Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-09
-cse4S,e1e


| From the Seventh Part of the IS Library of
entertaining Knowledge" we select the follow
ing short anecdote. showing the amazing docii-
! ty of that stupendous animal the ELEPHANT
The Duke of Devonshire's Elephant was kept
at his Grace's villa at Chiswick.under circumstan-
ces peculiarly favorable to its health and docIlity.
| The house in which she was shut up was of
large dinentions, weiisentilat ted and arranged
in every particular with, proper regard to the
comfort OF the animal. But she often had the
range of spacious paddock; and the exhibition
Of her sagacltv was, therefore, doublv pleasing.
for it was evidently not affected by rigid coniine-
mcnt AT the voice of the keeper. she came ont
of her house. and Immediately took up broom.
| read, to perform his bidding, in sweeping the
paths or The grass; she would follow him round
the enclosure with pail or watering pot, show
ing her readiness to take that share OF labor which
the elephants of tho east willing to perform.
Her reward was carrot and some water; but
previously to satisfying her thirst by an ample
draught, she would exhibit her ingenuity in emp.
tying the contents of soda water bottle, which
was tightly corked. This she effected in sin
gularlv adroit manner; pressing the small bottle
against the ground with her eror" Gus foot, so as
to hold it at an angle of about IS degrees. she
gradually tM visited out the cork with her trunk.
although it was very liltle above the edge Of the
neck: then without altering the position. she turn
ed her truck round the bottle 50 that she might
reverse il, and TINS empty the water into the eX
trenr,y Of the proboci,. This she accomplished
without si,liiin9 drop. and she delivered the
empty bottle To her kerrer before SHE attempted
TO dscharcc the contents of her trunk into the
mouth She performed another trick which
quired equal niCrty aed patience. The keeper,
who WIS accustomed 10 ride an her neck, like
The ;aohouis or elephant drivers OF India. had
large cloth OF housing. heb he spread over her
when he thu. beslrole Ter IN somewhat of orient.
al ate. pon aIis|ijinS. which she allowed
ed him 10 do by kuerling. he desired her to take
OF the cloth. This she effected by putting the
muscles If her !oins IL action. so that the snrnk-
lay of her i0o~e skin gave motion to the cloth.
and il gradually wrissled On one side till it fell
BY it, Owu Weigh.
The coh was lhe0 81 course in heap. but the
elephant spreading it rareiol'y upon the grass
with her trunk. fold Il u upa, napkin l. folded.
ti Il VAS suite icn,'r a,aapact for her purpose.
She 'hen poised il wilt ar trunk for 4 few Sc
cHGd-. and by one .rrA t''cew II OVER head 10 the
centre OF her hi K. where il remained as steady
IS If the burden had beea ali g,,ed By human
hands. ;he siiectpn Il TINS p0es animal lor Ter
keeper was very stpai. che man "bo-had the
charge ni her in 1928, unen wc,saw hrr had st-
tended her for five wears. having succeeded ana
ther who had been With her EIGHT or ten years.
" hen first placed under his charge, Size was IN.
tractable Tor some time. csidcntI rc%-rtlUg he
loss Of her former irleni; but she graz aaIi, be.
came obedient and he'd. and wonid CIV after
him whenever he wa. absent Tor more thar few
h"nrs, The elephants q India, in the same way.
cannot easily be broushl % obey strange, and
manifest a rema,katle know ledge of rheir DID
mohouts if they shaiI meet after Il long ,srara-
ton. The elephant nf he Duke Of l. vonsi,ire
was about 2l years old whrn she died. early in
1899. We have understood that RE disease
which carried her oil WIS pulmonary consarop-
ton.
-" emperGn'e >oejey "A special meeting
1t 'i's Sooi"', WI . b. III. =, ,,,utl he