Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-02
Ochiltree On Elephants,

Mr.. Thomas Ochiltrec, the Congress-
o Square Garden Saturday night at
7:45 O'Clock. A pretty girl dressed in
black was %leaniLg on the Congressman's
arm.
Mr. Ochiltree's sandy mustache was
neatly trimmed, and his boots glistened
like the face of a pure-blood African.
He generally speaks in a very audible
tone of voice, and his conversation
could be overheard by a great many
people present.
81 want to show you Jumbo" he re.
marked to the lady.
elbow kind of you," she replied.
"Do you know very much about ele.
phants?"
SWELL, considerable" answered the
Congressman; Sin fact, I ought to. /
was one of the first people that ever
saw elephants in this country, Here
we are now in the menagerie, among
wild lions, and tigers, and monkeys.
See that little fellow-chimpanzee; big
one-orang outang: II with the red
nose, that is one Of those Asiatic-yes,
Asiatic monkeys-very few in this coun.
try-you can always recognize them,
however"
"You seem to be quite and adept in
zoology said the lady, admiringly.
"Well, lam" replied MIR. Bisnarck's
opponent; 'In fact, 1 was one of the
first people that ever saw one oil these
monkeys in this country" Theeouple
had really come in among the lgilded
cages, the Nubians, and the gfisatfees."
''There," said Nh. Ochiltret, proud.
~ pointing to Chief, q very large ele-
plant, not unlike 1.-THE favsrite Of 10.
600 British hearts, - sis Jumbo"
"Why, how large he is?' answered his
companion.
Large! Well, now, doyou know"
replied he of Texas, Jumbo is one Of
the largest elephants I ever saw. OF
course there are larger eLphants-tha
we all know-but JUMBO is a pretty
good sized elephant. See his massive
trunk and foot; why, it is as thick as
do you know, Jumbo's foot is pretty
nearly as thick as a Congressional re-
port"
"Dear met" his companion answered.
"You would hardly think so from a
hasty glance. And now confined Mr.
Ochiltree, growing loquacious, 81 want
to explain q few things about Jumbo to
you. To begin with"
Here a young man entered the arena,
and giving the object of Mr.. Ochiltree's
attention a whack with q broom, cried,
"Whoa, Chief! whoaH" and, turning to
the Congressman, said: '.That's Jum-
DO ove there in the big square. We
don't alwaysh have two elephants here
generally one, so as to prevent mistakes.
But that's Jumbo"
"What's Jumbo?" cried the Texan,
turning slightly red.
"Why," said the man with the gilded
trappings, ''this amt Jumbo"
"'Well, did 1 say it VASE" answered
Mr.. Ochiltree, dangerously. "Do you
mean to imply that1 don't know Jumbo
from Chief? Now, young man, you at
tend to your W business. Don't try
to tell ME anything about an elephant,
please, for you can't: and, as Twas say
ing" continued the Congressman, edg-
ing away toward the real Jumbo, s.you'
have got to study elephants some time
before you begin to understand them.''
Eyes, you d." his lady friend an
swered, looking half at Jumbo andhalf
at Chief.
"Now these stories," continued the
Texan, "about sticking needles into
elephants. between you and me, I don't
think they are true. Why, I'll bet =
l beg your pardon. No, sir, there ain't
a tailor in Texas that would stick an
elephant into Jumbo's trunk"
"You mean a needle"
eyes, a. l said, a needle"
"There is no use of staying" he said:
'''.you cannot see it all in one night.
Well have to come two or three times.
Next time we come I'll explain about
these Nautch girls to you. You know
l was the first man that ever saw a"
Here the conversation was lost and Con-
gresham Ochiltree disappeared.-A.
Y. Times.