Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 10, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 10 October 1940 — Stranger Than Man [ARTICLE]

Stranger Than Man

Hindus, have a trunkful of tricks to recondition secondhand elephants that are for sale. Body scars made by a poorly fitted howdah (elephant saddle) are covered with dyes; fancy chalk designs hide injuries on his head and face; foot cracks are filled with putty and even missing toes are glued on. In fact this last is the most important part of the reconditioning. If an elephant does not have the proper number of toes his market value is seriously affected.