PINED AWAY?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 11

PINED AWAY?

ARTISTIC ELEPHANT * ‘ PARIS, June 5. Did Mary, the 24-year-old 2J-ton elephant die froth love-sickness, or from injuries received when the coach in which she was travelling to fulfil an engagement was involved in a minor collision? The question was debated in court, when the owner, Grossi, claimed damages. Mary had a big reputation as a harpist and saxaphonist, besides her natural trumpeting. “ She was an artist from trunk to tail,” said Grossi, but, after the collision she lost all desire to exhibit her talent, and declined and died.” The railway company’s counsel pleaded that Mary was notorious as a neurasthenic, and called evidence to prove that her injuries were of’ the slightest, and could not have been responsible for her death. The real cause of her death, he urged, was that Mary faded away because she was tired of her artificial, loveless life. Grossi rejoined that she had always shown a highminded satisfaction at the sacrifice of her normal life tor the sake of her art. Judgment was reserved.