Jumbo knows how to bathe and swim; I may say he is a “great swimmer.” He makes a bigger hole in the water than most other animals, and he certainly throws water up into the air higher than any other animal, with his great water-spout trunk.
When in London some years ago, it being inconvenient to take Jumbo down to the river, it was arranged to construct a special bath for him and Alice, his wife. I just wish I had the boys and girls who have done so much shouting for Jumbo in this country, with me there to see Jumbo and Alice bathing. I would not wish for greater pleasure than to stand upon the top of the bath and look into their faces as they would gaze with intensity at the manœuvres of Jumbo as he led the way into the bath, down to the deep end, where he could have a swim, with Alice close at his heels. It is impossible to describe the amusing scene.
Jumbo would, every now and then, turn right about and with his massive trunk throw up such a quantity of water as would make a shower-bath fall on Alice’s back, and then, perhaps, he would in the same way, throw up to a great height a regular three-inch water-pipe gush of a douche bath, and this would so tickle Alice, and so add to her enjoyment, that she would presently begin to reciprocate; but as her trunk and powers were not so great as Jumbo’s, she could not make such a good job of it. Yet Jumbo was awfully pleased at Alice’s consideration in trying thus to wash his back. Jumbo would make a good five-or six-story window-washer.
When they got to swimming depth they would play some of the funniest frolics, rolling about like two ships in a storm at sea; and at other times would swim most majestically along, Jumbo always leading the way for quite a time, then, when they got to the end of the oblong bath, Alice would turn round and Jumbo would follow her back to walking depth; then some more shower-bath business, and after that a return for a few dives. It is really amusing to see Jumbo on his head trying to show his hind legs, just like the boys do when they are bathing.
Jumbo and I had the same kind of fun out West in the rivers, whenever we had an opportunity, the only difference being that I had to take Alice’s place. I got all the shower and douche bath without the ability to return the kindness. Being without a long water-spout of a trunk, I couldn’t do more than splash a bit with my hands, or throw a few buckets of water on Jumbo’s back, and although he appreciated my efforts as a substitute, he never has enjoyed his bath as much as he did when Alice was along with him.
Jumbo is a remarkably clean animal, and he is mighty particular about his bed, and, indeed, in all his habits he is a model of cleanliness.
CHAPTER IV.
JUMBO’S BUSY LIFE AT THE ZOÖLOGICAL GARDENS, AND HIS LOVE FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
Jumbo has had a busy life. I would tell my young readers that, as Mrs. General Garfield once said, “a busy life is the happiest.” That good and noble lady once wrote to our late worthy President, and told him her happiest thoughts came to her when she was busy “baking the nice white bread” and thinking of her dear noble husband, who was also busy “all the way through,” from the time he drove the boat horse on the canal bank, up to the time he embraced his good old mother in the presence of thousands of his country’s representatives at Washington, during the scene of his inauguration.