The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1885-05-16

though nothing bad ever occurred to
mar the serenity of their nenagerie
life. Only moment before the entire
family had been in a cyclonic up
roar.
Right in that cage there" contn-
ued the veteran, II hay, seen evil
dences of these emotions. 1t is COM
mon thing for that It'll m)nk, when l
enjoy his confidence, to smile as play
fully as you please. Let's see if he's
in good humor. Here Trix" The
superintendent placed tie back of his
hand to the cage bars. The monkey
addressed as Trix advarced cautiously,
and caressed the hanl suspiciously,
! cycling his master obviously all the
while. I'm not going to hurt you, you
| rascal" A moment lster the TIT was
Juggling away at the hand, endeavor-
ing to pull it inside the bars, smiling
with a playfulness almost childlike.
just then the jackdaws broke out into
merry laugh, Their risibilities evil
IDENTITY having been awakened by the
sight of two little girls romping around
the cage at game OF tag"
The jackdaws often laugh" ex-
planned the superintendent. ANY
joyous excitement among children will
cause them to break out into peals like
those you have just heard. But the
oldest creature in the lot is that tan
gled-hair Skye terrier. You saw him
grin his thankfulness when ! saved his
hide from the ring-tailss Well, now,
10 49,. i0vh nr MN closer you will OBJ
serve that he has been weeping. See,
there are tears in his eyes and the
lashes are wet. That dog is curious
one. It's a shame to keep him in
there. He's cuter'n the rest of them.
II am any judge of animal nature,
and think | ought to be. he is as sem
sitive to ridicule as-as-well-a fedg-
ling of the Dorcas society. He knows
when you're sarcastic, too. He smiles
and grins both, but bless me if | can
make out sometimes whether he is
pleased or playing hypocrite. One
minute you will think his smile is af-
fectionate, and the next that it is only
mask of cunning. But when you
ridicule him it breaks him all up"
During the delivery of these remarks
the terrier, apparently conscious that
he was the subject, approached from
his corner smirkingly. He disported
himself in several attitudes, stood on
his hind legs and paved the air, and
performed as if anxious to excite either
amusement or admiration.
There's nothing smart about that
Snooks," said the master, with a
frown: ''you make me think of
rhinoceros dancing the racket when
act that way" Snooks promptly hung
his head and skunk back to his corner
in shame and modification. He sulk-
lily stuck his nose into the sawdust at
the bottom of the cage and feigned
sleep.
But these are only small illustra-
tons of the emotional peculiarities of
resumed the old keeper.
You wouldn't think great big,
clumsy creature like an elephant could
manifest emotional weakness, but he
can, and what's more he often does.
There was Columbus. Years ago,
when | was connected with the Phila-
delphia museum, he went stark crazy.
He tore round like mad, and smashed
with so much paper. Before he could
of the people and the doors locked
For three days he held high carnival
in there, spending his fury on the cages
and animals. At last we trapped him
in ropes and chains suspended through
the skylights. The claiming process
brought him to his senses at once,
and what was our surprise to
see him go into something like
a hysterical fit. He moancd pite-
ously. as a person will frequently when
suffering great mental torture, the
noise occasionally swelling into a roar
His huge ears tapped to and fro rapid
~, and for two hours and more a per-
feet stream of tears poured from his
eyes. These manifestations even con-
tinued after he was released from the
irons, showing they came from sorrow
and not anger. Columbus was more
than an ordinary intelligent elephant,
and seemed to realize the brutal havoc
he had spread during his temporary in
sanity. Here is another singular thing
the Cingalese elephant will also weep
in captivity. No. Columbus wasn't a
Cingalese. Another time he accident
ally knocked a small boy down, who |
got too near while he was sweeping his
trunk around for confections. He
pretty near scared the urchin to death |
by picking him up and putting him on
his feet. / rushed at him with the |
hook, but there was no necessity for a
reprimand. The tears were running |
from his eyes, and he absolutely APP
peared to be penitent. The boy had |
been feeding him sweetmeats. Elephants
will always cry when mortified or dis
appointed.
what other animals have you no.
ticed laughing or crying, as you !
thought"
Horses, bears, donkeys, camels,
girafies, tapirs. sokos, rats, deer, man
drills, cattle, starbocks, antelopes. !
Brahmin bulls, racc0ons, ichneumon, |
tigers, leopards, lions-all kinds! / |
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