The Portland daily press., 1882-03-25
London Letter to New York Times.
London's Big Elephant.
The Why and Wherefore Of the Fuss
Made about Jumbo.

To descend from great things to small, or
rather from important matters to trifles, Mr.
Barnum's purchase of the great elephant of the
London Zoo has suddenly become "a burning
question" 1 have more than once referred to
Jumbo as one of the special attractions of the
Geological society. You have known for some
time that his elephantne majesty has been pur-
chased for $4,000 by Mr.. Barnum. The fact
coming out in the papers was received with a
m lid kind of regret Many OF the fellows
mentioned the circumstance to me, (as being
one of their number,) with the view OF using
friendly influence to prevent the bargain being
carried out. The society is rich, 1t does not
want money, and the ira nsaction was regarded
as evidence of huckstering spirit that ought
to be put down. No action, however, was
taken 1 argued that the council knew their
own business; that Mr.. Bartlett, the secretary,
and famous naturalist, had no doubt very
good reasons for the sale, and, furthermore,
that it is one of the business principles OF the
council to sell and buy and exchange animals.
On inquiry found that Mr.. Bartlett considers
Jumbo growing diffiuclty. Although the
largest known elephant in the wor,d, ne IS
possibly at maturity to go mad. At all events
Mr. Bartlett thinks the time will come when
the gardens will not be large enough for Jumbo
unless under certain restraints that might
Seem
Mr.. Barnum would think of this explanation;
and while sitting down with the intention of
"exploiting" the point in this letter suddenly
find the antire question on the eve OF public
discussion, and at this moment in spite OF the
vagaries of the house of commons and Brad
laugh, notwithstanding the scare of possible
European war, Jumbo and "Barnum are
on evory lip. "The sale Of. Jumbo" "Jumbo's
Removal Postponed" are leading lines IN the
contents bills of all the daily papers. The
IT. l. - xhn Of hou inO mo- 10 "a
great elephant the topic of the hour. On the
day when Mr.. Newman (Barnum's AGENT en-
tered upon his first essay to carry Jumbo OF to
America. a Telegraph writer was on the spot.
He told the story OF Jumbo's refusal to leave
London in such pathetic terms that the metrop-
oils is up in arms in defense of what is now
called "the children's pet.' Jumbo is a most
intelligent brute he has carried thousands of
the children of London on his back, and latter
ly he has married LADY elephant, whose cries
on his going away, chained, were a touching
feature of the Telegraph article. When Jumbo
heard them he cried too, embracing his keeper
with his trunk, then fell on his knees to him in
an attitude of supplication. AS this did not
move Mr.. Newman to pity nor induce the keep
or to take action in his defense, Jumbo rolled
on his side and refused to bulge another inch
in the direction of the London docks, where he
was to be shipped Mr.. Newman had there
fore to escort his roaring majesty back to his
majesty's roaring wife, and yesterday and to-
day the papers are full of letters of protest
against his removal. Subscriptions are offered
to reimburse Mr.. Barnum for any loss he may
sustain by the non-delivery of the elephant,
and scores of children have penned epistles ap-
pealing to their little American cousins not to
take their pet away from them. This morning,
it is said, the queen and the prince of Wales
have written to the council expressing hope
that An arrangement may be made with Mr..
Barnum whereby Jumbo may be allowed to
remain in his present home, to which the
sagacious brute has shown in many ways
singular and affecting attachment. Disraei
was right when he said that no people under
the sun are more sentimental than the English.