The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-09
Elephant ksspsr Talks About
His Mammoth Charges.
THEY HAVE TO Be WATCHED.
ITsacAsfeus aad Always on Tho Alert for
Mischief Suffer Greatly From
Cams In Captivity


brute, is this Jewel. and we tie her back
10 toward the audience. because that way
she is least discontented," said the old
elephant keeper pointing TO where the
huge female elephant stood behind the
three-inoh iron bars restiessly shifting
her weight from foot 10 foot and CON
tentedly munching hay.
she doesn't like the crowds. FOR they
make her restless. and we try TO humor
her along the best we can. for, after all.
she is a very good elephant. She would
not hurt any one, as her neighbor. Tom.
hopes 20 do some day when he can get i'm
lick unawarcs and therefore we nut IN
with her for she deserves II.
There rs not treacherous trait IN her
put she rs squeamish arrangement III
she does not have things her own way
and she will trumpet the top OF your
mead on as far as threats go II you use
the hook OF her.
Want 10 come and see for yourselfq"
The Keeper said. The reporter lied and
said he wanted very much 10 sec for him.
self. The keeper stuck an elephant hook I'm
his pocket. IL was wooden handled af-
fair, little over foot long with boat
ike shaped business end sharpened To "A
point keen as the point OF AN ice tongs
we will go i'm through the rear en-
trance; don't be afarid she will try 60
scare you by swinging her trunk, and she
may seem as ~ she intends TO squash
YOU against the wall. but no elephant
that Is wise behaves very badly when an
elephant hook Is around ana jewel s as
wise as any OF them.
She's a useful, wel-trained brute and
has done her share OF work several times
when there was extraordinary occasion
all that YOU have ever read OF Indian ele-
Itn ntaA n Hss,
have look at her"
The heavy five-inch cross bar stretched
across two immense folding doors
through which the elephant is led out OF
her stan was removed and when the doors
creaEed on their ponderous hinges there
stood Jewel looking complacently bored
ard shifting from foot 10 foot az usual
You can talk 20 her as you can TO n
human creature" said the keeper: "tere |
Is very little OF the ordinary run of lam |
suace which she does not understand.
watch her. Hold down your head |
Jewel. anl let's have q look az your face" !
was ordered. and unwllingly the big head /
was lowered. until the forehead was with 4
III reaching distance The great trunk
swung hack~,and forth meanwhile. and |
clearly she did not like the order
The reporter wished that she did NOT
feel so sore about the thing for she was
within three feet Of him and there was
n solid wall behind and she was inchirg |
toward the wall az n she contemplated
things
TENDER ABOUT HER FEET.
Don't bother the poor brute. She Is
Ill right, and III believe all you tell me
about her willingly, and besides | can see
just as we'll n stand outside the house
a little distance. II IS a shame 10 bother
"a poor animal" protested the reporter
But the keeper did not think so.
Now look out for a trtmpet I am 20 |
Ing 10 make her hoist her forefoot Shc |
hates to be bothered about the feet, and
makes more noise than a steam whistle
whenever any one comes near her" said |
the keeper. and then he gently pressed
The hook against IN great forefoot that |
coud have crushed him like an eggshell |
There was not the least sign that the |
hook could have hurt the brute. so gently
was 10 used. bat in an instant there were |
things doing" Like flash she lowered |
ler giant head and pricked forward her
.ars.
The great trunk curled upward like a
spiral spring, and in an instant there was
/ trumpet which AT close quarters was
ar-splittlng and frightening But the
zig foot came up just the same Then ,
he hook was removed and there was |
Iuiet as the big crowd rushed into learn !
he causerof the unusual noise. ,
II told YOU she was sdueamish," said
he KEEPER but she Is a good old girl for 3
u that and she loves her Keeper. Don't /
ou Jewel? Kiss your keeper. gal" and +
his time, without the use OF a hook The
rnnk stretched out Willingly and after >
'indng itself once about the neck of the
eeper there was what Jewel thought 9
,as a kiss ~ :
Now We VIII visit Tom lie is less +
ervous, bat he is bad elephant and n
OF much better, as far as treachery is a
than he was some time ago a
hen fhonQbf Axa ha, nm
i'm, | would not get too close 20 Tom =
7 were you.
'He does not know you, and Il is best | A.
, be on the safe side. You can tell IN n
Is eyes that he II a bad one He Is nat II
rally 2 vicious brute. and as time goes +
H. according TO all precedents. he ought "
become worse and worse" %
Tom, with one eye on the hook behaved ! II
ell enough. He raised his feet one ny
1e when ordered, and he lowered his y
Fad hut IL was the respect for the hook
lat made him good =,
Both Of these elephants are old circus a
laps.' said the keeper "and Tom here =,
le bad one. IL one of the finest perform. ~
: IN the business. Before he got this a.,
~ spell used TO perform tricks with 4,
I'M 1ust To keep his hand I'm, as IL were >,
II since he has begun thirstinx for mis- -
lief ] do not bother him more than -
i've TO. =.
TOM KNOWS MANY TRICKS I'll
Tom can ring bell and he can sit a,
his launches or stand on his hind ~
gs or walk a barrel with any of them 81
hen he was In the show he also per- n,
rmcd little oue-act breakfast trick or
RE would set his own table and sit =,
ven before II on special chair and he ne
'uld tie napkin about his neck and DO
'uld eat, exactly the same as YOU zee he
her circus efephants 90 the srfck ,oda,. -
it All that was long ago, when ne was bo
ntle and pleasant. hs
Now the risk OF having ones head
ocked or IL not worth the fun of do
,ining him. All that keeps him in an
ape is the knowledge OF the hook. He th