27 Feb. 1938, sec. 2.

  251 “a grand bedfellow” Harkness to Robert Bean, 7 Mar. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  251 She felt duty-bound “New Trip Planned by Mrs. Harkness.”

  251 If she was successful Ibid.

  251 After the endless nights Harkness to Perkins, Harkness has marked “Tuesday,” and in handwriting, someone has noted “3/3/38” (which was not a Tuesday).

  251 That Tuesday Harkness to Perkins, “Tuesday” (must be 1 Mar. 1938). Invitation to Perkins to join her, telegram, 24 Feb. 1938.

  251 She asked for a chance Harkness to Perkins, Tuesday, or “3/3/38.”

  252 Her patient friend In ibid., Harkness says she will be moving into an apartment at 10 West Tenth Street. And when Perkie visits, Harkness is clearly doing the cooking and cleaning, but all correspondence afterward is on Algonquin Hotel stationery, and letters to her carry that address, such as her 7 Mar. to Robert Bean, and Robert Bean to Harkness, 13 Apr. 1938, Harkness to Edward Bean 20 Apr. and 3 May 1938; Edward Bean to Harkness, 18 May 1938.

  252 As a host Another letter from Harkness to Perkins, marked “Tuesday.” From clue in letter of 1 Mar. (invitation), likely 15 Mar. 1938.

  252 In March she Hedda Hopper, “In Hollywood,” Washington Post, 25 Mar. 1938; “11 Women Are Chosen As the ‘Best Dressed’: Medals Awarded by Designers to Leaders in Various Fields of United States Life,” clip from unidentified newspaper, Harkness family files.

  252 Alongside several exotic “Lone Woman Explorer on the Trail of the Panda, Rarest of Quadrupeds,” New York Times, 27 Mar. 1938, rotogravure picture sec.

  252 She gave lectures “Lewis Makes Plea for ‘Ivory Tower,’” New York Times, 31 Mar. 1938.

  252 The next day “Books Published Today,” New York Times, 31 Mar. 1938; Washington Post, “Book of the Week,” 5 June 1938.

  252 The illness appeared Robert Bean to Harkness, 7 Apr. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  253 Mary Bean found Ibid.

  253 It had not been there “Panda's Death a Mystery” Associated Press, 2 Apr. 1938: “The black and white panda, which died yesterday, was supposed to have been suffering from a throat infection after choking on an oak twig Sunday.”

  253 His health deteriorated “Study Mystery of Su-Lin's Death,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Apr. 1938.

  253 Distraught zoo officials “Pandas Galore,” Time, 11 Apr. 1938.

  253 On Friday the Beans Edward Bean to Harkness, 14 Apr. 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  253 Telegrams of condolence Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Apr. 1938.

  253 color photograph of Su-Lin Chicago Tribune, 15 May 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  253 As his popularity “Panda's Death a Mystery.”

  253 But “of her countless” “Su-Lin, America's Favorite Animal, Dies of Quinsy in Chicago Zoo,” Life, 11 Apr. 1938.

  253 Reached with the news Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Apr. 1938.

  254 “
could not feel” “Panda, Pet of Zoo, Is Dead in Chicago,” New York Times, 1 Apr. 1938.

  254 The Beans assured Edward Bean to Harkness, 14 Apr. 1938.

  254 A distinguished panel Field Museum News 9, no. 7 (July 1938), Field Museum archives.

  254 The cursory postmortem “Panda's Death a Mystery”; New York Times, 3 Apr. 1938, p. 23.

  254 The body “Cause of Su-Lin's Death Sought in Post-Mortem,” Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 1938.

  254 That meant that the altitude Herbert E. Bradley, atty. and member of the zoo's animal committee, to Wilfred Osgood, Field Museum, 6 June 1938; and return letter from Osgood and D. D. Davis, 7 June 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  254 Analyzed sections O. H. Robertson, M.D., Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, to Wilfred Osgood, Field Museum, 11 May 1938; and Clifford C. Gregg, Field Museum, to Herbert E. Bradley, 10 June 1938, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  254 The press was agitating “Su-Lin Victim of Pneumonia, Museum Holds,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 14 Apr. 1938.

  254 In fact, it would take Su-Lin discovered to be a male during dissection, reported in Time, 1 May 1939. And in Field Museum News, n.d., but must be May 1938, p. 7; Chicago Daily Tribune, 14 Apr. 1938; Field Museum News 9, no. 7 (July 1938); and Chicago Daily News, rough copy dated 1 Dec. 1939, Brookfield Zoo archives.

  254 A taxidermist Field Museum News 9, no. 7, (July 1938).

  255 Elizabeth Smith was telling “Four Giant Pandas Are Captured by Floyd Smith in Western China,” New York Times, 4 Apr. 1938.

  255 Papers everywhere “Panda Market Wabbles [sic]; Four More Found,” Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 1938.

  255 Time magazine Time, 11 Apr. 1938.

  255 The Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 1938.

  255 And The New York Times “Four Giant Pandas.”

  255 Francis E. Manierre Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 1938.

  255 The zoo had “Panda Hunter Tells Story.”

  255 Besides, the zoo Robert Bean to Harkness, 13 Apr. 1938.

  255 The first day Robert Bean to Harkness, 23 Mar. 1938.

  255 A poll conducted “Diz and the Panda Tie as Attractions,” Washington Post, 3 June 1938.