Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-08
IMMENSE PLAYMATES
Two Mammoth Elephants Who Play
 with Small Boy.


 with Small Boy.
 "That'u do now Babe said the ami nal trainer extricating himself from the serpentine embrace of great black trunk says the Washington Star.
 She's very playful Babe is' he add ed somewhat breathlessly which was natural, for Babe and her mate had been playing ball with him throwing from one to the other and catching beautifully in a manner calculated to inspire a baseball rooter. "She's good deal friskier than Basil. You see she's only half as old as Basil who is sixty this year"
 Babe was stamping her foot, just like an infant and demanding more play. Frank Henley, the trainer, pat ted her on the trunk and said: II guess she won't be contented now till Evan comes around. He's my son, you know, and he can do more with those two | fellows than I can" | So he sallied forth to find Evan, and | his visitors went with him, expecting to see big husky animal trainer like his father. But all they saw was a 1 yellow head full of curls, peering shyiy from behind a tree and vanishing as soon as the strangers approached. Dragged forth finally by the arm, with his face turned bashfu1iy away, | behold Evan, aged four years ana | eleven months, master of the ,ele- l plants. 1 Master Evans unwilling way lay through an unrestful avenue of wild | animal cages, from which the big cats spat and roared their disapproval of | intrusion. A black panther and a young lion particularly were so vehe- ! ment in their frank expressions of l dislike that the strangers took painful care to remain in the center of the I thoroughfare. But Evan tried to hide his bushes behind the black panther, whence he was extricated on the verge of tears.
 Tn the doorway of the elephant house the parental grasp relaxed and with q dive Evan got between the { mighty wrinkled pillars that support ed Babe. .
 That playful young creature had her vast ears thrust forward like immense banners. Her piggy eyes were all a-twinl<le. She gurg1ed deep down i'll her caverns like a mountain full of sizzling hot water.
 Gently. ever so gently. her big trunk with its pink orifice reached out and seized the little chap. Slowly she rock ed him to and fro, while he sat. holding to the trunk as calmly as other chill dren would hold to the ropes of q swing. But Basil wanted bit of 1t. too. He reached and pranced and trumpeted until Babe swung Evan over to him. A toss and catch and | IT. rs-S1 1% NIr Ar.I E<N they swung him like a ball, but with a care and gentleness that seemed in1- possible in creatures so huge.
 A muttered word from Healey and Basil lifted the little golden-haired l trainer up, up. until she held him tel 1 feet above the ground. Then the trunk curved backwards and set him as soft ly Is if he were bisque on her big back. He sat there a few moments skipping his leathery skin. and then with a sud den motion slid down the s1oping back to the tail, swung from 1t as if it were rope and let himself drop to the ground. while Basil and Babe trumpet ed and wagged their ears, watching for him to appear between their legs again.
 Safer said MT Healey. "Why, of course. I'd rather have Evan play with the elephants than with other children. They take as good care of him as any nurse could Every morn. ing they are restless till he comes. And as for him, he is always in here. He I plays among their feet and lets then ,I swing him up on their backs all day long. They wouldn't step on him, nc indeed. They take more care not tc hurt him than a human being would See here"
 He lifted the boy up to Babes lef ear, and commanded: Listen, Babe Something to say to you"
 Babe stuck her ear out and inclined her head toward the boy, while ht talked into her ear. Then she nodded her head wisely and grunted
 Healey dropped the boy. Evar stepped alongside of Babe and slapped her on the leg as high up as he could reach, which wasn't higher than { short mans knee. Down, Babe down. he said.
 E Babe looked at him with a funn, look Of appeal in her eye. She wig gled her tail and fiirted her trunk ana turned her head away, saying plainly Let's talk of something else" Blu the baby trainer was persistent. Ant
 
 as if steam engine were to whisper "Oh my!'
 Then, with a weary grunt she helt her trunk out to him eoaxingly. Bu Evan only patted 1t and cried shri1ly Down. Babe, I say" So Babe. look ing as if she had no friend on earth :. grunted once more and dropped la I boriously to her fore knees. With an other plunge that shook the elephan house she let herself fall cumbrousl, :; on her side. and stuck her four fee | into the air. Then she held out he !. trunk and wiggled her upturned ear Evan scrambled with hands and knee upon her massive throbbing side ant : perched himself, little bright spot 2 on top of the great tonnage of blacl I flesh.
 The Basil had to go through the per s formance, and he, too. begged Eval