Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-06-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
Elephants that Reason.

Elephants that Reason.
INSTANCES IN wAICU MARVELLOUS
INTELLIGENCE Is SAOWN.
There is belief amongst the ne.
groes OF the South to tho effect that
elephants are the rcincarnatiOn of
the departed African monarchs. and
that their wisdom, sagacity, instinct
or Whatever il is that gives an ele.
| phant so wise a look, comes to them
from the spirit that has taken m its
dwelling place within the huge
pachyderm. 1t is only another phase
oi the theory of the transmigration
of soula, believed in by Various
tribes of people the world over, but
1t seems worthy of some considera.
ton when the wonderful things that
elephants sometimes do are borne in
mind.
The Ringling show has the largest
herd of elephants ever brought to-
gether under one ownership. and
some of the wise things they have
peen seen to do during the winter i'm
winter quarters are interesting.
"Elephants may not have reason
ing powers developed to as high q
degree as our own," "says Mr.. Souder,
who Is superintendent in charge of
the big herd, "but they come mighty
near it. Some of the things they do
SHOW that they must have some
means Of communicating one with
another, and of developing plan of
action, for one purpose or another.
IN which concerted work is neces.
sary. Rather high idea of an ele.
phant's thinking apparatus, isn't it ?
But I'll illustrate:
There is a baby elephant i'm the
herd that we call Pete. 1t isn't diff
ferent, to any extent, in our ele-
phant house from other elephant
houses in winter quarters, and, of
course, there is always feed around.
We keep it away from the elephants
until the proper hours, but they
seem to possess an Unsuitable appe-
tite, or are possessed of a spirit Of
thieving that is difficult to overcome.
Now, Pete is tiny little fellow,
and doesn't weigh more than 600
or 800 pounds, but actually believe
ne would eat as mauy pounds of oats
II he had access to them. The ele-
phant house was dark one night, and
l supposed every one Of the animals
was sound asleep, when my atten-
ton was attracted by a subdued
rasping noise. apparently coming
from the further end of the big
herd. Instead Of walking down in
front of them all, went around and
came in at the other end. Hiding
behind some bales ofstraw, l peered
cautiously over to where the little
rascal was chained, and there he
was, carefully lifting his stake out
Of the ground. / saw in an Instant
that no had had the stake out before
that time, for all he had to do was
to lift it up and it came out. He
slipped his foot chain down over the
tapering end of the stake and was
free. / wondered what was to come
next. l wasn't afraid that he would
do any mischief, for, knowing ele-
plants as do, know he had been
loose many times before, after see-
ing him pull up that stake. AS he
was always found chained properly
in the morning, determined to see
the thing out, and let him do what
ever he wanted to.
Across the room, distant per-
haps 20 feet or more from this place,
were piled some sacks of grain, con-
tanning about 100 pounds each. Pick
ing up the foot chain very carefully
with his trunk, so that it would not
rattle or jangle upon the floor, he be-
gan the most delicate, sinuous, glid-
ing motion across tho space that sep
aratod him from the grain l ever
saw, and / never imagined an ele-
phant could go so quietly. / crouch
ed behind the bales of straw, afraid
to move for fear he would hear me
and stop.
On he went, cautiously, slowly,
but steadily, until he was in reach.
ing distance of the sacked grain
Then he laid the chain down and
picked up bag of oats with his
trunk. His journey back to the
herd, 20 feet away, was performed
even more cautiously than had been
his advance, for he had to drag the
chain without making a noise. All
the time he held the sack Of grain
tightly in his trunk, and his mouth
must have watered, when he thought
of the feast he was going to have
He reached the herd at last and
went up to great big Babylon,
who stood like a bronze statue, hel
massive sides looming up like the
sides of a house in the gloom, Pete
stopped and Babylon, whom ! haG
imagined fast asleep, took the oats
They got into the bag in a jiffy, ant
then began feast. Pete filled his
mouth and munched away like {
man eating dry crackers OH wager
He knew that his big companion il
crime would get the most of the oat
il he lost any time. Babylon pu
away almost half the oats at the frs
jump out of the box, and poor littl
Pete, with his mouth full, looked a
her with his watery little eyes, a
much as to say: 'Oh, what a hog
and gulped the oats down his littl
throat at the risk Of choking t
death. / thought 1t was about tim
| tn make nOiae iust IN diacnncaV