An Elephant that Reads.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1905, 20 September 1884, Page 6

An Elephant that Reads.

Louis E. Cook, agent of Cole's Circus, tells a remarkable story that illustrates the elephant's wonderful capacity for receiving and retaining impressions, and, at the same time, shows the great possibilities still offered in the direction of educating the pachyderm. •• Our trainer, George Conklin,'' said Mr. Cook, " while in New York last winter, had several conversations with an eminent zoologist, who, among other theories, advanced this : — That the elephant could be taught to read written characteis. He explained that the education of tho great beast had gone even further than mere feats of memory, either in the matter of language, or judging of shapes and forms. It had been trained to do work of many kinds in the East, such, as piling lumber in systematical columns, and even setting the heavy stones in masonry so that expert workmen found it seldom necessary to make any changes in their position. The cunning of the elephant was well known, for the trained monster was often used to lure his wild brethren into snares, and frequently assisted in throwing and holding down the captive until the chains were placed upon him. The zoologist used other arguments of the same kind, and Conklin at last determined to make the attempt, and determine the possibility of teaching the elephant how to read. He selected ' Eajah,' als-year-older, for the experiment. He got a blackboard two feet long and eight inches wide, on which to inscribe* the letters. He did not seem to want to make the experiment in that way, as it might be top jtedious ; but, as you know, ring or trained elephants kn.<?w all the

words of command spoken by the trainer. They will stop when he cries ' halt,' move on when he says ' march,' run at the order tot ' donble-quick,' and indeed obey every word spoken to them. Well Oonklin hit upon this plan. He took ' Rajah ' into the ring at least once every day, and writing the word ' march ' in Kornan characters about five or six inches long on tho board,,placed it before the animal's eyes, and after allowing him to scan it, then, pointing to the white letters, shouted the order ' march, 1 which, of course, was complied, with. He found by writing the letters while the board was held before the elephant was a surer way of attracting the animal's attention to the characteis, so he now writes in this way. Rajah soon grew accustomed to the bdaid and the letters, and now very seldom makes a mistake when a written command is piesented to him. He will march the moment the last letter is finished, halt when the trainer shows linn the word, and, indeed, recognibes every inscription of this kind Conldin places on the board. The elephant will not be introduced into the ring in this new act until next season, by which time the tiainer thinks it possible to educate the whole herd in reading, so that the words of command may be given in writing on a large blackboard. Having succeeded so well in teaching ' Rajah ' to read words, he will now try to advance backward by teaching him the alphabet, and 1 myself think it possible that the elephant, which is quick aud intelligent, may be taught by means of lettered blocks to spell tho word's that he is familiar with in the ring." — New Orleans Times Brink.