Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-08
lancaster flltelliqencer.
EvK'a, MARCH 8, 1882.
Jumbo.

Jumbo.
With all his inventive genius for hum
bug Barnum never had a better adver-
tisement than he is now getting through
the remonstrance of the English.public
against his removal of the elephant
"Jumbo," which he and his circus part
ners bought from the managers OF the
London geological gardens. Indeed it
can easily be conceived that the shrewd
Yankees are at the bottom of the legal
proceedings which have temporarily
secured an injunction restraining the
council of the Geological society from
allowing the elephant Jumbo to be re
moved from the geological garden. Such
contest in the courts will draw inter-
national attention to the animal and to
his American purchasers, and the more
feeling they can excite among the Eng
lish people against his removal hither
the more anxious the American people
will be to see the brute-at so cents a
head-when he is delivered on these
shores beyond the reach of English
bailiffs and the dangers Of Atlantic v0y-
ages.
1t seems that this elephant is an
old resident of the London geological
garden, where time out of mind the
children of the realm have been wont to
ride on his back. He is a big old brute
and quite an animal curiosity in his way,
SO that the English remonstrantsagainst
his transfer to America consist of those
"wiO regret as almost a national mis-
fortune the parting with SO noble and so
interesting specimen of his class, and
the still larger number who look upon
the removal of Jumboto America rs the
loss of an old friend and favorite, and
who can think Of no pecuniary consider
alton whatever sufficient to weigh
against their affection for TIE Iocile and
faithful! creature
The newspapers are filled with popular
lamentations against his going and the
geological garden directors are as sound
ly berated for selling him for .s2,0OO as
though they were cabinet ministers and
had sold their country. Great readiness
has been manifested to raise, by popular
subscription, the price of the elephant
and buy him back, if the American
showmcn would release their bargain.
The animal himself is said to be deeply
moved by the popular wall over his pros.
pective departure d; though ordinarily
docile he is how detected and unhappy :
the other animals howied their dismay
when he was removed from their com
paEy, and the distress of 4 little female
elephant, upon whom he has lately lie.
slowed some special tenderness, was ut.
terly unspeakabie, at which Jumbo's
grief only became the more intense
albeit his bearing throughout the trial
was aesthetic and digniGed.
We fear that neither the tears of man
or beast will prevail with the speculative
Mr.. Barnum. He is relentless man
and if the English courts venture TO re-
strain him the result will he to stir up I:
whole geological garden. If Mr.. Blaine
were our premier now and BeaconsfelG
the English prime minister, delicate anG
dangerous diplomatic complications
might arise out Of the transfer of Jumbo
from one side of the sea to the other
But the gentle Frelinghuysen and Glad
stone, perturbed with home troubles
will never let it come to that. Barnum
will be allowed to keep this elephant on
his bands.