io2 My Friend the Elephant 



to America for exhibition purposes. I remember 

 wondering if he would be able to find a larger speci- 

 men than my friend of the Zoological Garden, when, 

 upon reading farther, I learned that this was the very 

 animal he had purchased and proposed bringing to 

 America. Then came the discussion in the press 

 about the 'uprising of the people of London ' against 

 allowing that magnificent elephant to leave the coun- 

 try. Many young men remembered how they had 

 ridden upon his back when they were children, and 

 he was such a universal favorite that the excitement 

 in London assumed quite extended proportions. Of 

 course Mr. Barnum fanned this flame for advertising 

 purposes ; and it finally became so strong that an 

 Act of Parliament was passed prohibiting any vessel 

 that carried passengers from transporting large ani- 

 mals. How Mr. Barnum evaded this by chartering 

 a special steamer, and how he succeeded in landing 

 the huge creature upon American shores, are matters 

 of history. 



I was at the dock to see the grand old fellow 

 arrive, and to welcome him to a strange land. I 

 had serious doubts as to whether I should know him 



