Connecticut western news., 1896-06-18
FONDLED HERCULES.
TIE GIFTED ELEPHANT TRAINER RE-
 ATES HIS EXPERIENCE.

Had an Idea Ee Was Born For the BnAi-
 ness of Animal Training. and For
 Awhile Everything Ran Smoothly. but
 Now He sticks to Rhinooerosea.
 ''Did you ever fondle an elephant in geological garden?" asked the man with the lop shoulder as he looked around on the group which had been smoking and talking.
 No one ever had, and he was invited Q give his experience
 up to about ten years ago" " he said as he settled down, "I had an idea that was born for an animal trainer, with elephants as my particular speciality. 1 never went to New York, Philadelphia or Cincinnati without going to the ZOO and fondling the elephants Many and many time have astonished the keep CTS and raised a great row by walking right up to an elephant and shaking hands with him. as it were. And they really took to me. When that big. bad elephant, Hippo Said, of the New York ZOO was killing his keepers and smash ing up things, entered his den and pulled his ears and patted his trunk and got up such a friendship between us that he couldn't bear to let me go"
 Well, what next?' asked the man with the cats eye ring on his little fin ger.
 "I got stuck on myself as matter of course. I wanted to be an elephant trainer and do with the big beasts what no other trainer had ever dared try, bat somehow could never strike a job. That didn't prevent me from see ing the elephants at every opportunity. however, and keeping in touch with them. One day got around to Phila- lelphia and was told that an elephant called Hercules had been in bad humor for a week or two They had him chain ed to the floor and his keeper daren't go within ten feet of him, while a man stood in front of the cage and warned the public to keep at a safe distance. I'd seen the beast dozen times before, and on two occasions he had lifted me up on his back with his trunk I am sure he knew me on this occasion, but he gave me no greeting.
 "But you were determined to fondle him just the same?" queried the cats eye man in vinegary voice.
 'Of course" replied the narrator. Tt was an occasion had been longing for years. I wanted to show profes- sional trainer what could do in the way of pacifying and humbling an ugly elephant but for half an hour they nlO fl II bod show to get at old Hercules The time came, however, and slipped into his cage and walked right up to him and began to speak loving words and careSs his trunk. Gentlemen, excuse these two tears-the first l have shed for years but my emotions always overcome me at this stage of the game.
 What are you crying about?' stern ly demanded the baldheaded man in the big rocking chair.
 At the recollection of what occurred then and there. l hadn't fondled that miserable critter over three fondles and hadn't time to feel conoeited over my smartness when he picked me up and waved me aloft and threw me slam bang against the blanks of his cage But for the quickness of some of the ZOO folks in coming to my rescue I'd have been a dead man in another minute. They handled me out O that with hooks, and the beast was so mad at my escape that he broke one of his tusks of in banging around. People mile away could hear him scream in his rage. Everybody said it was a wonder how escaped with my life. My left leg and left arm were broken, my spine injured, a kneecap loosened, and didn't get over splitting blood for a year. was in hospital in walk out Gentlemen, here are two more tears May depend on your gen erosity to excuse them as before?"
 What you sniveling about now?' shouted the baldheaded man as he turn ed on him
 'More recollecrions, sir I was no sooner able to be out than was arrest ed. tried and convicted on the charge of fondling an elephant and the judge socked me $25 and costa The whole affair cost me e428. saying nothing of my sufferings and lost time"
 And after that you left the elephant training business alone?'
 '.Yes, after that" replied the lop shouldered man in broken tones, "I let up on elephants and gave my whole at tention to rhinoceroses Excuse my seeming conceit gentlemen, but I am the only man in the world who can make rhinoceros stand on his head and spin about like top. He also plays Home, Sweet Home on the accordion at my bidding and will sit cross legged with pair of spectacles on and pretend to read the good book which our moth CTS taught.us to respect
 There was silence for long minute 1 after he had finished Then every man ] rose up and called him lop shouldered liar and horse thief and left him to enjoy his own miserable society. y.-De- | troit Free Press