River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-07-04

white elephant. Tie press was splen-
didlv worked in advance, and the
sacred white elephant monopolized the
gossip of circus circles.
A great rivalry had for some years
existed between Mr.. Barnum and a
Philadelphia circus man, and the pub
lie was greatly surprised Just before
! the opening of the season, to find
| that, according to a newspaper re-
port. the latter had also quietly and
unostentatiously imported a sacred
white elephant known as the Light
Of ASIA" which, froxn the descriptions
/ of the few favored scribes who had
| seen it, was a marvel of beauty and
! color. Bumors were also circulated
that Baruum's white elephant was not
genuine, but only a diseased or lep-
rous elephant with ''blaze" Of
cream color down its trunk. and dis
colored o. spotted legs, while the
| Philadelphia showman's animal was
! Of snowy Wilderness, without spot or
/ blemish Public sentiment ran high,
especially in Philadelphia, where the
! shows were to exhibit simultaneous
| ". While public opinion was divided as
to the genuineness of these sacred"
animals. it may be wen to say that
| the Barnum animal was as good a
specimen of the genuine white ele-
plant as could be procured, while the
Philadelphia elephant, pretty as a
picture and superbly snow white in
color, was supposed to be a lively
fake"
While on exhibition, this Light of
Asia" was almost entirely covered
with black velvet-spangled cloth,
and the trunk had been manipulated
in such way that visitors could
/ touch it, and as no coloring matter
came off on their hands, / presume
that part of the body had in some
way been sized or enameled.
During the performance the white
elephant would be introduced and
stripped of its velvet trapings on the
elevated stage between the two rings,
while a learned professor descanted
eloquently on opposition in general
and the genuineness of this white
elephant in particular. So well was this
! part Of the programme carried out
| that popular opinion was at least
equally divided regarding the genu-
ineness of the competing white ele-
! plants. Long afterwards the ''lec-
| turer" told me that this white ele-
plant, having learned to recognize
and like him, would endeavor to sa-
lutte him by rubbing up against him
after the manner of elephants. Had
| the animal succeeded, the effect would
have been TO leave white marks on the
black coat of the lecturer, who had
! all he could do to continue his lee
ture and at the same time dodge the
friendly advance of the white ele-
| plant About the middle of the sea
son, after getting all the benefit they
could out of the white elephant war,
Barnum and his rival came to an am
icable understanding and divided ter
ritory with each other, and the Light
of Asia" was withdrawn
The following winter it was given
out that the animal had taken cold
and died in Philadelphia, but there are
plenty of showmen who aver that the
animal is as lively and healthy as
ever, though wearing black instead of
| chalky white A somewhat signif-
cant fact regarding this fake was
! that during the previous sum
mer its owners had been annoyed
on arrival in various towns to
! find an opposition sideshow, with its
canvas already up. 1t belonged to an
! Englishman whose sole attraction
was a yellow horse. No one had ever
/ heard of a yellow horse before, and
the farmers for miles around came in
and eagerly paid ten cents to see
/ his wonder. The animal was not
/ particularly beautiful. but was GER
! tainly a bright yellow, as were also
! the hands Of his master In fact.
there was no doubt but that its own
er had rubbed the animal well with
/ yellow ochre. The proprietor Of the
Light of Asia" paid the show Wis
4 it and laughed heartily at the decep-
ton. After looking at the horse a
little while he remarked 10 its own
er: We'll. if you can turn a gray
horse yellow, you should be able to
turn an elephant white" What hap
/ pered afterward / am unable TO say,
but, singular to relate, the following
/ spring. when the Light of Asia" was
imported" special trainer was
brought with It from Siam who gave
the animal his exclusive care and at
tention. This trainer was an Eng
lshman, and many Of the circus at
taches thought they had seen the man
exhibiting the yellow horse
In 1883. while passing down the
/ Bowery in New York, | heard my name
loudly shouted Turning around |
4 met an English Snowman who was
Just then managing one Of the many
dime museums then established in
that thoroughfare.
Come inside, Mr. Coup" said he
land l viii show Won my latest"
Your latest what?" said l.
Fake" he answered. "These freaks
want too much money, and are near
~ played ont, anyway, so I'm making
fresh ones now"