Evening star., 1898-05-20
NOVEL SPRING CLEANING.
Ceremony of 0iIinG Elephants for the
Summer Campaign.

From the New York Journal.
The annual ceremony of lubricating the
elephants was pulled off yesterday at Coney
Island Three husky Hindoos from Avenue
A and two Coney Island song and dance
men out Of a job officiated as lubricators.
The pachyderms operated upon were Baby
Ruth and Gypsy, and between them they
absorbed nine kegs of neatsfoot oil and up
ward Of nine tons of profanity, net. In ad-
dition to being fabricated, the elephants
took a bath and otherwise prepared for the
summer season.
In his native wilds the elephant Is equip
ped with patent, self-acting lubrtcators,
which keep his joints in active commission
the year round. When transferred to this
climate the self-feeding lubricators become
clogged and artificial fabrication becomes
necessary. Some owners of elephants lubri-
cate them twice a year. On Coney Island
they are fabricated once a year, because it
costs money to do it.
The preparations for yesterdays sacred
rite, which occurred within the precincts of
the Indian village, formerly the Streets of
Cairo, were simple The three Hindoos
from Avenue A took three drinks apiece, the
actors smoked two cigarettes apiece, and
all hands fell to, armed with brooms.
brushes and swabs. 1t is no soft job to
wash an elephant, which is a preliminary
operation to the fabrication.
The elephant is not a model of personal
cleanliness During his winter Information
IL is his custom to inhale the dust from the
floor of his quarters, pack II in his trunk
and then blow it into his skin with great
force. 1t stays right where he puts 1t, and
when spring comes the elephant has coat
about a foot deep and as hard as the lot Of
a volunteer soldier. This coat serves to
keep the elephant warm. but it also serves
to close up the pores of his skin and MAKE
his movements stiff.
Hot water was used yesterday-barrels of
it-and liberal quantities of soft soap. The
elephants were secured until they were
masses of lather, and then were rubbed
down with stiff brushes. drenching with
hot water followed this operation until they
were as clean as 1t is possible to get an ele
phant Baby Ruth kicked somewhat at be-
ing washed, but it was great sport Tor
Gypsy.
Then came the fabrication. To an un-
sophisticated onlooker lubricating an ele-
phant seems to be a very simple operation
1t is not There is a cavity just forward
of an elephants hip which marks the spot
where the self-acting lubricator was locat-
ed in his native wilds, for 1t simply ciamors
for OIL All able lubricators OF elephants
know of the location of this cavity, and Mr..
Vallett the gentleman who superfntended
the oiling of the pachyderms yesterday, is
an expert He started his Hindoos from
Avenue and his song and dance men out
of job at the cavities.
Baby Ruth being somewhat of an ac-
climated elephant, readily absorbed the oil
applied to the cavity Aforesaid and soon
glistened all over her body with a coat of
neatsfoot. But Gypsy, a more seasoned
elephant and one whose self-acting lubri-
Gator had been long out of commission, was
a problem The cavity soaked up oil as
West street soaks up beer when a ship
comes in and it was not until three barrels
of neatsfoot had been applied to her with
whitewash brush that she consented to alb
sorb the lubricating fluid with the rest of
her hide.
The rain which came up In the evening
filled the lubricators with alarm. but the
elephants were wrapped up in blankets and
seduestered in the innermost recesses of
the camp, from which they probably will
emerge this morning in condition to accom-
modate the summer visitors.