As a final end to the circus debate (hopefully ?) thought if anyone
wanted to read about the reality of the old (1930's) kind of circus in
the USA, there is a terrific novel - top of the best seller lists for
many months - "Water for Elephants". Yes, no ferrets in the book, but
the author's husband had three when they first married - so I took the
liberty of recommending this fascinating story by Sara Gruen. There are
some bad things in the book - done by humans of course - but the humans
get their just deserts.

Gruen did a huge amount of research on real performing elephants and
the circus performers of the 1930's. She began being interested in
traveling circuses when she bought two old books of old time travelling
circus photographs. And the elephant in the book - Rosie - (Gruen says
in an afterword interview in the book) - is based on real elephants in
American zoos.

She mentions in the afterword two real elephants of note in circus life
- one of which "Old Mom" was considered stupid after she was purchased
from a trainer who said she was the smartest elephant he had ever had.
The new owners were dismayed to find she would not respond to commands,
only to find out she only understood German. Once she was taught
English, she did fine and had "an illustrious career" dying at 80
"surrounded by her friends and fellow troupers".

The "narrator" is a young guy who leaves vet school because his parents
have financial problems and - spur of a moment - joins a travelling
circus. Sara Gruen visited zoos and circuses to talk to elephant
handlers - since Rosie the elephant has such a pivotal role in the
story. For those worried about bad endings - bit of a spoiler here -
Rosie has a happy ending.

Meryl

[Posted in FML 7019]