Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1889 — A Shrewd Elephant. [ARTICLE]

A Shrewd Elephant.

Philadelphia Times. The following story is told by Dr. Romanes: An elephant was chained to a tree in the compound opposite Mr. Townsend’s house. Its driver made an oven at a short distance in which he put his rice cakes to bake, and then covered them with stones and grass and went away. When he was gone the elephant with his trunk unfastened the chain'round his foot, went to the oven and uncovered it, took out and ate the cakes, re-covered the oven with the stones and grass as before, and went back to his place. He could not fasten the chain again round his own foot, so he twisted it round and round it, in. order to look the same, and when the driver returned the elephant was standing with his back to the oven. The driver went to his cakes, discovered the theft, And looking round, caught the elephant’s eye as he looked back over his shoulder out of the corner of it. Instantly he detected the culprit, and condign punishment followed. The whole occurrence was witnessed, from the windows by the family.