The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12

without public inquiry. Truly We had an
elephant on our hands.
Tho evening papers added 10 the oon-
~sternation by scare head announcements
Of the Death Of Pilot and OF 'one Of the
big herd at the Garden, DO The cause
Of the death was evidently not suspected.
Finally the idea was evolved Of sending
for DR.. Leotard, the celebrated veterinary
who cut the animal up. The press agent
found that Pilot had developed symp-
toms Of 'musth,' and had been humanely
shot to death. II wa announced that DR..
Leotard was about to dissect the animal
In the interests Of science, and that he
would try to discover the cause of the
disease known as @musth.'
The reporters were invited to be- present
at the novel operation. To cap the climax
an invitation was sent to Mr.. Berah, and
the papers were fun Of the event the next
day, giving the circus an amount OF adver-
Using more than equal In money TO the
cost Of the elephant. Mr.. Bergh was
charmed with the courtesy al the show
men, who Rugged themselves to find such
a profitable venue OF escape from a serious
dilemma.
If there is a strong flavor OF elephant
about circus literature IL is because that
grand beast has always formed the lead
Ing feature of the show business. and be-
cause more press work has been founded
upon the elephant than upon all other
animals put together.
This fact developed a scheme which
was 70 involve showmen In the expenditure
Of hundreds OF thousands of dollars and
A. l. -htzh
lasted for years. It was the importation
of a white elephant.
j.. B. Gaylord, an old time circus agent;
was commissioned by Mr.. Bailey TO inter
view King Theebaw and try to obtain one.
They are considered sacred In Siam and
India generally. and the King OF Siam was
known to possess several. Gaylord got two
very fine specimens. but after he had them
aboard ship they died mysteriously-
probably at the hands Of natives who
resented the sacrilege.
Gaylord cabled the facts TO Mr.. Bailey
and sailed for home. Mr.. Bailey left New
York for San Francisco, met his foreign
agent on arrival and told Gaylord to return
Immediately and get another elephant.
In vain the agent pleaded Tor a visit home
to see wife and children.
you must return on the next stea mer, y
said the determined Snowman.
And he did. He succeeded in getting a
fair specimen OF the sacred white ele-
plant. It was brought to London and
there placed in the Zoo IN exhibition. This
was for the double purpose Of establishing
its genuineness and getting a good ex-
ploitation in the European press before
producing the animal here at the opening
at Madison Square Garden two months
later. Scores Of English officers OF the
army and navy had seen the white elephants
Of the court Of Siam. Thus it's genuineness
was u~nequivocably established, and the
London newspapers gave the beast Wild
and e~xtravagant publicity.
II was called a white elephant as we
call a cream colored horse white, simply
because of the absence Of certain coloring
matter in the epidermis. Lord Of the
Sacred White Elephant is a title held by
Siameee Kings, but there are other po-
tentates Of India who claim the same title,
which creates a certain local demand for
white elephants.
As a matter OF fact any elephant differing
from the ordinary Is thus made sacred
and called white. There are no less than
nine varieties OF white elephants in India,
according to H. H. Cross, an artist, who
spent nine years in India and painted a
picture of the white elephant OF the King Of
Siam.
Said Cross to the writer: IF an elephant
has a flesh mark on the forehead It is con-
sldered the work OF BuddhA and becomes
in the eyes Of the natives a sacred beast"
Now the elephant we had IN probation
at the London Zoo was a genuine sacred
white elephant" with Buddha's mark on
different parts Of it's body. on the forehead
and on about two feet Of its trunk, and
was otherwise a perfect specimen Of
elephant.
When Adam Forepaugh Of Philadelphia
discovered his great rival had obtained
such an attraction he was much perturbed
in spirit. He said: Il will also have a
white elephant Samuel Watson. then in
confidential employ Of old Adam, was sent
to Liverpool TO get a small elephant from
Cross, the animal dealer. to make it white
and to ship 1t at once to New York before
our elephant could get there.
1t was an idea worthy Of the shrewd old
Snowman. Watson got the elephant easily
enough, treated it with chemicals and sent
it to New York. The entire city press was
at the pier upon its arrival. So was /,
And though ! knew it to be a fraud, and
that no such elephant ever existed in nature,
l could not prove it.
The next day to our intense chagrin the
press teemed with elaborate notices Of the
new arrival. 1t was described by all the
papers as a genuine sacred white elephant
1t killed our real enterprise completely.
However. our elephant arrived, was
also exploited in the papers and duly
placed on exhibition at our opening in
Madison Square Garden. We surrounded
the animal with Hindu attendants, on a
raised platform, with expensive rugs. &c,
BETTING his sacred character.
l secured the attendance OF scientists,
physicians, naturalists, travellers and many
persons Of distinction; got the certificates
Of such men as Gen. Sickles, a former Consul
at Siam; Frank Vincent, the author, and
Of Others. including David B. Rer, Siamese
correspondent Of the Times-al of whom
pronounced the elephant a genuine speci-
men Of the sacred white species. But 1t
didn't go. White elephants were a drug
in the market. Anybody could have one.
Then l proved it. Some years before l
had, as publisher OF the Hdirdresser, be-
come acquainted with a Mr.. Marchau6,
manufacturer OF peroxide OF hydrogen,
Thia Uaa for hlan hi human hair |