In the Zoological Garden of New York a poor elephant has stood in
chains for years. The animal was thought to be vicious, and was
kept fastened tightly to one spot, that it might have no leeway
to do damage.

A short time ago its keeper became convinced that the elephant
would do no harm and might safely be unchained. The chains were
taken off, and the keeper thought with satisfaction that the poor
beast would now enjoy freedom and be made happy by the
possibility of moving freely about its large inclosure.

The elephant did not move. The chains were gone, it was no
longer tied, but it stood, and it still stands, in just the same
spot.

The habit of slavery, of monotony, had become too strong. The
elephant, though free, stands still, sadly swaying its heavy
head, ignorant of the freedom that has come to it.

Men and women and children who see the elephant, and other men
who write paragraphs for the newspapers, dilate on the poor
animal's "stupidity."

"The elephant has been called the most intelligent of animals,"
says one writer, "but this elephant, that doesn't know when the
chains are off, seems to prove that the elephant can be a good
deal of a fool."

How easy it is for us human beings to see the faults in others,