“People who have no suspicion that the friendly relations between Russia and Germany have been endangered by Skobeleff’s speeches, who have a vague idea of the Irish as a tiresome people, who are far from comprehending the issues raised by the appointment of the Lord’s Committee, and who confess that they have not followed the discussions upon Parliamentary procedure, have taken a keen interest in Jumbo’s destiny. Others have let fall the thread of public events while they gaped open-mouthed at Jumbo reconnoitering his trolley. It is well enough that children should crowd in thousands to the Zoölogical Gardens, and, as a parting act of kindness, or cruelty, stuff the hero of the hour with buns innumerable. But it speaks volumes for the fundamental levity of adult nature that men have, for the last fortnight, given the first and foremost place in those of their thoughts which did not regard themselves, not to kingdoms and their destinies, but to Jumbo. It is too much to hope that we have heard the last of this famous elephant; but perhaps Jumbo’s future will not monopolize conversation after Mr. Justice Chitty’s decision of yesterday.” It was too much to hope that the _Times_ had heard the last of Jumbo; when the public realized that his departure was inevitable, a wave of sentimental expression swept over England that surpassed anything that had gone before. Besides the accounts in newspapers, the illustrated papers published engravings of Jumbo in various attitudes. Picture books were published, and one of these contained the following verses about Jumbo and the female elephant, Alice, who was known as his wife: “When quite a baby I came here, and now to London folk I’m dear, They’ll try to keep me yet, I know, from Barnum and his traveling show. I have no tusks, for one fine day I had some very merry play, And ran against a door of oak, and that was how my tusks were broke. It grieves me sadly to be sold for just two thousand pounds in gold, And could I talk I’d quickly say, ‘I’m treated in a shameful way.’ They chained me up one day, to be shipped across the raging sea, But I, your faithful friend Jumbo, did not just feel inclined to go. Again they tried the nasty chain, but all the efforts were in vain, For with a very angry frown upon the ground I laid me down. “I love each little girl and boy who mounts my back for fun and joy, And hope they’ll leave me here for life with Alice, my dear little wife. I love the brave old British flag, of it, my boys, I’ll always brag, And you must clearly understand, I do not care for Yankee land. Leave me with Alice kind and true, leave us together in the Zoo, And let our friend Squire Barnum know, I can’t go with him in his show.”[25]