As I had first given the bard’s tale of an exploit into a wondrous pachyderm by the name of Mary, you may seem it a little out of sync, nay premature, that I am giving this narrative of Mary’s life in her later years. I too have entered into that time of life where things are slowing down. Elephants also must retire.
When I first joined the circus, I was known in this business as a “First Of May”. That is your first season in the circus. When you first walk onto the circus lot you try to see everything all at once. It is impossible but you try to anyway. The big top is the first place you are attracted to. In the morning it is full of activity everywhere. Tent stakes are being driven. Furls of canvas begin to wave in the air. The variety of sounds all around you permeate your thoughts. How could you not know what a lion’s roar is even if you have never experienced its bone chilling thunder? Horse’s hooves make their own distinctive drum cadence as they are brought into line.
The main attraction is, of course, the elephants. The bull handlers call to the bulls, “Tail up!” The first elephant stands still while the next one wraps his trunk around his tail. The others line up, as well in the order of appearance. The next command from the handler is, “Move up!.” Not only is the sight of these immense creatures amazing, but the agility with which they are able to maneuver is astounding.
That first day when I was a “First of May” is when I first saw Mary.
As elephants go, she was a seasoned professional. Bull handlers liked Mary because she was easy to work with and she would not miss a cue. She knew all tricks and no one had to tell her what to do next. The performing showgirls liked Mary because she was gentle and would not let them fall. The owner of the show, by the name of Hoxie, said Mary was the smartest elephant he had ever seen.
When it was time for the show, the handler would say to Mary, “Go get her.” That was Mary’s command to go fetch the showgirl. The girl would be lifted onto Mary’s trunk and she would give Mary a treat before they headed back to the show. But one day Mary lifted the girl onto Mary’s trunk and the girl forgot to give Mary her treat. She said, “Sorry, Mary, I forgot your treat.” Mary immediately let go of the young starlet allowing her to fall to the ground. Seeing that the girl was not injured Mary went back to the circus ring alone. After all, Mary always got her treat.
A fine wine or an aged cheese might mellow with time. But what do you do with an elephant who begins to age? I do know that elephants suffer many of the same maladies that people do. They get arthritic knees, high-blood pressure and even hormonal changes like menopause. As sad as it may seem, we all knew Mary needed a rest. Everybody loved Mary. She had always been there for the circus. Then Hoxie, the circus owner, had an idea.
Hoxie had a friend named Frank, who worked at the zoo. They both had an idea. It was perfect. Frank and Hoxie both agreed that Mary would live at the zoo. There she would get to be with other elephants. There would always be plenty of hay and green grass. She could swim in the lake and and see the kids who all wanted to see and pet Mary. The children loved to call her name at the circus. “Hello Mary!” they would say to her. What more could any elephant ask for? The circus was happy that Mary would be well cared for and they wished her well. The zoo handlers were happy to have her at the exhibit. Everybody was glad to see Mary off to her well-deserved retirement in her new home.
Frank kept careful watch over Mary after she arrived at his zoo and noticed she was not eating or drinking much. She also didn’t seem to move very much. The only movements she would make were the swaying movements that elephants make, slowly leaning side to side. Frank was not worried though and only thought she was nervous about her new surroundings because she had only known the circus life. But the handlers noticed that she was not interested in of the other elephants. She just kept slowly leaning side to side. Even children at zoo were asking why Mary was so slow? The handlers kept trying get Mary to eat her food and drink her water to no avail. Then something started to happen.
When one of the handlers began looking at Mary he was puzzled. He was not sure at first but thought maybe something had gotten in Mary’s eye. A single tear began to well up. The handler thought maybe Mary was ill or she had allergies. Then both eyes began water up and run down Mary’s face. This was not something that was a part of any elephant handbook any of the handlers had ever read.
Concern for Mary broadened quickly from what was thought to be perhaps a simple upset stomach to what now could be a serious illness. Everyone at the zoo knew that Mary was not feeling well. If she had a thorn in her foot or a bad tooth, Frank and the other handlers would know what to do for her. In all his years the zookeeper had worked with animals of all kinds, such as lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees, polar bears and even snakes. Nothing he had seen previously compared to Mary’s current malady.
Frank began reading as many books as he could find about elephants. None of the research described Mary’s symptoms. He tried contacting owners in other zoos to see if they knew what to do, but, they seemed baffled, too. Frank had contacted several veterinarians and were the same and resembled a human’s medical chart:
So the decision was made. Mary was going home.
Hoxie sent in a special truck just for Mary. Frank made sure that Mary had plenty of water and hay for the trip home. She was loaded up and off she went. Mary did not know what the commotion was about. All she knew was that there was a lot of activity going on around her.
The special circus truck headed out on the road and drove for what seemed like an eternity to Mary. As the truck slowed down Mary heard noises that probably sounded familiar. The sounds started off faintly and became louder as the truck got closer and closer. Smells, too, were becoming stronger and stronger and they were not the smells of a zoo. Then came the sound of a tent-stake being driven into the ground! For the first time in weeks Mary held her up. She obviously must have heard the distinct and familiar chirp from the other elephants as she responded with her own. While elephants make a variety of noises they emit a chirp when communicating with one another, and can easily distinguish different members of their own herd through the chirps. Mary clearly recognized the chirps she heard as coming from her own friends and family.
When Mary arrived back at the circus it was feeding time for the lions. They were all hungrily roaring as the trainer came around with their portions of meat. The sound of their roaring was deafening! Just then Mary let out a trumpet blast louder than any lion-roar imaginable! The performers and big top crew ran and to see what was happening. Mary could not swing around inside the truck fast enough and used her massive trunk as a whip against the double doors of the truck bed. Just as the handler was reaching for the door handle, Mary opened her gates wide. The handler was sent backwards all the way down to the ground, but only damaged his pride in the fall.
Looking into the truck bed at Mary was Hoxie. Smiling, he said, “Welcome home, Mary.” The handler, having completely recovered from his humiliation, said the three words that Mary was wanting to hear, “Mary, move up.” As she was getting off the truck, everyone cheered to welcome her back. Her circus family had missed her and were glad to have her back. She no longer performs in ring now, but Mary is home now. The circus is her home and there are stories tell.
When I first joined the circus, I was known in this business as a “First Of May”. That is your first season in the circus. When you first walk onto the circus lot you try to see everything all at once. It is impossible but you try to anyway. The big top is the first place you are attracted to. In the morning it is full of activity everywhere. Tent stakes are being driven. Furls of canvas begin to wave in the air. The variety of sounds all around you permeate your thoughts. How could you not know what a lion’s roar is even if you have never experienced its bone chilling thunder? Horse’s hooves make their own distinctive drum cadence as they are brought into line.
The main attraction is, of course, the elephants. The bull handlers call to the bulls, “Tail up!” The first elephant stands still while the next one wraps his trunk around his tail. The others line up, as well in the order of appearance. The next command from the handler is, “Move up!.” Not only is the sight of these immense creatures amazing, but the agility with which they are able to maneuver is astounding.
That first day when I was a “First of May” is when I first saw Mary.
As elephants go, she was a seasoned professional. Bull handlers liked Mary because she was easy to work with and she would not miss a cue. She knew all tricks and no one had to tell her what to do next. The performing showgirls liked Mary because she was gentle and would not let them fall. The owner of the show, by the name of Hoxie, said Mary was the smartest elephant he had ever seen.
When it was time for the show, the handler would say to Mary, “Go get her.” That was Mary’s command to go fetch the showgirl. The girl would be lifted onto Mary’s trunk and she would give Mary a treat before they headed back to the show. But one day Mary lifted the girl onto Mary’s trunk and the girl forgot to give Mary her treat. She said, “Sorry, Mary, I forgot your treat.” Mary immediately let go of the young starlet allowing her to fall to the ground. Seeing that the girl was not injured Mary went back to the circus ring alone. After all, Mary always got her treat.
A fine wine or an aged cheese might mellow with time. But what do you do with an elephant who begins to age? I do know that elephants suffer many of the same maladies that people do. They get arthritic knees, high-blood pressure and even hormonal changes like menopause. As sad as it may seem, we all knew Mary needed a rest. Everybody loved Mary. She had always been there for the circus. Then Hoxie, the circus owner, had an idea.
Hoxie had a friend named Frank, who worked at the zoo. They both had an idea. It was perfect. Frank and Hoxie both agreed that Mary would live at the zoo. There she would get to be with other elephants. There would always be plenty of hay and green grass. She could swim in the lake and and see the kids who all wanted to see and pet Mary. The children loved to call her name at the circus. “Hello Mary!” they would say to her. What more could any elephant ask for? The circus was happy that Mary would be well cared for and they wished her well. The zoo handlers were happy to have her at the exhibit. Everybody was glad to see Mary off to her well-deserved retirement in her new home.
Frank kept careful watch over Mary after she arrived at his zoo and noticed she was not eating or drinking much. She also didn’t seem to move very much. The only movements she would make were the swaying movements that elephants make, slowly leaning side to side. Frank was not worried though and only thought she was nervous about her new surroundings because she had only known the circus life. But the handlers noticed that she was not interested in of the other elephants. She just kept slowly leaning side to side. Even children at zoo were asking why Mary was so slow? The handlers kept trying get Mary to eat her food and drink her water to no avail. Then something started to happen.
When one of the handlers began looking at Mary he was puzzled. He was not sure at first but thought maybe something had gotten in Mary’s eye. A single tear began to well up. The handler thought maybe Mary was ill or she had allergies. Then both eyes began water up and run down Mary’s face. This was not something that was a part of any elephant handbook any of the handlers had ever read.
Concern for Mary broadened quickly from what was thought to be perhaps a simple upset stomach to what now could be a serious illness. Everyone at the zoo knew that Mary was not feeling well. If she had a thorn in her foot or a bad tooth, Frank and the other handlers would know what to do for her. In all his years the zookeeper had worked with animals of all kinds, such as lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees, polar bears and even snakes. Nothing he had seen previously compared to Mary’s current malady.
Frank began reading as many books as he could find about elephants. None of the research described Mary’s symptoms. He tried contacting owners in other zoos to see if they knew what to do, but, they seemed baffled, too. Frank had contacted several veterinarians and were the same and resembled a human’s medical chart:
- Patient is still slow, lethargic and listlessness.
- Hydration levels continue to decline.
- Alarming loss of appetite.
- The patient still exhibits deep depression.
- Patient now exhibits low pitched guttural sounds like groaning.
So the decision was made. Mary was going home.
Hoxie sent in a special truck just for Mary. Frank made sure that Mary had plenty of water and hay for the trip home. She was loaded up and off she went. Mary did not know what the commotion was about. All she knew was that there was a lot of activity going on around her.
The special circus truck headed out on the road and drove for what seemed like an eternity to Mary. As the truck slowed down Mary heard noises that probably sounded familiar. The sounds started off faintly and became louder as the truck got closer and closer. Smells, too, were becoming stronger and stronger and they were not the smells of a zoo. Then came the sound of a tent-stake being driven into the ground! For the first time in weeks Mary held her up. She obviously must have heard the distinct and familiar chirp from the other elephants as she responded with her own. While elephants make a variety of noises they emit a chirp when communicating with one another, and can easily distinguish different members of their own herd through the chirps. Mary clearly recognized the chirps she heard as coming from her own friends and family.
When Mary arrived back at the circus it was feeding time for the lions. They were all hungrily roaring as the trainer came around with their portions of meat. The sound of their roaring was deafening! Just then Mary let out a trumpet blast louder than any lion-roar imaginable! The performers and big top crew ran and to see what was happening. Mary could not swing around inside the truck fast enough and used her massive trunk as a whip against the double doors of the truck bed. Just as the handler was reaching for the door handle, Mary opened her gates wide. The handler was sent backwards all the way down to the ground, but only damaged his pride in the fall.
Looking into the truck bed at Mary was Hoxie. Smiling, he said, “Welcome home, Mary.” The handler, having completely recovered from his humiliation, said the three words that Mary was wanting to hear, “Mary, move up.” As she was getting off the truck, everyone cheered to welcome her back. Her circus family had missed her and were glad to have her back. She no longer performs in ring now, but Mary is home now. The circus is her home and there are stories tell.
