Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-24
Something About Elephants.

THbSaN
The next time you are at circus or zoo
and stare in silen wonder at the giant
elephants, or beg for dime TO indulge
in a ride on the back Of one otthese kings
of the jungle, bear in mind that there are
things other than size that may be told OF
the elephant.
One, for example, is his method OF
making his way TO escape.
"The fact that the elephants feet are
padded renders his step noiseless, in
spite of his great weight" a naturalist
tells us, land his extraordinary nimole-
ness seems almost incompatible with his
great bulk. Livingstone related ot
party of natives who hunted an elephant
with spears. When first seen, the COW
was sucking her calf, and upon discover
ing danger at hand Immediately put her
self between danger and her young. The
natives began with triumphant song and
then threw volley OF spears, which
fastened themselves in the body OF the
elephant. She retreated-all bleeding as
she was-keeping guard, however, over
her calf. In crossing stream the call
was killed and the mother shot so full OF
spears as to resemble mammoth hedge
hog. Upon discovering the loss OF her
young, she became furious and charged
again and again upon the natives, who
escaped only by taking advantage OF the
elephants inability TO turn quickly. FL
nally, weak with loss OF blood, the mother
fell to the ground, and with a last roar,
passed away"
At times calf-elephaDts will reciprocate
the affection OF the dam, although usually,
like many children, they are too self
engrosSed TO be thoughtful. The grief OF
a calf over its mothers death is thus told
by traveller:
"a party had been out elephant hunt
ing and had succeeded in shooting sever
al before the others took TO flight. Re-
turning the next day to collect their booty,
they were met by young calf-elephant,
which ran up to them, twisted its trunk
about their arms and legs and seemed
very much interested in securing their
cooperation m some enterprise. Pres
emily they approached the spot where
lay dead elephant, and the calf at once
began running round it, attempted to
raise il to its feet, and all the time mani
tested the Iiveliest grief and uttered the
most pitiful means.
Finding at length that all its efforts
were vain, the calf reioined the travellers,
as if to say, Now that you have slain my
mother, you must take care OF the or
phan.'"
Much is written OF the fearful destruc-
ton of the elephants for the sake OF the
ivory Of their tusks, but il should be add
ed that the wanton waStefulneSs OF hun
ters-sponsmen they can hardly be call
ed-multiplies this greatly. The tusks
have no roots, but grow out OF perennial
pulp, so that, as necessity requires, they
are renewed. Bullets, have been found
imbedded in the tusks, which must have
lodged there while the place OF their de-
post was still soft, as the tusk is at the
base. and which must, subsequently, have
been carried along as the new ivory be-
low pushed along the older ivory above.
The elephant, like man, has milk-teeth,
which in due course Of time drop out
and are succeeded by the second and
permanent teeth. On the outside the
tooth is constituted for crushing, the next
layer is adapted to tearing, and the last
layer for grinding. Perhaps, as an illus
tration Of the interdependence Of all ter
restrial life, il may be worth while to men
ton that the invention Of ceIluIoid and the
discovery Of vegetable ivory, has, by
furnishing a substitute for ivory, done
much to postpone the time when the ele-
plants will be extinct.
The natives transport the ivory either
in the shape Of long heavy strips, or cut
up into squares and regular figures.
The elephant is troubled with highly
emotional nature, and not infrequently
falls dead from excessive excitement.
His memory is tenacious and he does
not forget kindness, even though he
sometimes offsets il with recollection Of
subsequent ill-treatment. On more than
one occasion, a traveller who has cured
the wounds Of an elephant has been held
in the iyeIiest remembrance and rccog-
nized affectionateIy after prolonged alb
sences. AT times an elephant viii es-
cape and joining herd Of wild ones will
become feral in its nature. And yet re-
peated experience has proven that tree
ognizes the voice of its former master
and yields speedily to the habit OF SUBJ
mission.
Though the elephants intelligence IS
limited in range, il is certainly very great
in degree. His nature IS extremely emo
tionaI and manifesrs itself in a sense OF
hrr,;lisfiou In Admiration OF its own