The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-12-27
BATHING AT THE zoo.
The Elephant, the Eik ana the chin.
pansee Are Very Fond Of
the water.

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The quip OF the old author who says
that the difference between civilized
and uncivilized men Hes in the fact
that the former bathes and the lat
ter does not, has long been disproved
by fact. But II the difference OF a bath
made the civilized man, the ZOO con-
tains a number Of animals who can
fairly claim the benefit of the d%istinc-
tion-wbether II makes them civilized
is not altogether clear. There II the
elephant. for instance. II rejoices in
q huge tank sunk In the ground, to
which an incline IN sunk, and wherein
the pachyderm may enjoy itself.
There are two elephants Mt the ZOO,
but the bigger doesn't battle. Hes
too fierce, wild and untractable to be
let out Of his cage. So they keep him
securely chained, and when he needs q
bath the hose II turned on him. The
female. n quiet beast of pleasant man
ners, saunters forth every afternoon
In summer and bathes In the tank.
Her JOY il simply unmeasured, says the
Philadelphia Times.
When shc does battle. the trumpet
ing, the s%plashing. the squirting of wa
ter out OF her trunk on her back and
tanks, are simply prodigious. II Ia the
sight of the day--but anyone getting
too near may be drcnchcd. That
doesn't feaze the elephant. She's
there TO battle. and battle she does.
The crowd watches In amazcmcnt.
Elephants, nv Is well known. do not lie
down. even TO battle. and the ZOO
elephant Is no exception. She stands
up and swashcs about, acting as her
" shower bath. and making the most
OF her opportunities.
The male elk II another baihcr, on a
long and protracted basis. There is
q tank In the elk Enclosure into which
water constantly flows. II Il not a
large tank and when the male elk gets
into II. there isn't much room for any
thing else, 80 the females and the
little clks nrc forced 10 stay out and
watch the old n enjoy himself. As
he II liable Of u warm day to stay In
the tank from dcwy morn to lcwy
eve. the others get theirs In watch.
ing.
When thus enjoying himself. the
elk II frequently submerged. except
his horns. which arc wide. aud his
nostrils. They say his object Is to
avoid the flies. which can't bite his
horns very well. aud don't have much
of a chance on his nose. The rest Of
the elk family have to fight the flies
as best they may.
The .himuauz.. niII,. u., q.
sponge bath daily. The heat of July
was n few too many for Billy. who
had been reared In the comparative
chill OF Central Africa, and he had
20 be put ON lee 10 keep him from
slipping his earthly moorings alto
gcthcr. Nowadays. his keeper. MUIR
ray. gives him n sponge bath every
afternoon. which In simply Billy's
chief delight. When he feels the
sponge he closes his eyes and smiles.
and expresses his qualification In low
snorts and whistles.
The alligators and crocodilcs. being
by nature very fond " bathing, de
vide their time between lying In tho
water with their mouths open aud
lying on the ground with their
mouths open. They are not express
sive Of c%ountcnance and their bath
ing may he by force Of habit. Tho
persistent indulgence In water baths
alternated by sun baths may account
for their good health. for 80 far M
known they never die n natural
death.
The pcllcnns, storks. swans, ducks.
cranes. and other like birds are fond
Of the water, ms everyone knows.
The pellcans, cranes and storks stand
and wade In II knee deep, with one
leg drawn up and one eye closed.
Juat why this onc-sided habit Is not
known, even TO naturalists.
The polar bear, not having any Ices
bergs on hand, takes II out In water.
which he leaves long enough TO eat.
and take m occasional nap. His feel
Ing during the recent hot spell may
DC conJccturcd.