Rock Island Argus., 1896-10-12
ELEPHANT STORIES.
THEY GO TO SHOW THAT THE GREAT
BEASTS CAN REASON.

How One Of the Huge Fellows Amused |
Himself at the Expense of q Hippopota- F,
mus-Frusecting Themselves From An |
noyanes.
In my opinion the elephant is the
most intelligent Of all animals. He
thinks for himself, md no matter in
what position he may be placed. or
what emergencies he may be called up-
on to meet, he seems to be endowed
with enough common sense to be equal
to all occasions. He has also strong
sense of humor, which at times is so
marked as TO he almost human.
This sense Of the humorous was un-
usually well developed in an elephant I
knew in the Jardin des flantes in Par
in the open air, so that he had plenty
Of room To roam about. In the same in
closure was a very large hippopotamus.
for whose comfort and amusement q
great stone basin had been built and
filled with water. and the hippopota,nus
in turn furnished amusement for the
elephant. 1t was quite early one morn
ing-before the hour for admitting the
public to the garden-when I 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 was not mistak-
en-; for. Just rs soon as the ears Of the
hippopot;mUs came into view, the ele-
phant quickly seized one of them with
his trunk and gave it a sudden pull.
The enraged hippopotamus lifted his
-ponderous head clear of the water and
snorted and blew, but every time he
rose to take breath the elephant would
recommence his antics Around and
around the beast would go, keeping u
sharp lookout for the little ears Of the
hippopotamus, which he would seize the
moment they appeared. His evident de-
light in teasing his huge neighbor was
very comical, and there could be no
doubt that he thoroughly enjoyed il.
Again, ere day the keeper placed
some food for the hippopotamus in -
corner Of the inclosure, and ut once the
hippopotamus began 10 leave the water
| to get il, but the elephant slowly am
bled over to the same corner, and arriv-
ing there first he placed his four feet
over the favorite food in such way that
the hippopotamus could not get ut it,
| gently swayed his trunk back and forth
| and acted altogether as though he were
there quite accidentally, until the gar
den was thrown open to the public ard
he went forward to receive the daily
contributions of bread. cake, pie, etc. :,
which were always offered him by his
hosts of admirers.
Elephants appear to take much enjoy
ment i'll life and exhibit good natured
spirit even while at work In the ami
mails quarters at Bridgeport, some time
| ago, two little elephants showed evil
dent pleasure in the tasks that Were set
for them Even in their stable. when
no trainer was about, one little elephant
would stand ON its head just it was
used to doing in the circus and the other
would look anxiously on until its own
turn came to stand ON its head and bc
admired by the other.
In his native cline, during the Eo;
hours IF the day, the elephant usually
seeks the friendly shade Of a grove a
trees so as to shield himself from the
burning rays Of the sun. Some time agt
in Central park the elephants in sum
mer We're kept in an open inclosur,
where there were no trees OF shade al
) any kind, and during the hot days
when the mercury was well up in tn,
nineties, the heat was almost unbear
able. Intently watching the clephanti
there We're always many persons carry
ing sunshades or umbrellas To prutec
: themselves from the suns rays
! Iwonder how many Of these outlook
. ers realized that the elephants wer
carrying sunshades. too. for such Wa
really the case. On the very hot day
the great quadrupeds would take tin
hay that was given them. or. when the,
2 could get it the newly mown grass. an
: completely thatch their hacks with !
: to shield themselves from the sun. The
q will sometimes do this same thing i
fly time to protect themselves from b.
ing bitten, for. strange rs IL may seem
the elephants skin is very sensitive.
In Africa there grows n tree cIlle
the heglik tree, which bears frui
: known by the name Of lolobes. Now th
elephant is very fond of lolobes. but th
fruit grows so high up n 20 be quit
\ out of the animals reach. Of cours
that does not deter the elephant froI
y trying TO get it True. he cannot elm
tree, but he has big bump Of ing
nuity and we may rest assured that b
gets the fruit by some means or other.
Sir Samuel Baker, the great Africa
traveller, was fortunate enough, one da
to see an elephant in the very act ~ ge
ting the fruit. The elephant would n
tire q short distance FROM the tree an
then rush at the trunk at full spec,
striking his head against it with sue
: force as to make the tree tremblc
= every limb and 50 shake down the frui
y repeating the charge again and aeai
In until enough lolobes had fallen 20 ssti
= fy his appetite. Animal Friend