Pandamonium

[…] Hsing Hsing and Ling Ling, the giant pandas given to the American people by Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, were introduced to the public Thursday. First Lady Pat Nixon, who received them on behalf of all Americans, said "Thank you so much for this gift of pandas for children of all ages, including me. I'm sure pandamonium will break out."

But Sunday was the last day of the pandas' six-month visit and the "pandamonium" was supposed to be over. Over the weekend, people crowded in for one last look.

Ever since it was known that the Toledo Zoo would be exhibiting a pair of the endangered giant pandas, a state of "pandamonium" has existed in this part of Ohio.

I sat down and tried to think of a logical way of explaining my scant knowledge of Mitchel Joseph, research lab director of the Memphis Zoo, whom I had seen a few times during the first few months of the Panda Pandamonium of last June. The entire city of Memphis was excited about the arrival of Le Le and Ya Ya, two young pandas from China. Joseph had been instrumental in managing the successful quarantine period.