170 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



decoy actually assisting in the operation. Something 

 of the kind is done with the half-wild elephants of 

 the King of Siam, when these are driven up for their 

 annual inspection at Ayuthia. 



It may be asked, what is the inducement of animals 

 in captivity to take a conscious share in reducing 

 others of their species to the same condition ? To us 

 it suggests an act of treachery, or at least of servile 

 submission. The answer is, first, that as long as 

 animals in captivity are given employment they do 

 not as a rule think themselves unhappy, or dislike 

 their position. On the contrary, they are proud of 

 their association with man, and prefer his company 

 almost invariably to that of their own kind. Even 

 domestic pigeons, when made pets of, will remain 

 with their owners in preference to going with their 

 kind. The more intelligent animals become eager to 

 serve, and proud of their power to be useful. Like 

 the negro in " Peter Simple" who hands a stick to 

 the sailor, remarking that it will do to " keep off de 

 oder dam nigger," they are pleased to bring others 

 of their race into line with themselves, and take a 

 pride and interest in working to that end. There 

 are many dogs which, if they knew how, would become 

 regular slave-drivers to other animals, and none of 

 them have the slightest compunction in using all 

 their faculties to bring them into the power of the 

 superior being whom they serve. 



