Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-16
Misffllaneons.
Elephants at Home.
Nix. BARNUM's CIRCUS IN BgIDGEPoRT-
TRUMPETERs WELL WORTH THE NAME
Two INTERESTING BABIES.

this - the gentleman VINO mas tdugnt theih
all thew know said Mr.. Thomas. Mr. +.
+. Barnum's press-agent, at the Bridge
port winter quarters Of 1.-The great moral
show Ranged on three sides OF room
one hundred feet square and fitted up for
their special accommodation. are twenty
elephants. ranging in size from the largest
in the country to the engaging baby eie-
phant lately born In Philadelphia. Yes"
said the keeper. they are remarkable
beasts. They will live eighty or ninety
wears in captivity, unless locomotive or
something Of the sort should happen to
strike them. Even then the chances
would be against the locomotive" The
scene brought wildly to mind picture Of
what the Tertiary Age might have been.
with its rowing monsters. IL seemed i'm
possible that the gigantic beasts slowly
and continually swaying their heads from
side to side, should be 50 tame and so
easily managed. The keeper gave a
scarcely audible signal. when the roof was
fairly lifted by such blarc Of trumpetings
az one auditor never wished to hear
again. The Anvil Chorus. if it had been
present, would have hidden it, respective
heads In shame This noise is made
through the elephants trunk. and there is
not the slightest use Of trying to get in
remark edgewise when one Of the per-
formers has the floor, The throat tones
sound like distant thunder, and make the
most ambitious drum Of no consequence.
The baby elephant came up to receive a
lesson--ils third. Ii was to be taught To
stand on its forelegs and head. An APP
paratus was fastened To its hind legs, and
they were hoisted into the air by block
and tackle. with the paternal assistance Of
one of the larger elephants. While in
this aesthetic position the baby was made
to touch its head to the floor, and when it
had done this, 1t was Immediately let
down. After few trials, baby seemed
to enjoy the process very much, and pre-
sently put its head on the floor of its own
accord, as soon "a its legs were lifted.
Having learned TO do this. it was given an
agreeable reward of carrots and allowed
to frolic in an elephantine way to its
hearts content. The keepers method of
teaching his charges is entirely by
kindness, although il is often very difficult
10 break in AN old and wicked fellow.
Mr.. Thomas ordered a performance by
the elephants in two squads. aligned ac-
cording to size. 1t was really startling to
see them standing abreast in single line.
and at the order. by the right flank
double file," march off to the right. in
double file, with much more eclat than is
often displayed by some city regiments.
Mr.. Barnum makes use of his elephants
to do all the heavy work about the build
ing. such as pushing chariots here and
there and hosting weights. The keeper
"A a D. L..
passions were once really reused, could
easily break through the walls of the
building and escape. They are so docile,
exciting happens. He is occasionally
thrown by them. if something irritates
them. rs was the case when the baby ele
plant was weaned. Both mother and in
FAINT expressed their wrath with great
frankness and unanimity. Last summer.
while on the road. one of the ponderous
beasts refused to come out of river it had
crossed. while he placidly rested or gam
boiled in the cool waters.
AMONG THE MONSTERS.
In the same building with the elephants
room are the menagerie and the ring
room. the latter containing u circus-ring
for practice during the winter. All the
animals which can easily be led are win
tered in little town about sixteen miles
from Bridgeport. These include most of
the horses. some two or three hundred in
number, the camels. and good portion
of the cattle. The snakes and other ovip-
arous animals are nearly all in this city
The first thing that one sees on entering
the menagerie is the calm and reflective
rhinoceros, which Mr.. Bergh once insisted
should have tank of water tn swim in.
although such u proceeding would have
killed it Immediately. OF course Mr.
Bergh had in mind the wants cf hip
popotamus. Beyond the rhinoceros was
the monkeys cage. full of wcud-be
Guiteaus. Then came the carniverous
animals. Here were the wild-anmal
tanners. one of them devoted to the in
struction of lions and panthers. the other
to training the tigers and leopards in the
way they should go in order To he good
and happy. The liou-tamer git into a
cage with tour animals and put them
through number OF tricks. One of them
was in particularly vicious humor The
man asked for club and was compelled
to give the beast a severe thrashing before
it would be quiet; even then it kept open
ing its mouth at him and snarling saw
agely. His call upon this into resting an
imal was as brief as was consistent with
good manners The other tanner went
into cage of half dozen leopards.
where he sat holding one atfectionatelv in
his lap while a photographer. who was
present. took view of the group. This
tanner also entered a cage of tigers and
amused himself by sitting down on them.
and by engaging in other hair-hristliug
experiments. On coming out he showed
a deep scar on his forehead. and related
that one day. while sitting quietly think
ing over his private affairs in cage of
lions. one of them took advantage of his
looking away and sprsng at him, Its paw
struck him in the iace. aud claw made
the dent in his skull. He did not lose his
presence of mind. but. seeing that the lion
was temporarily frightened ut having hit
him. got out OF the cage at once without
stopping for graceful attitudes. The claw
Just failed to reach the brain. Another
time. he tried 10 tame some hyenas. and
one of his fingers was bitten short off.
THE hyenss." he said feelinglv. ''are
among the most cowardly and treachercus
of wild beasts" Altogether this man
must lead an exciting and picturesque
life. The two tanners were engaged in
getting up happy fs,mily. They already
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