302 WILD ANIMALS. 



children, and to sightseers generally j and especially to tlie dwellers 

 in the towns of the New World for crowds flock to the circuses or 

 menageries at their periodical visits for no other purpose but to 

 see these beasts. The popular excitement on such occasions 

 even affects the judges on the bench, according to the amusing 

 account given in the Louisville Journal of 1857, wherein it 

 is shown how an American lawyer utilized this curiosity for 

 the purpose of carrying his own point. " It seems on the day 

 in question a menagerie was expected in Frankfort, U.S., and 

 the people were naturally on the qui-vive for the approaching 

 sight — an interest in which, as the sequel shows, his Honour the 

 judge keenly participated. JN'otwithstanding the Court was held 

 on that day, though not exactly usual. In the progress of the 

 morning's business a case of continuation arose, which the judge 

 was evidently not at all inclined to favour; his countenance, 

 indeed, grew absolutely stern with disfavour. The lawyer in 

 charge having urged his plea with all the ingenuity and ability at 

 his command, was at length in the act of yielding the point in 

 despair, when a brother lawyer whispered to him that the mena- 

 gerie had arrived, and the elephant would swim the river. The 

 suggestion was big with relief; he drew himself up', and deferen- 

 tially addressing the court, said : ' May it please your Honour, 

 I have at this moment learned that the great American menagerie 

 has reached this city, and the elephant will immediately swim the 

 Kentucky river. The. people, I am informed, are already throng- 

 ing upon the banks to witness this extraordinary feat.' The hit 

 was palpable, but the bearing of his Honour underwent a complete 

 transformation. His stern countenance at once relaxed into the 

 most genial complacency, and in a tone of generous excitement, 

 he remarked : ' Gentlemen, I grant this continuance, and adjourn 

 the court. I have never seen an elephant swim a river ; as I am 

 an old man, it isn't likely that I'll ever have a better opportunity. 

 The court's adjourned !' and the next thing seen of the judge, 

 he was making for the river at a speed never contemplated by 

 the Hfe insurance company. Verily there is no resisting the 

 elephant ! " 



The ridiculous excitement occasioned some few years ago in 



