The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-07-25

{, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY.
bridges, and therefore occasions you
no end Of trouble.
recently read an article in peri
odical under the caption .Do Animals
Cryl" They surely do. You would
hardly believe that an elephant sheds
copious tears in lamenting its sad lot
and bewailing the cruelty and incon
sistency of man. There was one in
particular that came under my notice,
doclle and harmless old creature, that
would persistently do something not
commanded to or included in the act
while put thru her turn during the
performance; thus throwing the others
into confusion and precipitating the
act. She would be taken to task for
this at the conclusion of the perform
ance, and, if she was accorded severe
treatment, would whimper, emit snorts
OF discontentment, with the transparent
fluid dripping from her eyes. As
balm to her hurt feelings, patting her
on the tongue, speaking to her kindly
and allowing her to incircle your arm
or body with her trunk would always
sOothe her.
A good many people have the falla-
cious idea that if you should give any
elephant piece of tobacco it would
remember you for the remainder of its
days. This, in some respects, is unrea-
sonable, for they have their likes and
dislikes the same as any other animal.
Undoubtedly some would resent the
indignity were you to offer it to them,
for they abhOr it with as much con-
tempt as your fastidiously abstemious
individual. Still others have a partial
ity for it, in SO far as to shoot "wlilies;"
consuming them without even rubbing
off the ashes. They have the art down
to science and Il assure you would
give the proverbl3f tonhato-can Willie
run for his prediction.
1t was customary for one of the "bull-
men" to buy pound package of cigar
clippings every Sunday. if obtainable,
to last him thru the week. We hap
pened to Sunday in a town where it
was not purchasable, for the reason
that the tobacconists either belonged
to or we're forced by an uplifting soci-
ETY. to remain closed on the Sabbath.
AS luck would have it he was out of
tobacco, and he would not or could
not chew anything outside of clippings
merely matter of taste. So to "play
even," as he ssid, he would not buy
any tobacco In the burg on Monday,
but would wait until he got to the
next stand on Tuesday. While at
tending the "bulls" from the train to
the lot he purchased his favOrite weed
and deposited it in his coat which was
fastened to chain around one of the
pachyderm's neck. Now an old invet.
crate user of the weed witnessed the
whole proceedings, and this cunning
old rascal could not let good thing
pass by. So he cautiously manehvered
to an advantageous position, surrepti-
tiously abstracted the package of to-
bacco from the coat, slyl looked about,
tossed it into his capacious mouth and
commenced chewing it with evident
relish.
Elephants are noted for their re-
markable memory and longevity. In
their native land they are known to
reach the enormous age of one hun
dred and fifty years. In this country,
where the climate is not SO favorable,
some approach the century mark. One
in herd of nineteen had eighty-seven
to her credit and she showed them in
her numbering gait. She had been in
this country approximately forty-eight
years at the time, SO she was pretty
well advanced in years when imported.
She was the property of most every
fy-by-night before being purchased by
the present owner and naturally the
vicissitudes of her career are innumer-
able.
While showing in small town in
the West during the time the prospec-
tive audience were making tour of
the menagerie prior to the perform
ance, two gentlemen were holding
converse near the inclosure that sur
rounded the elephants. One in partic-
uIar attracted my attention by his
demoDstrative and seemingly convinc-
ing manner in endeavoring to prove
his conclusions. 1t seemed as tho his