The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-15
From he Boston Courier.
THE ELEPHANT.

however, when the countries of the East
were tributary, the elephant formed a part
of the shows OF the circus, and one of
them in his time played many pats" At
the spectaeles given by Germanicus, the
elephants would hurl javelins, catch them
in their trunks, fight as gladiators, and GO
through even the Pyrrhic dance. Moreover,
they were trained to be rope-dancers in de-
fiance of their instinct of not standing on
any unsafe Foundation; for they will not
take step on any floor, bridge, &C., till
they have tested the strength of thsm.--
They 60 upon Falstaff principle, have
you any levers to lift me up, being DOWN."
Suetonius states that an elephant walked on
an inclined rope to the top of the theatre
and descended, bearing rider all the time;
and Seneca, whose Morals youch for his
truth, describes this rope-walking. After
the exercises of the circus, the magnificent
Romans Toasted the elephants. Splendid
touches were placed in the arena by the
side of tables resplendent with silver and
gold. Twelve elephants marched slowly
in, six males clad in the Roman robes Of
men, and six females dressed as women
They reclined onthe couclJes and fessted in
moderation and with dignity. They refus-
ed not wine, though they are moderate in
their cups, and they retired with perhaps as
much decorum as the same number of feast
ers OF more rational grade would do. An
elephant is, as Shylock says, "a huge feed
err" and requires daily about 200 lbs. of ali
ment. He is tenacious of life in proportion
to this immense consumption in supporting
it though it is perhaps chiefly from the
difficulty of inflictiDg wound through his
immense stratum of skin and flesh.
II has sometimes been necessary for safe
ty to kill domesticated elephant, especial
ly in his annual infuriatiens. At Geneva,
one was killed instantaneously by a swivel
discharged at his head but another at the
Exeter Exchange in London, gave more
trouble. A quarter of pound of calemel
was administered to him in his Cruel, but it
had no other effect but to make him suspi-
cious OF subsequent food, which he would not
take until his keeper had tasted. He made
a lunge at the gate, which SO shattered it
that it could not have withstood another,
and as there was no limit to the mischief
he might do in crowded street. it became
necessary to despatch him at once, though
1t seemed species of murder. A compos-
er of arsenic was mixed with his oats, but
he refused TO taste it, and was getting more
furious every moment. No field piece or
swivel could be had, and three rifles and
musket or two only were brought into the
action. When he made at the gate the
keepers faced him with long pixies. 1t is
probable that had he broke through he
would have fallen through the outward
foor, which was weak and over the den of
lion. The rifles were discharged without
much effect and the animal made terrific
plunge at the gate. He flew round the den
like race horse, and it was only after re-
ceiving about thirty balls that he was
brought partially down, but he leaped up
again and upwards of eighty balls were dis
charged before he fell a second time. Dur
ing all this time the habit of discipline SO
far prevailed. that when his keepers called
to him he would obey and turn; thus furnish
ing more favorable mark. The elephant,
however that was wantonly killed in this
country, was despatched by single ball.
Few elephants exceed ten feet,in height.
though skeleton in st. Petersburgh is six
teen and an half. The larger ones weigh
six or seven thousand pounds.
The great advantage of the elephant,
ond a part of his character for sagaci-
ty GENES from his trunk-ths is a hand
delicate enough to pick up pin and strong
enough to tear up tree lit is a spout a
pump, and though he rarely strikes with it,
he will use it in throwing stones with some
power and precision. The elephant is de-
signed for a long life-the sheep will wear
down its teeth and must therefore die in
less than fifteen years-horned cattle in
twenty years, horses in forty or fifty years
but the grinders of an elephant last a GEN.
fury, and are renewed. Pliny and Aristotle
state that the animal lives two or three hun
bred years; he comes to his growth in
about twenty -four years.
ANECDOTES OF THE ELEPHANT. The
elephant Romeo, (recenlly imported by
Pickering Dodge of Salem) appears to ex-
eel all others of his species brought to this
country, in intelligence and strict obedi-
ence. He does many things which are an
! indication Of human reasoning, rather than
simple, natural instinct. He was on his
way from the ship, to his new lodgings in
Pond-street, the other evening about nine
O'Clock, and many boys and gaping pedes-
TRANS were attracted to the sight The
crowd at length became great, and the un-
sesmly noises, troublesome all which the
elephant bore with the greatest GOODNESS,
: till his keeper, (who is a native of India, and
came cut expressly to accompany him.
{ showed signs Of displeasure, and directed
him to Tighten the multitude. Romeo sud-
denly turned and advanced to his annoying
pursuers with terrible fury, shaking the
ground with his stamp, and arousing people
in their dwellings by his peculiar "voice"
till be came almost within single step of
the front rank, when he stopped short, turn
ed again towards his keeper, and travelled
on without further trouble.
On arriving at his apartment, some ap-
prehensioDs were entertained, on account
of his size, that he could not get admit
lance. The elephant surveyed the door on
all sides, disregarded the solicitations of his
keeper to attempt an entrance, and express
ed an inclination to seek quarters else
where. The keeper bethought himself
stopped down, crawlsd through the door.
and beckoned his obedient Romeo to fol-
low him. The elephant examined caref.i,
ly the height and breadth of the doo- . .a:.
to ascertain how much he must st,r;d "a, 10 -; =
dimensions then he dropped mis- Lnsss AZ. n,s
struggled his way three IN the nsssaoe
chafng his sides seq sw5at as h ,Hagsi
his body along ts' doing no other ne Damage usgea
Boston Traveller.
DE WHAT you ArrEAR. The possession O.
s' at substantial learning, combined with souuc
common sense, will effectually secure a mar
: against the charge Of a vain display. Need
lessly assuming the appearance Of an estmabls
quality, justly exposes TO the suspicion Of beinl
D de6c;ent in that ntiaiitv II il ina eovva I'd tha