The record-union., 1891-07-06
A FREE CIRCUS.
How an Elephant Went Upstairs and
HOW He Came down.


How He Came Down.
Mrs. Marvin lived in East Fifty-sev-
enth street, New York, rather quiet
part of the city, and one not accustomed
10 getting tself into the papers. Opposite
her house was a queer-looking building
which was the cause of considerable COM
ment in tie neighborhood. Down stairs
appeared Ii be stable with wide doors
Above the hall door was small room
used as g kitchen, and over the stable a
large room in which lived Mr. and Mrs.
Brown ami their children.
They knew the secret of that stable. and
were paid for not letting the cat out of the
bag. But there is a saying that Murder
viii out" and little did the Browns sur
mise what trick Fanchon was to play on
them.
Fanchon? Yes, the baby elephant
which was owned by Mr.. Reiche, the
importer Of foreign birds and animals,
and was t. ken care of by Mr.. Brown, and
kept in safety and seclusion until the
time arriN ed for her to appear IN public.
But FancEon grew impatient; she wished
TO see a little more of the strange new
world into which she had been brought So
one day when her keeper was absent she
took it into her head to go on an expIor-
ing eXped ton.
She marched quietly out into the hall,
and climbing up a narrow stairway
how she did it no one knows-found her
self on an upper landing whence she
easily made her way into the kitchen
where Mrs. Brown was preparing din
ner. This good woman, hearing a step
behind her, turned and saw a sight that
almost frole the blood in her veins. For
a moment she stood as one paraIyzed:
then, recovering herself, threw open the
window and screamed for dear life.
1t was February afternoon, and Mrs.
Marvin sat buslly sewing, when she
heard most unearthly shrek that made
her spring to the window in great haste:
and all her neighbors did likewise There
stood Mrs. Brown at her own window
screaming and wringing her hands in an
agony Of despair, while over her head
was StretC he'd out-what? Could il be
possible? Was it really the trunk of an
elephant? Yes, Enthusiastically so, and
Fanchon appeared TO enjoy the situation,
and TO TAX great delight in breathing the
fresh outdoor air.
The new Spapers and the small boy kent
alive the excitement in the street, but
that was nothing to the excitement in
Mrs. Broy ms room where an elephant
had taken up its quarters and was MAX
ing itself decidedly at home.
Eanchon was as contented as she could
be, and seemed bent on having good
time; but she was an elephant, and her
prankS were naturally on large scale
Now and then she would go to the kitchen
sink and lelp herself to a drink in the
cleverest and neatest way. Occasionally
she would come TO the window with the
youngest pickanlnny in her trunk and
poor Mrs. Brown could be seen follow
ing, and vringing her hands in an agony
of fear.
Present. 2 carpenters, with lumber made
their app arauce, and five men worked
like beaye IS to make n toboggan slide for
Mistress ] anchor. 1t was finished at the
on Atf fl1f-A "a a e., 81,
per window to the top of the stone wall
not yery steep slope-then took turn
and gr ldual descent into the omen
space below, leading directly into the
stable.
Well, the day came when everything
was in readiness for Fanchon's removal,
and long before noon the street was
packed with people gathered there to see
the circus. The crowd were prepared TO
give Fanclon a Tremendous cheering, but
after they had been requested to be as
silent as possible you could have heard a
pin drop. 1t was a most remarkable sit
uation.
Out of he window stepped Fanchon.
preceded oy young Mr.. Reiche, who
patted her on the trunk and quietly urped
her along and all went well until thew
came TO the end of the platform resting
on top of he stone wall. Here Fanchon
was at a Il IS TO know what she was TO do.
cut her Ejnd leg in search of some sup
port, and, iinding none, swayed her body
against Mr. Reiche and threw him vio-
lently down upon the grass plot, dis
tance Of least twelve feet \ thrill of
horror wentthrough the crowd! Itseemed
TO Mrs. Marvin that the poor young man
stood on lis head with his feet in the air
for fully ive minutes! 1t was a wonder
his neck was not broken.
Fanchon turned, made misstep and
fell, partly on the wall, and partly on the
lower platform. Up TO this time she had
behaved exceedingly well and was gentle
az a kitten, but, scared at the accident,
she trumDeted forth blast that must
have been heard several blocks away.
The carpenters came at once TO her res
cue, placing timbers and boards under
her, so that she would fall no further.
Then they rolled out five bales of hav.
and on these Fanchon got a foothold and
was easily led down into the stable.-St.
Nicholas.