The Cecil Whig., 1882-06-03
IN A CIRCUS MENAGERlE.
Peculiarlties of the Animals and Their
Prices.

EColonel Arstingstall is the only person,
at least in this country, who has been
able to breed elephants in captivity. He
has spent half his life among them, and
is familiar with their habits and pecu-
liarities. The Indian and the Asiatic
elephants are preferred by showmen on
account of their superior intelligence.
The African elephant is larger, but not
SO knowing. An unframed elephant at
the age of % or 30 is worth $4,000, and
a performing elephant $4,000. Ele-
phants learn more readily when IS or 90
years old than at any other period OF
their lives. Col. Arstingstall said that
in "a hours he could teach one to do any
trick that it was possible for it to do.
even to standing on it's head. A block
and pulley is generally used. The ele-
phant is pulled up into the position that
it is desired to assume, and the word OF
command is given as though the animal
were doing the trick of its own accord.
After this operation is repeated few
times the elephant will execute the act
at the proper signal. Columbus, the first
baby elephant born in this country, now
years old, went to school last Winter,
and proved an apt scholar She takes
the part of clown in the performance
She sits at table, uses napkin, fans
herself, and does a dozen little things
that make the children, and their elders
too, adore her. When the tricks are fist
taught the elephants like to do them.
and will often go through performance
of their own volition. But after the
novelty wears off they regard them as
work, and are inclined to shirk. When
they rebel they must be soundly iiogged,
and after that will not refuse to perform
their parts. Elephants will not submit
to abuse. 1t is necessary to treat them
we'll, but at the same time it is impera
tive that they should understand that
they must mind their master. One would
hardly think that elephants could be i'll
suited. but they can. They are extreme
ly sensitive and resent indignities. Ii
they become attached to person their
affection is warm and lasting. They often
form deep attachments for dogs, horses
camels, and other animals.
The regular rations of an elephant con
sist of 125 pounds of hay. two bushels ol
grain and a barrel of water day. Po-
tatoes they are particularly fond of. Ii
lxl = ~ nnth hap hpt
elephants like to do, it is to take bath.
In the water they are like lot of school
boys. They dive, roll over, splash, and
indulge in every sort of caper. A bath
contributes to their good health, and
when travelling they are given every pos
sible opportunity to bathe. When asleep
they lie on their Sides generally on the
right. They snore vigorously and can
often be heard long distance.
Each year the menagerie has increased
in size, until the finest geological gar
dens are excelled by travelling shows.
The people crowd about the cages of the
snarling, tesh-eating brutes, and stand
and watch the more docile hay animals
with deep interest The lion ranks next
to the elephant as show animal The
African lion is preferred to the Asiatic
on account of its greater size, superior
intelligence and finer appearance. The
male of the former is a grand-looking
beast, with his long name and noble head.
The value of male lion is about 50, 900,
and of female about 1000. The wild
est animal can be subdued in a week or
so, as in the case of the elephant. one
just from the jungle is as easy to train
as if born in captivity. To go into den
of lions in fear and trembling, would
ordinarily be a rash act. When Van
Amburgh used to put his head in the
lions mouth in the earlier days it was
considered wonderful and foolhardy
thing, but people have become accus-
toned to the sight and do not marvel
much as they did. At one time single
lion was all that the largest menagerie
boasted of, and if it died on the tour it
was stuffed and set up in the cage to
look as nearly life-like as possible. Be
| fore entering town it was Van Am
burgh's practice to robe himself in his
trappings and seat himself on top of i
gorgeous car, with his lion crouching a;
his feet. People who saw the beast
would either think it was dead one, or
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.)