Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-19
A STUFFED ELEPHANT.
A Sight That Can be Seen i'm a Little
Building Adjoining the National MA.
scum.

Nesting beneath the shadow of those acres of
brick and iron known as the National Museum
building is little frame structure which looks
very insignificant by the side of its more preten-
tiOus neighbor. The building, however, does
not rest its claim for distinction upon its looks
and like great many people-who are born
ugly-disdains any such appeals for considera-
tiOn and relies, with much proud humility, on
its achievements. To be perfectly exact in the
language of buildings and other such inanimate
objects, to achieve is to contain; but it is per-
fectly easy to see what this building contains,
for it is long, low structure, with one end
opening as door, and when that is flung wide
open. as it always is during the hot weather,
the wayfarng man. though stranger, can see
right through it. AS he looks he must wonder
if> he hasn't exhausted himself in wondering
about the numerous wonderful things i'm this
capital city. why the authorities should be so
careless as to allow the doors to stand wide open
without claiming all those
WILD BEASTS,
for he can see with perfect distinctness an ele-
plant standing right near the door, and behind
him some white shaggy beast, which he con-
cludes must be bear. He hasn't any doubt
but that there is a whole menagere somewhere
behind, but he does not go any nearer to inves-
tigate; as rule, he hasn't time. He has to 90
and do the Patent Office, or some other office,
before it is time to take the train. Sometimes
the stranger would have investigated this gross
carelessness on the part of the authorities, but
the ''wmmen folks wouldn't let him. So for
the past six weeks people have been going bv
looking at that elephant and those animals, and
thinking good deal, but eventually fastening
on. The elephant don't mind this publicity as
much now as he did when he was with Fore
paugh's circus last spring. But he has under
gone some changes since then. Remembering
Sydney Smiths advice for warm weather, ito
take Oft your flesh and sit in your bOnes,'' the
experiment has been tried on this little five-fOot
elephant. with some Improvements. They have
not only taken off his flesh, but they took away
his bones, and left him standing in his skin. If
there Is any virtue in
LIGHT ATTIRE FOR HOT WEATHER.
that elephant ought to be good Judge. The
vexed question as to whether bones or skin are
coolest for summer wear will probably be now
determined. For all the bones have been pre-
served and have been cleaned and are now being
carefully articulated. When this is completed
the elephant in his bones and the elephant i'm his
skin will be set up side by side on pedestals in
the National Museum, and an unprejudiced pub
lie can judge as to the respective merits of these
costumes for summer wear
THE METHOD EMPLOYED
in preparing such huge mass as this elephant
for the museum is very interesting one Prof.
W. L. HOrnaday. who has completed the work in
such satisfactory manner, told STAR reporter
some Of the details. As the bones were to be
used, another skeleton had to be made This
was effected by building a wooden frame work
OF the proper dimensions. Over this frame
work tow was spread, and on the top was placed
coating of soft mud. The skin was then
drawn over. and the pliable mud foundation
preserved all the irregularities of the skin, so
that 1t looks exactly as it did when on
the live elephant: The trunk hangs in a
natural position, with the end slightly curied
up from the ground. The eyes, made by a cele.
brated Optician, are exact cOunterfets of the
natural eye; so that when the elephant gets
mounted on its pedestal in the museum it will
look deceitfully alive and active. Everybody
except those who don't go to the circus will In
voluntarily begin to feel in their pockets for pea
nuts as soon as they see this elephant. The au-
thOrities expect to move it into the museum
shortly. Prof. HOrnaday is also preparing q
huge polar bear which is of the color of old gold
instead of the traditional white.