The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-07
THE ANIMAL NEXT TO MAN


The ancients, who are sparing in their
praises of the dog (by far the larger part
of the world has abhorred him as always
the very type of uncleanliness) could not
speak too highly OF the elephant. The elder
Pliny, who was diligent collector OF an
ecdotes rather than an observer, SURPRISES
himself when he treats of this animal.
He places him as unquestionably next to
man. Intelligence, obedience, memory,
ambition, affection, honesty, prudence
and justice are among the catalogue Of
virtues which he ascribes to these crea-
tures. He even declares that they are
religious, worshipping the stars, the sun
and the moon, an assertion IN which he is
followed by Plutarch and Elian. The
stories which he tells of their sagacity and
aptitude for acquiring accomplishments
are marvellous. That they should go
through the motions Of dance or gla-
diatorial combat is credible. Busbecq
tells us of one which he himself saw in
Turkey that danced and played at ball
But or faith is taxed when we read of
four elephants walking on tight ropes
carrying another in a litter. Yet the tes-
timony of the ancients as to this particu-
lar accomplishment is very strong. Pos
sibly the funam bulism of elephants is one
of the lost arts of antiquity. Writing,
also, is an accomplishment which, we fear,
the animal no longer acquires. Muci-
anus, the friend of Vespssian, knew of an
animal which could write a Greek hexa-
meter-not, however, out Of its own head;
and we have pathetic story Of one which,
having been beaten for becoming some
what backward in it's reading-for the ell
ephants own the human trait of having
ounces among them-was found diligent-
ly coming its task by night. 1t was,
however, in a sterner character than that
Of dancer or scholar that antiquity best
knew the elephant. He was a most for
midable implement of war. The Gar
thagenisns were the first SO to utilize him
able fact that they, and they only, have
been able to educate the African species
OF the race for human uses. 1t may be
doubted, indeed, whether the military
utility of the animal compensated for the
enormous expense and trouble which he
must have caused. If Hannibal had not
lost all his elephants but one, almost be-
fore he began his campaigns, he would
certainly have found it impossible to feed
them. Their use, indeed, in western
warfare has not been frequent. One Of
the latest occasions of their employment
seems to have been by the Emperor
ClaudiuP, when he invaded Britain, in
the third year of his reign. They are
still found, but for show rather than for
use, in the military establishments of the
East. But it is clear that they could not
exist in the face of arms of precision.
The practical utility Of the elephant for
peaceful purposes is great, Alone among
animals. he may, to a certain extent, be
trusted to labor by himself and without SUI
pervisioD, while his capacity as beast of
burden is such as to counterbalance the
great expense of his keep. But it is his
mental and moral development that, for
our present purpose of writing, most in
teIests us; and here, if the modern &C
counts can scarcely rival the old, they are
still sufficiently surprising. Mr.. Andrew
Wilson, in his admirable "Studies of Life
and Sense" tells us some very eucious
things indeed. The highly developed sa-