1633-3 Elephants _ .�.,�,o,a .
I
- a , • - •.
•
A April ll,-1921. - • - - ,r
• "
•
. lair. "John-force,. -
- C/o National Geographic Magazine,
Washington,' D. C. - -
• Dear Jack:
- I wrote you the other day - Our letters must have , •
crossed. I have been very much worried over Jim's condition,
but I• understand he is getting better now. . .I ars going North
earlier than usual principally on- account 6 Jim.
• Hepe you will find those wild elephant books for .� - -
nde, as _I want o /know more' about the brutes. I went up to' the
barn the other. day and the, trainer was not around, se I took. _ -
• the elephant 'oat to sho::.him-to some: .friends•of mine. I did_' .
not know whether .this-el. prant was kidding me•or not, but he -
certainly did make a.monkey of . w. He knocked me down and ran:_ , •
off and ::s:en' I' gral:bed hold of him bythe tail. to stop him, he ' .
hit me a jolt with_his'trunk afud,almost .broke ry •ribs - then ''
I grabbed'hirm`by the trunk mid he locked his, trunk around r •
• arm, and if.you think that a three year old Elephant has nO _
particular strength in his trunk, ;jos should;let him wrap it* • -
•,. around yo°ar leo or'arm and ,give you a ytank Anyway, .I am •"- .
all blank and :blue, and the. funny part of the whole 'affair is
•
that I finally discovered I, could'pick 'ulc a short stick and
stab him/very lightly. rind mako him behave,. but without that
stick I gertain7,y did have a. smell time. Th,, caretaker-tells` -
• ' re that. I got off lucky-and that I should never go near him" •
without the'-hook or something that looks like a hook, as. he
. understands thoroughly that he is to obey- the hook. •
i
• We are ?.living sone great weather,here. Old ran . ;
' Welsh wants. to keep his,money -in the bank snot, er week or'two
before closing up the deal.
• Very truly yours, -.
ti • •