104 My Friend the Elephant 



matters that are known to nearly everybody. I saw 

 him occasionally, when chance or good fortune threw 

 me in his way, and many pleasant visits were the 

 result. Time would fail me for telling of the many 

 clever things he did. He revealed not only intelli- 

 gence of a high order, but reasoning powers beyond 

 those possessed by many men, a sturdy and honest 

 character, and an affectionate disposition. 



I recall one memorable incident. It occurred 

 in Buffalo, where I was visiting. The afternoon 

 performance was over. Nearly every sightseer had 

 left the spacious tent ; but, being something of a 

 privileged character through my well-known acquaint- 

 ance and friendship with the big elephant, I strolled 

 into his quarters without question. He was calmly 

 consuming hay, twisting and tossing it about in the 

 most abandoned yet graceful manner. He ceased 

 both recreation and dinner as soon as I appeared, and 

 we were having the pleasantest possible time regard- 

 less of the visitors who were staring at us. It had 

 long been my custom to talk to him as I would to 

 any other friend, and I had learned to understand his 

 responses perfectly. In the midst of our conference 



