Year: 1863

!


A correspondent of an English paper, in speak
ing of caravan which once visited York, gives
the following account Of the manner in which the
toilets of the animals were performed before they
received company:


The Royal Bengal tiger was one of the finest
beasts Caper had ever seen, and what he particu-
lary admired was the jet black lustre of the
stripes upon his tawny sides, and the vivid nstre
of his eyes. The lion seemed euriously aboring
under a heavy sleep at the very time when he
should have been awake; but then his name was
kept in admirable order The hair around his
face stood out like the bristles of shoebrush and
there was curl in the knob of hair at the end of
his tail that amply compensated for his inactivity
The hyenas looked sleek and happyand their teeth
were remarkably white; but the elephant was the
constant wonder of all beholders Instead of the
tawny blue grey colors of most of his species. he
was black, and glistened like a patent leather
boot while his tusks were as white as ivory; yea,
more so.


81 don't understand what makes our animals
look so bright" said Caper one day to one of the
keepers.


"Come here tomorrow morning early, when we
make their toilettes, and you'll see, replied the
man laughing "Why, there's that old hog of a
lion, he's as savage before he has his medicine as
a corporal, and looks as old as Methuselah until
we arrange his beard and get him up for the day.
As for the elephant-ugh I"


Caper's curiosity was aroused, and the next
morning early he was in the menagere. The first
sight that struck his eye was the elephant kneel-
ing on one side, and waving his trunk about evi-
IDENTIFY as signal of distress; while his keeper
and another man were-blacking boot and shoe
brushes in hand-going all over him from stem to
stern


"Good day" said the keeper to him. "Here's
pair of boots for you put outside the door
to be blacked every morning for five francs day.
It's the dearest job ever undertook. Here Peter
he continued to the man who helped him, 'he
shines enough take away the brushes and bring
me the sand-paper to rub up his tusks. Talk
about polishing beasts believe myself that
we beat all shows to pieces on that ERE point
Some beasts are more knowing than others; for
example, them monkeys in that cage there. Give
that big fool of shmpanzy that brush, Peter.
and let the gentleman see him operate on t'other
monkeys"


Peter gave the large monkey brush, and, to
Caper's astonishment, he saw the animal seize it
with one paw, then springng forward, catch a
small monkey with the other paw, and holding
him down, in spite of his struggles administered
so complete brushing over the entire body, that
every hair received touch. The other monkeys
in the cage were in the widest state of excitement
evidently knowing from experience That they
would all have to pass under the large ones
hands; and when he had given final polish to
the small Ones he commenced vigorous chase
for his mate, an aged female, who, evidently dis
liking the ordeal, commenced a series of lofty
tumblings, that would have made the fortune of
even the distinguished Leotard. In vain after a
prolonged chase, in which the frightened inhabi
tants of the cage flew round so fast thatit appear
ed to be full Of flying legs, tails, and fur the large
monkey seized the female; and, regardless of her
attempts to liberate herself, he brushed her from
head to foot, TO the great delight of a soldier,
an infantry corporal, who had entered the men
agerie few minutes before the grand hunt com
rnenced.