AN ELEPHANT'S REVELS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3711, 21 December 1912, Page 10

AN ELEPHANT'S REVELS.

PARIS TOBACCO SHOP WRECKED

Unexpected entertainment was provided for a crowd of Parisians in the early hours of Saturday morning (states the.“ New York Herald,” Paris edition) by the doings of an elephant which, shortly after its arrival at the Gare de-Lyon, made a dash for liberty. The beast galloped in the direction of the Place de la Republique, in utter defiance of the speed laws. Turning into the Rue Dava, he caught sightof the cigar sign over the tobacco shop and emporium of M. Manx, and halted. His knock bringing no response, he nodded his head, and the iron barrier and the door yielding, ( proceeded to enter. Now, neither M‘ nor Mine. Vaux was dressed to receive callers —it was now about a quarterpast 3—and, besides, Mine. Vaux is “at-home” on Wednesday afternoons —not Saturday mornings. Hence the elephant was received by no welcoming party. Deciding, therefore, to seek more hospitable quarters, he executed a Hank’ movement, with the intention of regaining the street; but, as his body turned, the bar crashed to the floor, carrying with it numerous bottles of Pernods, Picons, and other beverages, and a few dozen unfilled glasses. The elephant then bethought himself to leave the building by the rear exit,, but, unfortunately, the 1 chamber occupied by M. and Mine. Vaux stood in the way. He nodded again, aiid the wooden partition accommodatingly withdrew. M. Vaux, though ordinarily a sound sleeper, believed he heard sounds at about the time the bottles and glasses fell to the floor; and, being something of a Sherlock Holmes, lie deducted that all was not well in the Cafe —so; with Mine. Vaux. he was out of bed when the prowler entered his room. Ho saw at a glance that the mysterious traveller had brought his trunk with him. as if to make a long visit, but M. Vaux was not pleased.- Besides, he feared that the elephant’s proboscis might come in contact with the snuffbox in the tobacco shop, in which case he trembled for the possible effect on the Statue of the Republic, up on the corner. M. Vaux, being a good Republican, considers that this statue is nothing to be sneezed at. By judicious manoeuvring, Mb and Mme. Vaux managed to dodge round the beast and reach the street. They summoned the police and the fire brigade, but, just as the hooks and the ladders were being placed against the elephant, the latter’s keepers—so-cal-led—arrived. The beast, having gained all the exercise required, consented to withdraw under escort. M. Vaux estimates the damag l to his shop and its contents at £4OO. The elephant is to he exhibited in a Paris music-hall.