The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-04
AMONG THE ELEPHANTS.
Il KEEPERS PHILOSOPHY-HOW TO
APPEIE TO 4NIMILS.
SaIIy's Love of Observation-Disclosures
and the Scotch Landlord,


in much the same circle or reflection
Lorenzo Qet us make haste to adopt the
name that has famed on many show
bilD is not an ele phant--he is man
but long intercourse with the greatest
of creatures has brought his nature into
accord with their solemn harmony OF
theirs. Time with his drag of years
contributes to the stateliness Of Loren
Zos habit, and when one has started
him upon some path of narrative OF
dissertation he is neither to be tempted
into unaccustomed byways, nor hur-
red, nor arrested in his course. In his
own good time he will lead you round
the track of memory and show you the
sights he is no more to be disturbed by
his audience upon that voyage than Is
his Oldest elephant, once set forth on
her circular walk Of penny entertain
ment, to be detected by the cries of her
riders as they drum her unflinching
hide In the slow mill of his own mind
he has ground up all his experience of
life with the brute beasts into a kind
of science--not kind to be found In
textbooks, perhaps, but one that anch-
ors him to an old philosophy. Probably
he knows nothing of the Vedanta
school, and yet he is a true, if be,ated
follower of Vyasa He seems to aspire
to the perfect repose of the Vedantist,
who found in the science that contem-
plates changeless things the only pos
sibility of elevation beyond change; and
like him, Lorenzo closes the gates of
his soul, recalls his senses within him
self feeds upon the past and future, and
L. itnt too.
| found him one afternoon seated on
the hot-water pipes in front of Sally's
cage, gazing at her in a kind of dream.
1t was a quiet day, and very few peo-
pie were in the house; there was little
or no business being done in be.l-ringlng
or sWeet-catching and the two veterans
gazed at each other across the bars. |
hesitated to break in upon the silent
duet with my foolish questions, but /
was longing to hear the man talk about
his charges. He gave me but little of
the kind of gossip l wanted to hear; his
mind was revolving questions Of far
vaster Import; indeed, he almost resent
ed my prying curiosity as to the private
life of his beasts, and shielded them as
though from the gaze of mischievous
busybody. What he did let fall, how
ever, in the course of predatory re-
marks, Gas to the nature of beasts gene
rally, made before plunging into much
deeper subjects, was profounly interest
ing. elephants are like people," was
his burden; "show them much affection,
and they'll take advantage of you when
they cam" A cynic, you will observe;
but it apears that he has excuses.
There seems to be this great difference
between the domestic and wild animal
upon the one you may lavish affection
and caresses, and he will love and re-
spect you the more; but in the other,
awe (Which is the only really neutral
a wild beast) and, in less degree, af-
lection diminish in proportion as you
are demonstratively affectionate. We |
all know the man who must be kept |
at distance lest he presume upon any
little kindness shown to him; that is
the wild beast. The dog or the horse is
like friend or good servant, who |
knows how to value your civility. APP
proach an elephant daily for three
months with loud words and an indiffer-
emit bearing, and he will like you
and be very much afraid of you at the
end of the time: feed him upon candy
FOR the same priod treat him very tend
erly and he will hold himself at liberty
20 stamp on you some day when he has
nothing better to do
There is something admirable in the
austerity of such a bond as that be-
,ween Lorenzo and Solly They have
known each other for nearly thirty
Jears; for half of that time, | dare say,
she has been his chief interest in life
md yet how few caresses, how few
words even, have passed between them,
Their mutual understanding, her loving,
'espectful dependence, his control, are
like perfect; although if he were not
~ and | were to enter her cage she
would probably kill me, / should not be
fraid to lie down in her patti and let
Ter walk over me If he We're beside her.
onstant effort, he told me, to refrain
rom petting so old a friend, and | can |
Jot very much afraid, / mean. 1t is a
veil believe it. He said quite simply, |
If the animals were taken away from {
ne, | think / should die: but he is {
ealous of his influence, and makes the |
fort. !
From one or two stories which he I
old me I gathered that elephants are {
,vers of routine and resent any inter- |
erence with their daily custom. For L
my friend was in the habit I
taking one of his elephants every d
to the brewhouse, where the T
rute was used to have a drink of ale. ;
or some reason, however (whether ow- u
lg to the influence of some remote rip II
lie of the teetOtal movement or not / u
m unable to say, the practice was dis
ontinued, and my lord arrived at the o
ne fine morning to find the door shut. II
Ihereupon he raised great boo-hoo~ n
lg, rushed through the gardens in an u
,stasy of rage, and finally brought up u
the middle of lake believing and
as though to the Hades of
lie beasts The sequel to this exhibit
on is significant of mans relations Il
18th this jungle captive. The keeper V
ent up to the enraged monster with Il
zee of bread, and led him submissive 81
his den Where bullying fails with u
beast one may successfully appeal to b
S gluttony, and with these two weap- | D
Is one is armed cap-a-pe against the r;
Wer creation. Here We're several tons "
brute beast rushing about in frenzy | iN