The ivory king : $b A popular history of the elephant and its alliesHolder, Charles Frederick
History
The ivory king : $b A popular history of the elephant and its allies
Holder, Charles Frederick
Elephants
My compliments to editor “Daily Telegraph” and British nation.
Fifty millions of American citizens anxiously awaiting Jumbo’s
arrival. My forty years invariable practice of exhibiting
best that money could procure, makes Jumbo’s presence here
imperative. Hundred thousand pounds would be no inducement to
cancel the purchase....
In December next I visit Australia in person with Jumbo and my
entire mammoth combination of seven shows, _via_ California,
thence through Suez Canal. Following summer to London. I shall
then exhibit in every prominent city in Great Britain. May
afterwards return Jumbo to his old position in Royal Zoölogical
Gardens. Wishing long life and prosperity to the British
nation, “The Daily Telegraph,” and Jumbo, I am the public’s
obedient servant,
P. T. BARNUM.
To this answer, the “Telegraph” referred in the following editorial:—
“Jumbo’s fate is sealed. The disappointing answer from his new American
proprietor, which we published yesterday, proves too clearly that there
is nothing to expect from delicacy or remorse in that quarter. Moved
by the universal emotion which the approaching departure of London’s
gigantic friend had aroused, we communicated with Mr. Barnum, indicating
that ‘money was no object’ if he would only listen to the entreaties of
the English children, and let the Royal Zoölogical Council off their
foolish bargain. The famous showman replied—as all the world now knows—in
tones of polite but implacable decision. He has bought Jumbo, and Jumbo
he means to have; nor would ‘a hundred thousand pounds’ be any inducement
to cancel the purchase. If innumerable childish hearts are grieving
here over the loss of a creature so gentle, vast, and sensible, ‘fifty
millions of American citizens,’ Mr. Barnum says, are anxiously waiting
to see the great elephant arrive in the States. Then, to increase the
general regret, the message depicts the sort of life which poor Jumbo
has before him. No more quiet garden-strolls, no shady trees, green
lawns, and flowery thickets, peopled with tropical beasts, bright birds,
and snakes, making it all quite homely. Our amiable monster must dwell
in a tent, take part in the routine of a circus. Mr. Barnum announces
the intention of taking his ‘mammoth combination of seven shows’ round
the world, _via_ California, Australia, and the Suez Canal. Elephants
hate the sea. They love a quiet bath as much as any Christians; but the
indignity and terror of being slung on board a ship, and tossed about in
the agony of sea-sickness, which is probably on a scale with the size
of their stomachs, would appear to them worse than death. Yet to this
doom the children’s ‘dear old Jumbo’ is condemned; and it is enough, if
he knew of it, to precipitate that insanity which his guardians have
pretended to fear. It is true Mr. Barnum holds out hopes that we may some
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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