Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1882 — IR A CIRCUS MENAGERIE. [ARTICLE]

IR A CIRCUS MENAGERIE.

Peculiarities of Ihe Animals and The Prices A little mouse ran across the floor of the elephant cavero in the Madison Bquare Garden the other night. It stopped to listen ana look at every sound, and was ready to scamper away to its hole at the first sign of dagger. The performance was over, and the elephants were lying on their sides fast asleep. Without stopping to calculate the consequences the mouse jumped upon the outstretched trunk of one of the largest elephants in the herd. Instantly the great beast sprang to his feet, trembling in every limb, and sounded a shrill blast which plainly bespoke fear. The frightened mouse vanished but the trump aroused the other elephants and terror spread among them. It was some time before they could be induced to lie down again and much longer before they closed their eyes in slumber. “The mouse created all that alarm aud commotion,” said Col-George Arstingstall, the godfather of the baby elephants, after quiet had been restored. “The sight of a mouse will make an elephant frantic with fright, he added,” and I can only explain this singular fact by the supposition that when running wild the elephant must be attacked by a mole, or some animal resembling the mouse, which fastens itself to theii bodies and worries them.”

Col. Arstingstall is the only person at least in this country, who has been able to breed elephants in captivity. He has spent half his life among them, and is familiar with their habits and peculiarities. The panic which the unoffending mouse was the means of causing made the subject of elephants an interesting one to the knot of a dozen persons who remained in the garden. The reason that the elephant is considered the bead of the menagerie is because it is the largest and most intelligent of animals. No circus, however email could hope to exist without an elephant. Whole herds form a part of some shows, and no showman would admit that the number couli be too largi Young and old love to watch tne hHge animals, and no matter 'how many times they may see them they never weary of them. The Indian and the Asiatic elephants are preferred by showmen on account of their superior intelligence. The African elephant is larger, but not so knowing. An untrained elephant at the age of 28 or 30 is worth SIO,OOO and a performing elephant $15,000. It is a mistaken idea to suppose that elephants born in captivity or that have been long domesticated are easier to train than those fresh from the jungles. After a wild elephant is subdued it is taught very easily. Elephants learn more readily when 18 or 20 years old than at any other period of their lives. Col. Arstingstall said that in 24 hours he could teach one to do any trick that it was.possible for it to do, even to standing on its head. A block and pul’y is generally used. The elephant is pulled up into the position that it is desired to assume, and the word of command is given as though the animal were doing the trick of its own accord. After this operation is repeated a few times the elephant will execute the act at the proper signal. Columbia, the first baby elephant born in this country, now two years old, went to school last winter, and proved an apt scholar. She takes the part of a clown in the performance. She sits at a table uses a napkin, fans herself, and does a dozen little things that make the children, and their elders too, adore her. When the tricks are first taught the elephants like to do them, and will often go through a performance of their own volition. But after the novelty wears off they regard them as work, and are inclined to shrink, When they rebel they must be soundly flogged, aud after that they will not refuse to perform their parts. Elephants will not submit to abuse. It is necessary to treat them well, but at the same time it is imperitive that they should understand that they must mind their master. One would hardly think that elephants could be insulted, but they can. They are extremely sensitive and resent indignities. If they become attached to a person their affection is warm snd lasting. They often form deep attachments for dogs, horses, camels, and other animals. Elephants are exceedingly mischeivous and likewise inquisitive. Tliep want to know all about everything, and once they do a thing that they ought not, they will never forfet it, but, on the contrary, forever eep it up. One ofCol. Arstingstall’s herd has acquired the habit of pulling up every stake that is driven to chain it to. It watched the manner in which the men took the stakes up and put the same plan into prac-, tice. It kicks the stake until it is loose and then draws it out of the ground with its trunk. Another elephant finds innocent diversion while it is being tiansported through the country by putting its trunk through the ventilator of the car and drawing out the coupling-pin, thus dividing the train. The experiment tried by the elephant the early part of last season worked so well that it continued it all summer. Elephants will open spring locks, raise latches, and do almost everything that they see a person do. Their trunks are always reaching out. The regular rations of au elephant consists of 125 pounds of hay, two bushels of grain, and a barrel of water a day. Potatoes they are particularly fond of. If there is one thing more than another that elephants lilt® to do, it is to take a bath. Jn the water they are like a lot of schoolboys. They dive roll over, splash, and indulge iD every sort of caper. A bath contributes to their

good health, and when travelling they are given every possible opportunity to bathe. When asleep they lie on their sides, generally on the right. The\ snore vigorously and can often be heard a longdistance. They dream, as indicated by grunts and kick, but what about, of course, no one caD tell, When on the road they ace put in the cars about 8:30 o’clock in the evening, and they invariably sleep until the train starts four or five hours later. Four elephants are usually put in a single car if it is large enough, and one of the number remains awake apparently on guard, while the others are resting. The slightest noise will awaken them, and they are on their feet at once. When they are young, elephants are quite playful and that is often the case when they reach years of maturity. Two or three times a day the youngest of the two babies in the Madison-Square Garden has a play-spell. It rolls aud tumbles about in the hay with its keeper as if bound to break its neck and cuts up no end of funny antics. It is just learning that it possesses such a wonderful appendage as a trunk. It runs, it into pockets, seizes watch chains, and feel* of every object it sees with It. The sedate mother when she is playing with her l abe sways back and forth and fondles it with her trunk. When the young one goes to sleep it lies down in front of her and BUe covers it with hay.—[N. Y. Mail.