The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-08-21
A CUNNING ELEPHANT.
How He Got Out of His stable at Night
to Steal Fruit.

The Engligh commissioners at Shwey-
ghua, Burmah, recently had young
elephant given him by native gentle
man. The youngster was kept in
stable in the garden and was locked up
at night by door having a sliding
wooden bar running in iron staples.
Adjoining the stable was the commits
sioners garden, in which he took great
pride. The garden, full of fruit, was
well laid out and had the walks paved
with brick.
Shortly after the young elephant ar
rived the garden was found to be sys-
tematically plundered of its best fruit.
No traces were left by the thief, nor
were there any footprints to indicate
low an entrance could have been eff
fected. The commissioner issued or
ders for watchmen to surround the
place outside at intervals and lay in
wait for the thief, and in case of dis
covery permission was given them to
shoot the robbers. as a warning to
other evil-minded perons. The morn
ing after this order was issued the
watchmen reported that no one had
passed their Gordon.
But the head gardener had told diff
ferent story. The damage done had
exceeded that of the night previous,
much fruit having been broken Off and
left lying on the ground. The COM
missioner was now thoroughly eX-
asperated and admitted native watch
men into his cherised garden. They
received strict iniunctions to take the
offender alive and to awaken him at
once and report who the daring thieves
WERE At a late hour in the night the
commissioner was awakened by his
Madrasse butler, who informed him
with much gravity that the thief was
discovered, but that they had not cap
tured him, desiring the bhayah himself
to come and see him. The commits
sioner quickly donned his garments
and went out to the yard.
At the gate he met Il watchman, who
asked him to follow him as noiselessly
as he could. They proceeded down
one of the paths until the watchman
stopped and wispered. ''Look, thaken." ="
There was Master Elephant regaling
himself on the commissioner fruit
selecting the best and throwing down
any he rot did fancy. The commits
sioner decided to wait and follow the
youngster when he had satisfied him.
self and see how he managed so break
out of his stable. After Il while the
elephant thought it time to retire and
returned toward his Stable.
The young elephant entered the sta
BILE and pulled the door to with his
trunk; then the side of the roof was
seen to be lifted up and the elephants
head appeared just above the door.
Out came the trunk and reached down
~ 1,4a l,,,. l,f hold ff + 1f
pushed it into its place; then the roof
was lowered and all was in good or
der. On examination OF the interior
of the stable it was found that the ami
NAL had united the bamboo stri ps with
which the rafters were fastened to the
plates in the simple Burmese archi-
tectural style. The roof was thus lift
ed, allowing the animal to project his
trunk and reach the outer bar. His
.sboyish" mouth had watered for a
taste of stolen fruit, SO sweet to
youth. Then he thought of lifting the
rafters, untying the fastenings, and so
reaching the bar he had noticed was
ON the outside of the door.
EngIand's Naval Power.
England has recently nearly recon-
SlIuCbeu nci HhN y. NlHCIy -oOFOA VI
her war-ships carry $50 heavy guns,
whose projectiles will pierce from
twelve to twenty inches of wrought
iron; fifteen more carry fifty guns
whose projectiles will pierce from
twenty to thirty-three inches.
Furthermore, she proposes to use the
merchant steamships of the White Stal
and Cunard lines for cruisers and
| transports in case of war.
In brief, England has now navy
which could not be replaced for $780,
100000. In her actual service there
are 250 vessels, while she has a reserve
of 800, with $50 torpedo-boats. More
over, England, in case of need, is pre-
pared for prompt extension. At home
and abroad-that is, within her owl
domain-armored defenses have beer
constructed and prepared with or fol
modern heavy ordnance, thus facing
the world. And, as rule her coasts
are made reasonably secure against al
assault O. o. Hoa0drd IN tn
Anaeracaaa Magazine.
Wine From Rose Leaves.