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

"
room in the cars for them to lie down
while ia transit. Occasionally they
take nap during the day on the show
grounds, but mostly lie down for a
rest from being exhausted.
The anomaly that used to take her
nocturnal rest of Sunday would fire.
quently fall over in her sleep. usually
in the early hours of the morn, thus
waking all the animals in the menag-
erie with her trumpeting and shrieks
of fright; one not accustomed to this
would imagine that bedlam had broken
loose, for the whole menagerie would
join in chorus.
When loading them into the cars
during or after heavy rain which
causes the run to become slippery
from slush, big-eared enormity-her
ears were as large as good-sized UNI
brella, which were rather convenient to
seek shelter under while going to and
from the lot in the rain-if she
should happen to clip in ascending the
run leading into the car, she would
Immediately back down no matter
whether half way in. We were at our
wit's-ends to devise a means of prevent
ing this. Coaxing, goading and yell
ing were of no avail. We spent hours
in miserable weather loading her, and
consequently exhausted our patience
to such an extent that to overcome
this predicament we tried everything
that suggested itself. Even went so
far as to listen to suggestions from
those not concerned; but none seemed
feasible until we chained her by the
neck to one of the largest elephants
that was used for pushing purposes
and literally dragged her into the car.
This was a remedy not to her liking,
and all that was necessary thereafter
was to have the pusher stand close by
the run with one end of chain at
tached to him, and if she hesitated, a
pretension of fastening the other end
around her neck was invariably effica-
cious. One night, after an unusually long
spell of bad weather during which we
had to resort to the chain and which
she reluctantly allowed to be placed
about her neck, she slipped while
mounting the run, and knowing what
was in store for her became infurlated;
glanced furtively about, curled her
proboscis, closed her eyes and made q
dash with the impetuosity of an ex-
press train, resulting in collision with
a circular switch shanty, shattering
that structure to kindling and carry
ing away the roof on her head as a
trophy for at least half mile. Luck
lily the occupant was watching the
proceedings preparatory to loading.
Elephants must be conscious of their
weight; for they are very careful in
crossing bridges. When encountered
by weak structure it always reminded
me of game use to participate in,
that of follow the leader over a thinly-
coated ice pound. This will give you
an idea of the precaution pachyderm
takes before venturing its passage.
They test its strength almost the same
as you would the ice of a creek. But
they have a little the advantage by
using their trunk simultaneously with
their forefeet. If the bridge should
give and begin creaking in passing
over, their tread is on similar lines to
that of drum major conducting his
initial procession. Caution must be
taken in not permitting them to cross
too rapidly over weak structure; 9TH
erwise they are given full reign, for
their Judgment is more accurate in
matters of this kind than the attend.
ants. At times they absolutely refuse
to cross structure that they consider
of not sufficient strength to support
their heft. Instances of this kind
must be wisely dealt with, inasmuch,
that if impelled to cross against their
will, and if the bridge should break, q
stampede would be the inevitable re-
suit. Besides, an accident of this ma
l'ture causes them to mistrust all