The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-12-21

they are thoroughly washed with car
bOlic soap, and they are now in splen-
did condition. They are very fond OF
water, and when we are one the road !,
1t we come to q pond or river, it is al
most impossible to keep them out of it.
When they do get in they splash about
and cut up as many pranks AS so many
children. Like the children, too, they
. never know when they have been in
long enough, and frequently have.
considerable trouble In getting them
out. A singular thing about them
when we are travelling, and have to
camp out, il that they never go in
pairs. The females go by themselves,
and the males by themselves, and they
dOnOt seem to care at all for each other"
"Do you have much trouble in teach
ing them to perform 20 a
eyes, 1t requires great deal of pa
thence, and they are very timid about
mounting platforms, or going up and
down stairs but, they can 70 up and
down u sleeper flight or u hill than
horse. There is one satisfaction in
training them, though !; when they
have once learned u trick they never
forget it. We use blocks and fills in
teaching them to raise their feet, legs,
and bodies, and after they once under
stand what want them to do, have
hut little trouble with them. Some
times, when one does particularly we'll,
l give him q piece OF carrot or some
other dainty, and he knows what
that means precious quick"
edo you induce them to learn by a
series of rewards 90
"Not a bit of it. II we were to show
them too much kindness they would
get the upper hand of US in day, and
the trainers life would not he safe for
II minute. Fear is the only feeling that
controls them. They must know all
the time that they have a master. We
never punish them unless it is positive
ly necessary, and then seldom severely.
Their skin is as tender as horses, and
they feel the lash quite as acutely. The
instrument they fear most, though, is
this prod and hook, and the mere sight
Of it will, on ordinary occasions, bring
same as it would to tell Il child you
would prick it with u knife blade. To
show you how cunning they are: AT
rehearsal they do their work quickly,
and make no mistakes but ut night
they will loaf on me-go round picking
up pieces of paper, or do anything else
to make time-simPly because they
know l dare not punish them before
an audience. The people would think
1 was very cruel. Ifthey knew how
treacherous and savage the brutes are,
and how necessary it is to keep them
under control, they would think diff
ferently.''
'Have you no fear of them when in
the ring ?''
emo; but keep my eye on Chieftain
all the time, and at the least miss, II
tap of the whip reminds him that am
looking on. He understands this. too,
and knows just how far he can tritle
with me. He is the leader, and AS long
as he behaves 1 have no fear of the
others. With performing dogs and
horses the more kindness the keeper
shows the more successful tie is, and
strong affection frequently exists be-
tween the brutes and their trainers :;
out it is not so with elephants. They
never form any liking for the men
they have their ugly turns their keeper
is the first one they will attack. They
will select him OUT Off room full of
persons, and then, if he shows the
least fear, he is as good as dead.
The long list of keepers slain proves
that.''
"But have elephants no affection for
anything?''
"Oh, yes. They will form Il strong
attachment tor dog, or bear, or some
other beast. Baby here has Il great
liking for the camel Dick, and when
ever he is let loose will run over to
him and mount guard over him; and
he will not then permit anybody to
approach his favorite. I should hesitate
to go too near the camel until l had
first called Baby away; but strong as
is the affection they will thus form
for beast, they seldom have any for
man, and never the least for their
keepers" I
elf they are so very treacherous. l
suppose you have to stay with them
the greater portion of the time?'' af7
81 am never away from them for
more than an hour at Il time, day or
night. havea room here In the build
ing, and when we are travelling al
ways sleep in the same tent / have
a bed made near them, and they are
the most curious customers you ever
saw. They will never go to sleep until
they see me go to bed. Sometimes /
sit up reading for an hour or two after
the performances, and they will all
stand In line watching me until get
through. It's q queer sight-the great
garden dark as Egypt, only an occa-