Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-30
ABOUT ELEPHANTS.
Interesting and Amusing Anecdotes
OF the Huge Beasts.

They. are AfTectionate. Fond Of Delicacies
and Enjoy Joke; But Their Anger
~ l. Something Terrible-Some
Calculated Elephants. 81
The elephant may well be considered
the head of the menagerie. Young and
old are never tired of watching these
wonderful creatures; they are so know
ing, so loving. yet so terrible in their
anger. An elephant can tear off huge
branches Of trees with his trunk, or
stamp the life out of tiger with his
great feet; yet the same trunk can be
trained to pick up. a pin. and the
mighty feet to tread gingerly over the
recumbent forms of sleeping or intoxi-
Gated keepers. Strange as it may ap-
pear. an elephants skin is very sensi-
tive; mosquitoes annoy him greatly,
and a beating is terrible punishment
for him. Courageous as he is. an ele-
plant is very nervous. He will fight
any other huge beast, yet mouse is
said to make him shake with appre-
hension and trumpet with terror.
Elephants are very mischievous and
inquisitive; they raise 1atches, open
doors. and enjoy Immensely their own
practical jokes, though so ready to
resent indignities to themselves. Sensi-
tive as regards insult, their affection is
warm and lasting, and dogs. horses
and other animals are often the objects
of their attachments. Elephants are
pleased with gay colors, delight in
sweet perfumes, are dainty In their
tastes, and revel in the water like an
Englishman in his bath. They prac-
tice theft with the ingenuity of the
''Artful Dodger" himself, are as med
dlesome as monkeys. have the caution
and cunning of diplomatist, and the
memory of Magliabechi.
about three feet high, and is not con-
sidered grown up until thirty years
old. Accidents excepted. he is likely
to live about one hundred and fifty
years, if not longer. Though delicate
in it's tastes, an elephant likes quantity
as well as quality, and at his meals
makes nothing of bales of hay and
gallons of water. His ingenuity in try
ing to cater for himself is astonishing.
and often amusing. An American
Snowman saw an elephant pull up a
stake to which he was chained, Ego to
a feed-bin containing oats, wrench Off
the lock, raise the lid, eat all he want
ed. put down the lid again, return
to his place, poke the stake back into
the same hole, and stamp it down with
his foot, and, when his keeper came,
look as innocent as lamb" A twinkle
in his cunning eyes showed his enjoy
ment of the situation when the man
stormed and ragged on discovering the
robbery.
An incident of an elephants memory
is said to have occurred some years
since, when Wombwells menagerie
was exhibiting at Bolton. Four years
before the same collection was in the
town, and on that occasion, on being
released from its van, a large elephant
walked across the Town-Hall square to
| a public house and protruded its trunk
into the lobby. The bar-maid supplied
9he animal with refreshments, and the
keeper, who had been in search of his
charge, then conducted him back to
his den. On being released at
the breaking-up OF the show on
the second visit. the same elephant
broke away at brisk trot in the di-
| rection of the hostelry, and the I'M
wonted charge upon the premises
greatly alarmed the inmates. The
! former barmaid, now the landlady,
| arrived on the scene, and recognizing
| her old friend, once more RECALLED him
| to his hearts content. The elephant
then submitted to be led away by his
keeper. @
| Although elephants will not submit to
abuse, they are not difficult to teach.
and at first are fond of going through
their tricks on their own account.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in Rome were
taught to dance by the association of
music and a hot floor. A block and
pulley is now sometimes used in train
ing an elephant to assume various po-
sitions. and the word of command
given as if it was doing the trick of its
own accord. Good treatment with
firmness is necessary in teaching them,
and any Righteousness must be checked
by the whip. They cry out when sub
dued. and the trouble is then
over for the time. Even wild ele-
| plants are said to be easily
taught when once subdued. Most OF
| us have admired the wonderful agility
of such clumsy-looking animals in bal
ancing themselves on inverted tubs,
and so forth. AT Astley's, elephants
used to delight thousands with their
performances. These huge creatures
were made to stand on their hind legs
with their forefeet poodieelse dangling
In the air. Another STOOD on it's head
with its hind legs raised perpendicu.
larly. Placed on pedestals, they
wheeled round rapidly, or balanced
themselves on the side-legs only, and
gave other evidences of wonderful
training. Well-trained baby elephants
are great favorites. One was taught
TO sit at table, fan herself, and d.
numerous tricks to delight childrer
and their elders too. The two clever
baby-elephants Jock and Jenny" were
marvelously trained They made theil
bow to the audience, and then one o