Note 73 — Chapter VIII · ELEPHANTS

164Concerning tame elephants as a profitable speculation, it is interesting to learn that those at the London ‘Zoo’ earn about 800l. a-year, besides conferring indescribable enjoyment to thousands, by giving rides at 2d. a head. Many as are the riders packed on those long-suffering broad backs, it is startling to be told that on the Bank Holiday in 1890 no less than 24,000 twopences were taken, a number slightly in excess of the whole number of visitors, so that many extravagant visitors probably indulged in several such rides.