The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1906-03-21
HOW
Would You Like to Massage
an Elephants Back.
(From Fridays Daily.)

big circus undergoing their last
toilet before breaking camp for the
travelling season. During the win
ter months the animals enjoy a de-
served rest, and during this time
the keepers put them through
course of bathing, combing, brush
ing and exercises, the fine effects of
which show themselves when the
circus season begins. It takes ten
or twelve weeks to go over a herd
of forty elephants at the winter
quarters of Ringling Brothers.
Thousands OF square feet of hide
must be cleaned and softened. Of
course these big beasts are washed
during the winter at short intervals
but the animal toilet just before
the show leaves is more elaborate
and serious undertaking; it takes
several days for the different baths
to take effect, and prepare the skin
for the next treatment. In order to
keep the skin soft and clean, it is
first carefully oiled. The oil is rubb-
ed well into the hide, and as a rule
six or eight men are set to work on
the same animal. The oil is suppli-
ed with swabs of cotton waste
and thoroughly rubbed in. Some
of the workmen attack the ele-
plants legs, while others climb
ladders and rub the upper reaches
of the huge neck. A keeper stands
beside the elephants trunk with
hook stick in hand ready for any
emergency. Should the elephant
kick in any way the ladder is over
turned, and the oily back would be
hard holding for those on top.
After the elephant is massaged he
is left alone for a couple of weeks.
The next treatment consists of a
thorough scrubbing. By this time
the hardened layers are ready to
come off.
The last treatment consists of
sandpapering the entire surface.
The hide, first softened by oiling
and massage and afterwards clean
ed is still likely to remain rough.
Of all the operations this sandpaper
ing is the most tedious. At best it
proceeds very slowly. AS many men
as can work about the elephant
without getting in each others way
are detailed to sandpaper the same
animal. They attack its others legs,
the trunk, even it's ears, all rubbing
Again the ladders are
brought out and leaned against the
while workmen perch
upon it's back or the
top of it's head, and proceed to
smooth out the wrinkles. When
this is complete the elephant comes
forth to all outward appearance as
good as new, and ready for the sum-
mer tour, which is announced to
begin at the Coliseum, Chicago,
April 5.
Elephants look dirty because of a
habit they have of throwing soft
soil and straw over their backs, but
they are not. No human beings
skin gets more attention than the
hides of these big animals. They
are brushed and scrubbed time and
again each day. Twice a year they
get real Turkish bath, and this
process is a slow one, taking nearly
a month, and keeps half a dozen
men busy. It may be that this un-
ending grooming makes their hides
sensitive and the dirt and straw
throwing is natures relief.
The herd of elephants with Ring
lings' shows represents half of all in
the United States. During the cir
Gus season they lead busy life. At
no time are they apt to wax fat in
idleness. Twenty are performing
beasts. They do about everything,
as wag said, "but thread needle
and read Shakespeare" The other
half of the herd do the drudgery
work of the show. IF a ponderous
cage or wagon gets stuck in the
mire, the willing elephant is brought
to the rescue. One is monitor,
who looks after the erring of the
big family; one waits on Baby Boo
and her indulgent mama; one car
ries hay and other food, and so on
through quite list of duties-and
useful, be it said. There is no wild
creature so docile. obedient and in