The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-26
DAYTON ALLEN IS
FANCY'S NEWKEEPER
He and Elephant Already
Great Friends
TO BE "OILED" TODAY
Many Children and "Grownups" We're
Out to Zoo Yesterday to See
Animals and Feed the
Elephant
TO BE "OILED" TO-DAY
BN ELLIS G. HOLIIMS

Miss Fancy, the children's elephant
at the zoi, has new keeper. Ills
name Is Dayton Allen. and she oheys
his commands with as much docility
as she ever displayed when following
the direction of "Curly" Hayes, who
untl last Friday afternoon WAS IN
charge of the animlas at the zoo.
That Miss Fancy" is thoroughly
at home In her new residence WAS
never better illustrated than In the way
in which she took her new keeper.
Ia the circus. 1t is an old adage that
an elephant must have the same keeper
or else she goes bad" Miss Fancy
is not circus elephant, or else tho
old adage is faliacious.
Dayton Allen admits that there is
much about an elephant with which he is
not familiar. lie admits that he doesn't
know all their moods. their little idi-
osyncracies and every phase of their
temperamental natures. But says
Mr.. Allen, Miss Fancy is thoroughly
tractahle and l find that she Is no
trouble at all She always aoheys in
stantly when she Is spoken to and
rothing delights her more than TO have
arouud her crowd Of laughing. chat
tering children. | like my position and
believe that Miss Fancy and will
live together In perfect harmony
Avondale Man
Dayton Allen is Il well-set chap
pleasant spoken and not unhandsome
He is an AVondale man and all lie
knows about the care Of the elephant
he learned by the observation of the
manner and method of the former
keeper. That he understands enough
about their WAYS and habits to proper-
Is care for Miss Fancy" is not
doubted, for he has for three DAYS given
hcr the best attention and she is ap-
parently happy, He was appointed to
the position by Parkkeeper Williamson
and Mr.. Williamson stated Yesterday
that he had every confidence in the
ability of Mr.. Allen TO properly care
for the animals at the ZOO, Miss Fancy
included.
Allen and Miss Fancy" were tho
center of an admiring crowd of little
ores at the zoo yesterday. when the
newly appointed keeper took his
charge out for an airing Miss Fancy"
followed along behind him in perfect
accord with the world as she always
IS when surrounded by her little own
ers, and showed every consideration
for the wishes of the new keeper.
Holds Reception
Up at the little green house on the
hill, Just before starting on parade
yesterday, Miss Fancy" held an Inn
promptu reception for her friends. old
and young alike. and was rewarded
for her hospitality by many peanuts
and much popcorn. The little children
are given the credit for bringing out
their parents and older brothers and
sisters but If the matter were investi-
gathed further. there are many who
believe that Miss Fancy" has almost
as much charm for the matured mind
as she has for that of the child
This afternoon the lady elephant will
receive a massage. That is, she will
be oiled, and to the elephant an oiling
Is what a massage is to mlady. A
preparation of neatsfoot oil and lamp
black will be used on the skin of her
elephantine ladyship and she will
emerge from the bath with much softer
skin and a decided tendency to rub
the bark from the trees in her yicin-
ity. This feeling will soon pass away.
however. and she Will stand on her
lawn and munich hay with a most COM
Portable appearance.
The oiing of Miss Fancy" will provo
to be most interesting spectacle and
many will doubtless make a trip to
the zoo for that purpose alone. Each
day she grows in favor and her friends
become better friends than they were
on the day preceding. The coming
of Miss Fancy" IL Is generally con-
ceded, has meant more to the zoo than
any other one factor. and the kid
dies are unanimous In the decision
that she is "the best ever"