The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-07-01
THE BEGGING ELEPHANT.
wonderful IateIuasno5 OF che Animal
EEIE Native EauuHrv

his lIatIvs Country.
The most curious and interesting
animal which have met" says b. ia
Colllot, who lived many years ia India,
Els the elephant Not the elephant OF
the menagsriGs, broken go spirit and
submissive bat the elephant Is he 70
found in his native country Some In
stances OF his aptitude and intelligence
are marvelouA A few leagues from
Poudicherry stands a pagoda called
'Willenoor,' which at the ErEnd ieaats
OF May receives a mult2tudEe OF Eve or
/ six hundred thousand pilgrims, coming
from all parts of India a mum Der OF
sacred elephants are attached % this
pagoda1 and umong them is a meudi-
cant or begging elephant. Twice each
week this elephant accompanied by
his driver goes TO the villages and 60
priests OF WllenOor. Many times
while 7 have been working beneath my
veraudah, closed ia by curtains on the
first story of my house, ] have seen
him aft the movable curtain with his
great trunk and balance himself 90
ask me for a piece of small coin, which
ne sucked from my hand 20 his trunk,
a distance of more than three inches
/ never failed TO give him a small piece
Of money for the pagoda, and for him
self a loaf OF bread which my servant
dipped in molasseH1 of which the ele-
plant was very fond In a short time
we became very friendly. He had seen
me only ia uudreas, that IS, ia the light
silk garments of the country. and then
only across the little pillars of the bal
cony of my cottage One day had OC-
casion to 60 TO WilLsuoor on business.
] arrived at noon; the sun was burning
the earthi no one was seen iu the
streets or on the verandasi every
one was resting. ''a1y carriage had
stopped under g mango tree ia the prin-
ciPal square, and I was about TO start
for the house OF the thasldas, or
governor OF the village, when all at
once a mOustrOus black elephant came
running ont OF the pagoda which was
opposite. he arrived ia front of us,
and, before I had time 60 collect my
EsnBsa, he lifted me up, placed me on
his neck, and started at fuIl speed for
the Pagodas he carried me across the
hrst enclosure, in which was the great
well Tor bathing, and brought me de
rect 90 the elephant quarters. Once
there he placed me on the ground Ga the
center OF all his companions It was
the begging elephant, he had reSoEuis-
ed me He uttered short cries, lifting
his trunk and waving his ears, which
his friends doubtless interpreted TO my
advantage Tor when the thasildar. fol-
lowed by the priests OF the temple.
came out % seek the cause of this
strange demonstration they found me
calm and recovered from my surprise,
Sra the midst of these enormous beasts,
who were rendering an Ovution iu my
behalf
90 This is most remarkable said one
Of the priests II have never seen them
act so friendly toward anyone
II related 70 him the cirCumatsuCgs
Of my gifts TO the begging elephant
% Il am no loager surprised he an
svveredi he has already told the whole
band. and the gourmauds are paying
you these attentions in hope of getting
'Is is PossEble9' I said With amaze-
nenE
''I am perfectly sure Of it. Do you
wish TO see the proof Pass your arm
around che trunk Of your elephant
friend. aud make him understand by
signs that you wish him 20 90 out with
goui they viii all follow you Allow
yourself 60 be led and You VIII see
where sEey VIII bring you" i followed
his instruction. The begging elephant
and took up the lead, the nine others
joining i'm the pace, uttering cries OF
contantueut among themselves We
passed through the gate of the paEodl.
and they led me directly 60 the shop of
q native baker ! would have been Mt
terly astounded had not already
known the wonderful intelligence OF
these animals AT the shop nay duty
was Eel4lly uuuGra tool and present
ed 60 each one a loaf of bread covered
with the precious molassca syrup. which
e. their greatest dsIica "
''Ths priest with whom had already
spoken and who was professor Of
philosophy at WllsuouF, told me that
from time 20 time tine begging elephant
ruznaged TO escape from them ana
wander as Tar as Poudicherry 60 beg on
his own account Knowing perfectly
the market where he obtained the pro
visions on his expeditions, he would 90
there place the money he had collected
on the ta1le OF a frait merchant and
eat zs mauy Pineapple bausaazs
mauguels and IS much sugar cane as
the Hiudoo would zlIogv him GoE tle
money "-SelectaL
Auntia Huuaby-ue you tl' postmas-
AE- Van Cott-T am
Auulis Bunsby- Here's q letter e. u5v
dsrter in PhulydsIphy- When you "a
over there G. day. an hand &c q her, zen
laE A'la comm mex week Eurz1t 70
write e, en- hats 9 tear tn anYei0pe-=