Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-22
, SAGACITY OF THE ELEPHANT.

Two or tnree years, to young man Who
took care of it, and who taught it various
y exercises, which he made it repeat for the
) amusement of the public. 1t rendered
: entire obedience to its master, and felt a
j lively affection for him. Not only did it
submit, without the smallest hesitation, to
all his commands, but it was even unhap-
; Ply in his absence it repealed the adj
!, vances of every other person, and seemed
to eat with a kind of regret, when its food
was presented by strange hand.
So long as this young man was under
the eyes of his father, the proprietor OF the
elephant, whether the influence OF the
family restrained him, or age had not vet
developed his bad propensities, he con-
Quoted himself with propriety towards the
animal intrusted to his care; but when
the elephant came into possession of the
royal menagerie, and the young man who
was taken into its service was left to. HIM
self, things became changed. He gave
himself up to dissipation, and neglected
his duties he even went so far in his
moments of drunkenness, as to strike his
elephant. The latter from being habitual-
ly cheerful, became melancholy and taci-
turn, sinsomuch as to be thought unwell.
1t still however obeyed, but not with that
briskness which showed that all its ex-
ercises were regarded by it as amuse-
ments signs of Impotence were even
sometimes manifested, but they were inn
mediately repressed.
1t was obvious that very different feel
lngs were combating within, but the
situation so unfavourable to obedience to
which this violent state reduced it, did
not the less contribute to excite the dis
content of his keeper. 1t was in vain that
the most positive orders were given to this
young man never to strike his elephant,
, and that he was made to see that good
treatment alone could restore the docilitv
of the animal. Mortified at having lost
his authority over the elephant, and espe-
cially at not going through his exercises
with the same success as formerly, bis
irritation increased, and one day being
more unreasonable than usual, he struck
his animal with SO much brutality, that
! the latter, goaded to the utmost, uttered
such cry of rage, that its terrified mas
ter, who had never heard It emit such
terrible roar, ran off precpitately: and it
was well for him, for henceforth the ele-
plant would not so much as suffer him to
come near it; at the mere sight of him it
became furious, and all the means which
afterwards were employed in order to
inspire it with better feelings, were ineE
fectual. Hatred supplied the. place of
love; indocility succeeded to obedience
and as long as this animal lived, these two
feelings predominated in it.
| Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine.
A Coop ONE. In the present day.
when old bachelors have become so Sc
rious an evil as to need Legislative inter-
ference, we think that the following expe-
dent, adopted by lady in Connecticut,
OF rather desperate age, will afford an
excellent hint to some of our statesmen.
towards an effectual remedy. The cir
cumstances are these "A young lady
became extravagantly fond of young
lawyer in the neighbourhood, who treated
her Partially with great levity. Finding
her suit rather hopeless, and being fully
determined to enter the state of matrimo-
ny at some rate or other, she adopted the
following plan. All at once she was taken
ill, and her malady seemed to threaten
death; at this crisis she sent for the young
lawyer to draw her will, and to his utter as
constituent, she disposed of an enormous
estate, in legacies, and endowing public
institutions She shortly after, however,
recovered to enjoy her own wealth, and
the young lawyer began to feel something
like love for her; his addresses became
constant, and his attentions marked in
fact, in a short time they were married.
but alas ! he had to take the wiH for the deed.
The great Frederic of Prussia, while
reviewing his troops, observed in,the ranks
corporal with a splendid watch chain
hanging from his pocket. Surprised at
SO costly an appendage in the ranks, and
thinking that possibly it might have been
the reward of some brave action, the king
determined to inquire further into the
affair and to that end, stopped his horse
in front Of the soldier and enquired.
What IS the clock 2" The corporal, agi-
tated at being accosted by his sovereign,
and still more so from the impossibility Of
his answering the question, blushed, and
would fain have evaded the inquiry. The
king reiterated the question; and the
poor fellow was constrained to draw his
chain when the king, discovering only
bullet at the end of it, again inquired,
Well corporal, what does that tell you %
Pardon me, my sovereign, says the cor
poral, it does not indeed inform me the
hour of the day bnt received it in the
: service of my country, and keep it to re-
mind me of my duty to be ever ready to
| die for your majesty. Pleased with the