Evening journal., 1896-11-10
ELEPHANT STORIES.
THEY GO TO SHOW THAT THE GREAT
BEASTS CAN REASON.

Himself at the Expense of "A Hippopota-
mus-Protecting Themselves from An
noy Ance.
In my opinion the elephant is the
most intelligent Of all animals. He
thinls for himself, and no matter in
what position he may be placed, or
what emergencies he may be called up
on t. meet, he seems to be endowed
with enough common sense to be equal
to al occasions. He has also a strong
sense Of humor, which at times is so
mari ed as to be almost human.
This sense Of the humorous was un-
usually well developed in an elephant I
knew in the Jardin des Plantes in Par
is Ile kept in a great inclosure out
in the open air, so that he had plenty
Of room to roam about IN the same in
closure was very large Eippopotamus,
for whose comfort and amusement a
great stone basin had been built and
filled with water, and the hippopotamus
in turn furnished amusement for the
elephant. 1t was quite early one morn
ing-beforc the hour for admitting the
publ C to tho garden-when 1 noticed
the elephant walking around on the
stone edge Of the basin, curiously watch
ing the hippopotamus.
/ felt quite sure that the elephant was
up to some prank, and Twas not mistak-
en-; for, Just as soon as the ears of the
hipp1potamus came into view, the ele-
phmt quickly seized one OF them with
his trunk and gave it a sudden pull.
The enraged hippopotamus lifted his
ponc erous head clear of the water and
snor ed and blew, but every time he
rose to take breath the elephant would
recoinmenco his antics. Around and
around the beast would go, keeping a
SHARP lookout for the little ears of the
hippopotamus, which he would seize the
mon ent they appeared. His evident de-
light in teasing his huge neighbor was
very comical, and there could be no
doubt that he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Again, ono day tho keeper placed
somo food for the hippopotamus in q
corner of tho inclosurc, and at cnce the
hippopotamus began to leave the water
to get it, but the elephant slowly am
blcd over to the same corner, and arriv-
ing here FIRST he placed his four feet
over the favorito food in such a way thai
tho hippopotamus could not get at it
gently swayed his trunk back and fortf
and acted altogether as though he were
there quito accidentally, until the gar
den was thrown open to the public and
he went forward TO receive the daily
contributions of bread, cake, pie, etc.
which We're always offered him by his
hosts of admirers.
Elephants appear to take much enjoy
ment in life and exhibit q good natureC
spirit even while at work. In the ami
mails quarters at Bridgeport, some time
ago two little elephants showed evi
dent pleasure in the tasks that were Sc
for them Even in their stable, whel
no trainer was about, ono little elephan
would stand ON its head just it wa
used to doing in tho circus and the othe
would look anxiously ON until its owl
turn came to stand on its head and b
adm red by tho other.
In his native cline, during the ho
hours Of the day, tho elephant usual.
seeks tho friendly shade Of a grove O
trees so as to shield himself from III
burning rays Of tho sun. Some time ag
in Central park the elephants in sum
Nor were kept in an open inclosur
where there were no trees or shade {
any kind, and during the hot days
when the mercury was well up in th
ninesios, the heat was almost unbeai
able Intently watching the elephant
there We're always many persons carry
ing sunshadea or umbrellas to prote,
themselves from the suns rays.
1 wonder how many of these onlool
ers realized that the elephants WEI
carrying sunshades, too, for such W;
really tho case. On tho very hot day
the great quadrupeds would take IL
hay hat was given them, OF, when the
could get it tho newly mown grass, al
completely thetch their backs with
to shield themselves from the sun. The
viii sometimes do this same thing
fly time 20 protect themselves from b
+ ing bitten, for, strange as it may seen
the olephant's skin is very sensitive.
III AAAANA tAtAt BANWn a. AASo StsAA'
the heglik tree, which bears fru
known by tho name of lolobes. Now Il
elephant is very fond OF lolobes, but q
fruit grows so high Up rs TO be qui
out Of the animals reach. OF cour
that does not deter tho elephant fro
trying to get it. True, ho cannot clir
a tree, but he has q big bump Of ing
, nuit5 ard 'Sc may rest assured that
! gets the fruit by some means or other
Sir Samuel Baker, the great Africi
traveller, was fortunate enough one d
to see an elephant in the very act Of 8,
I ting tho fruit The elephant would I
; tire short distance from the tree ~
! then rush ut the trunk at full spec
} striking his head against it with su
force as to make tho tree tremble
every limb and so shake down the fru
= repeating the charge again and aga
; until enough lolobos had fallen to sat
fy his appetite. Our Animal FrienC
CHAMPION SHOT OF THE WORLI
Miss Annie Oakley writes: Myself "a
Z / many of the Buffalo Bill Wild West