THE CRACK IN THE WALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 15

THE CRACK IN THE WALL

An English officer who was borrowed by an Indian ruler to help him to administer his State has told a pleasant tale about a certain elephant. This enthusiastic young officer wanted to bring the officials up to date, so that papers should not get lost, nor justice bo delayed, nor revenue stolen. But the officials smiled politely, and refused to take any real trouble over his card indexes and files. It was so hot! Tomorrow would do.

He could not even get them to mend a huge crack in the wall of an office belonging to one of the State Departments. He pointed out that it was disgraceful, and even dangerous, but there was always some good reason why the matter should be delayed. It'was so hot! Tomorrow would do.

One morning while he sat in this office trying to get a large staff of dreamy officials to take on interest in modern business methods the room was suddenly filled by a huge and hideous din. Moreover a mighty cyclone burst upon it, whirling all the papers into the air. It was as if a host of demons had swept down upon the office. When the horrible noise stopped and the wind died down two of the clerks were found fainting, and the others suffering from shock in varying degrees.

But the noise did not come from any of the many evil spirits in which India believes. One of the royal elephants strolling through the palace precincts had thrust his trunk through the crack in the wall and trumpeted! Then, after years of vain beseeching, the 1 crack in the wall was mended.