The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-04
THE BABY ELEPHANT,
How the Young Animal Conducts Itself
The Mothers Demonstrations,
philadelphia Times,l

The baby elephant s the talk Of the town.
In fact, her ladyship is In danger OF being
spoiled by the attentions that are being show
cred upon her from all quarters, not to speak
of her liability to fall ali early victim to too
| much gingerbread end peanuts, with which
we'll meaning but decidedly injudieious visit
ors would patnper her. Yesterday there were
not less than 900 people at the stables of
Ridge avenue, craving admittance. Money
was offered In some Instances for the privi-
lege OF getting peep at the little stranger.
It Is needless to say that advantage was not
taken OF the unbounded curiosity OF the par
ties In question, and they were allowed to
enter and view the latest addition to the ele-
phant family to their hearts content.
In the afternoon, about 3 O'Clock, the little
elephant dissngaged itself from the old ele-
plants legs, walked off to the edge OF the ring
which the mother had made by tramping
| around so many times with her feet, and there
| curling itself up on 81 little bundle OF hay,
Coolly went to sleep. Visitors who came after
this saw only q little lump OF an animal about
| the size OF Newfoundland dog, with It's body
doubled up In the form of o serni-eirele, so
that the soles OF It's fore feet were almost
| planted against the soles OF Its hind feet. and
the queer little trunk and head were snugly
| reposing against It's breast, for the time being
| forgetful OF It's troubles. The mother kept
walking around and smiling at 1t with her
| trunk, until finding 1t fast asleep, she turned
| away and began to nbbe at her hay. Mean
| time, Ii any one would pass near the baby
she would turn toward 1t and throw out
her trunk as sort of guard. The baby
| hour, the only sign OF life visible about 1t
| being the rising and falling of it's side In It's
| breathing. Meantime the stable was sdull OF
| visitors, who were anxious to see her fgaby-
| ship awake. Presently it began to still wand
| then the small head was lifted up q lit leSeay
| and the small mouth opened to cape. T. 70
| seemed to please ever tybody and there was$
general rush toward the ring. The old ele-
nrDHf iTy f.r how ff,f fst
| terfere now, and coming forward, str etched
out her trunk, and taking the little one by the
waist, lifted 1t to its feet. AS for the rest, the
young elephant seemed to understand well
| enough what to do. 1t staggered up, shook
| itself little, gaped again, then waddled over
| and got directly underneath its mothers legs
| and began to suckle. curling its trunk up
| over Its head and using It's lips. After few
moments It's hunger WAS appeased apparent
| ly, and 1t diseDgaged itself from the maternal
| leading strings and started to approach the
| keepers, Its small black eyes twlnkling with
| something of the playfulness OF kitten.
| just as the baby would be about to stretch
out his little trunk to greet It's keeper, the
watchful old elephant would quickly wheel
| around. and throwing out her trunk the little
on3 would find itself drawn In again and put
securely between the old elephants legs. But
| the baby would not be satisfied. With Won
| derful pertinacity for one so young, it would
| steal away for second time and just be on
| the point Of getting beyond the reach of Its
| LnObilSIt WHSi bIS lhtLSL 5 bs WuuhA bkhlu
interpose like an iron barrier, and the little
one would find Itself uncerem oniously
dragged back again. Thus 1t was all the
| time during the baby's wakeYul hours. When
twas not sucking Its life was o sue
cession OF runaways and captures. It
would keep the old elephant busy all
| the time. Did the mother turn her head for
an instant to get q mouthful OF hay, the baby
| would waddle out Of the ring only to be
| brought back again by the collar, so to speak,
| quicker than 1t went. In these strokes OF ma
| ternal policy the old elephant was always
very careful of the little one; her trunk would
glide easily over It's back when 1t was stray
| ing away, and winding itself around the
! lower part OF its body, would thus take hold
| Of 1t. Hebe the mother, has the name Of be-
Ing one OF the most gentle elephants In the
| collection, and there are fifteen altog ether.
Her action toward the little one shows strik-
ingly the strong affection this species of ami
| NAL has for Its young. "If that baby ele-
phant was to die" said one Of the kee pers
yesterday, II do believe 1t would kill the
mother. too. She would pine away and re-
| fuse food until she had literally starved her
| self to DEATH