Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-07
Jumbo and His Friends.

We have received pile of letters from old
and young alike on the subject of yesterdays
article in the Daily Telegraph, entitled "a
Scene in the Zoo." The writer's one and all
deplore the prospect of parting with Jumbo,
the fav6rite elephant at the Geological Gar
dens, universally inquiring if something
not be done to prevent his removal to Amer
lea. No doubt the majestic creature emphat-
ically the childfen's friend at the gardens, is
the property of the Geological society, but in
a social sense he has become the property of
the people of London, and especially of the
juvenile frequenters of the Zoo. The coun-
Gil of the society could hardly have been
aware how deeply the sale of this fine animal
would grieve their visitors. Of the letters
that reach US only small portion can be
printed. Briefly it may be stated that the
writer's are OF two classes--frst, those who
regret as almost a national misfortune the
parting with so noble and SO interesting a
specimen of his class; and, secondly, the still
larger number who look upon the removal of
Jumbo to America as the loss of an old friend
and favorite, and who can think of no pecu-
mary consideration whatever sufficient to
weigh against their affection for the docile
and faithful creature.
tWho can read" writes lady, "the &C
count of the sufferings of poor Jumbo on his
attempted removal without being deeply
moved? Is it not stain upon our national
Surely subscription could soon be raised to
refund the purchase money" ~.
A, J. B. remarks: ct have read your arti-
Gle with sorrow. Quite apart from the
touching grief of poor Jumbo, is it, well that
we should part with the finest captive ele-
plant in the world for $4,000? Surely, if
the society wants money, an appeal in your
journal would raise sufficient to keep Jumbo
with u.s."
The idea thus thrown out of rescuing
Jumbo by subscription among his friends
appears in almost every letter. ga Dlscon-
tented Fellow writes ''Your touching
narrative in this morning of poor Jumbo's
reluctance to leave the Geological Gardens on
Saturday has put the finishing touch to the
annoyance which his proposed sale has
caused to me and very many other Fellows of
the society. We are at loss to understand
why our collection should be deprived of this
fine ANIMAL and hope it is not too late, even
now, to break off the negotiation. To peo-
pie of all ages Jumbo is interesting as an al
most unique specimen of his class; while he
is, perhaps, the chief attraction to the many
Thousand children who annually visit the
gardens. Surely if the society is absolutely
in want of money the price of the elephant
might without difficulty be raised by a very
small general subscription among the numer-
GUS members There are many of us in the
same mind as your obedient servant
In the same spirit clover of Animals"
observes: s'Many like myself, to whose
children Jumbo has been source of admir- a
ton and enjoyment, would join in sub
scription by which he may be re-purchased
and kept"
ssE. ST. writing from Shepherds Bush,
says: "It appears to me to be little short of
national disgrace that our country should
part voluntarily with one of the largest known
specimens of the elephant on earth. If the
with Mr.. Barnum I perfectly certain that
the English public would gladly subscribe to
reimburse that enterprising Snowman for the
expense he has already incurred, and to keep
poor Jumbo, the playmate of our children,
the wonder of young and old, the pride of the
Geological Gardens, with us still"
''Jumbo's Friend" at Brixton writes: ''Your
article in to-day's ISSUE which SO graphically
and touchingly describes the attempted re-
moval to another country of our old friend
Jumbo, and of his almost human appeal to be
left With his little wife in his old home and with
his own friends, has caused hope to arise
in my mind that something may yet be done
to prevent his departure-say through pur-
chase by public subscription-of the 1nagnifi-
cent and docile friend who is perhaps better
known to childhood than any human or other
being I, for one, will willingly subscribe
something to retain in England SO noble,
sagacious and affectionate an animal. [ hope
the lesson which may be drawn from his be-
havior will not be entirely lost The wonder
full part of the whole affair is that he did no
harm to his keeper, but only made touching
appeal to him to cease to urge his removal"
These excerpts are samples of large Sec
ton of the correspondence. In several cases
the writer's go SO far as to denounce the sale
of Jumbo, and one, a metropolitan clergy
man, t'trusts the people of London will rise
up as one man to prevent this cruel, inhuman
bargain being carried out" We have pre-
ferred, however, to quote epistles which show