" Skizzenbuch" - Heinrich Kley (1909)

It was about 30 odd years ago that I had a book of German Sketches go missing. I had clipped and mounted one of the sketches, and I have featured it on this site before, attempting to find out who drew it. I knew it was German, but beyond that had no idea of who the artist was. This is sad, as I did own the book before it disappeared. I should have at least remembered the artist’s name!

This drawing has graced the walls of every home I have lived in since 1980. Before that it hung on the walls of various staterooms aboard the ships in which I served. It is a comforting image. It speaks to me of something, or someone, larger than ourselves, helping to guide us through our awkwardness. The fact that the something larger is not the elephant, gives thought to the theory that we are not the largest presence in this dance of life. There is something more graceful to guide us, if we only allow it.

I was napping this morning, and when I awoke, this image was the first thing that I saw. It hangs on the wall opposite the foot of my bed. I have googled it, in a vain attempt to find out more about the sketch over the past several years, all to no avail. But something prompted me to search again, and I got it on the second try.

The sketch comes from the works of German artist Heinrich Kley, who lived from 1863-1945. His two volumes of sketches were published in 1909 and 1910, under the names

Skizzenbuch and Skizzenbuch II, both of which contained 100 pen drawings. Now, I have to get the book.

Meantime, if you'd like a closer look at some of Mr. Kley's work, here is the link to his world;

http://books.google.nl/books?id=20VHWRG-vlAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+drawings+of+Heinrich+Kley&source=bl&ots=PZHt_Mt6ZR&sig=bZIWnAqX8RPJXBC7jo5w-dMDE_s&hl=nl&ei=X6YcTLXrMoatOI-I2YkM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

“Water for Elephants” with Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz (2011)

Beautiful cinematography and a wonderful screenplay make this film a sensual experience to watch. The film begins with Hal Holbrook; who plays the main character of Jacob as an old man; talking to a younger man who runs a circus. He is obviously “missing” from his nursing home and has a tale to tell. The younger man decides to listen and the film dissolves into a flashback, where it will remain for the entire film.

The young Jacob; played by Robert Pattinson; is unable to complete his education at Cornell, where he was studying to be a veterinarian. While riding the railroads during the early days of the Great Depression he meets some men who introduce him to life working odd jobs at a circus. The star attraction of this circus is a beautiful woman named Marlena; played by Reese Witherspoon; who rides an equally beautiful white stallion. Jacob is taken with both the woman and the animal.

Marlena is married to the owner of the struggling circus, a man named August; played by Christoph Waltz; who is always looking for another way to make his circus unique; and profitable. His relationship with his wife is odd and he seems to be lost in his own dreams and fantasies. Marlena is clearly unhappy.

When Jacob notices that the horse is not well he finds himself at odds with Marlena; who thinks she knows more than he does about her horse; and August, who is insanely jealous and controlling. When Jacob tells them that he is a veterinarian he is given the job of taking care of the horse and restoring it to health.

Realizing that the horse is in great pain and will never recover, Jacob puts him down with Marlena’s consent. This infuriates August who tries to kill Jacob over the incident. But soon he has his sights set on an elephant named Rosie as a way to make his show turn a profit. Accordingly he places Jacob in charge of the animal.

When the elephant seems not to be able to learn any tricks August becomes enraged, beating the elephant within an inch of its life. The carny’s and roustabouts all pitch in and help Jacob bring the elephant back to health. But they must come up with a way to keep August from hurting Rosie again.  During this time Jacob and Marlena become very close; verging on the edge of a romantic relationship. August senses this and takes his rage out on Rosie as well as Jacob.

While tending to Rosie Jacob discovers that the elephant used to belong to a Hungarian circus and has been trained in that language. With the help of his fellow workers he is able to turn Rosie back into the class act she once was. This further fuels August’s anger and sets up a confrontation with Marlena.

To find out what happens you’ll have to see the film. Suffice to say the film ends with Hal Holbrook finishing the tale he began, leaving his one man audience flabbergasted enough to offer the old man a job in the circus.

Based on Sara Gruen’s bestselling book of the same name, this film with keep you in your seat waiting to see how it all turns out for Rosie, Jacob and Marlena as they navigate the three rivers of life, love and loyalty. Beautifully directed and filmed this is a movie you will want to watch more than once.

"Topsy" by Michael Daly (2013)

Growing up in Brooklyn I have always been aware of the story of Topsy, the elephant who was cruelly killed at Coney Island long before I was born. But, until now, I never knew the full story, nor of the people involved in it. Thanks to Mr. Daly I now know the facts of the matter, which are not at all pretty. And when you do hear the whole story, your estimation of some very famous people may be lowered by a notch or two.

The author begins with the birth of an elephant in the wilds of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, on the southern tip of India. He chronicles the life of an ordinary elephant calf, including the hunt and capture by traders, who then transport the animals to Europe for sale. The first elephant arrived in Europe with Emperor Claudius in 43 A.D. After that it would be over 1,000 more years until another elephant was presented to European royalty in 1255, this time as a gift from Louis IX to Henry III. Even Pope Leo X eventually got one, given to him by King Manuel of Portugal in 1514. He is buried on the grounds of the Vatican.

Eventually, in 1796 the newly freed English colonies in America acquired their own elephant. This one was named simply The Elephant, since it was the only one on the continent. But, this didn't last for long. By 1804 a second elephant was bought over to America and purchased by a farmer named Bailey who lived North of Manhattan in Westchester. He paid $1,000 for the elephant, and then sold a “share” of him to a man who took him on a tour of the colonies. To avoid people seeing the elephant for free they traveled at night.

The admission price was 50 cents to see the elephant named Old Bet, who was named after Mr. Bailey’s daughter Betsy, but this price was too steep for the time and was soon reduced to 25 cents; still a lot of coin for the time. So, in order to stop people from seeing her for free, they erected canvas around the area, allowing enough room for the paying customers to observe this unusually docile creature. In just a few more years a top would be added as protection against the weather, thus creating the “bigtop” as we commonly refer to the circus now.

Of particular fascination in the lead up to the main story of Topsy is the history of the traveling troupes of acrobats; as well as the groups of exotic animals which were called “menageries”; and who both traveled the country exhibiting their unique, but separate forms of entertainment. It was only after both of these elements were put together in one show that the modern equivalent of a “circus” came into being.

When Barnum met Bailey, a national entertainment was perfected. The circus, which required cunning and genius to organize; which Bailey possessed; also took a man of rare talent, and the ability to promote something; which is exactly what Barnum possessed. Together, the two of them founded a company which would dominate the circus world for more than a century; and probably still does, though neither man's family owns it any longer.

Along with the story of Topsy and these two men there is another tale, one which involves Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse; as well as an excitable public; always eager to see something new and horrific. The rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse; coupled with Edison’s loss of control over his own company; all contributed to the demise of Topsy in a race to prove the practicality of using electric current as a means of punishment for criminals; or to be more direct; the electric chair.

Topsy was the first elephant to meet a violent end in America, after she had killed; or wounded; several individuals who were tormenting her. The part of this book which will astonish you the most is the fact that cruelty towards animals was so common place at the time. Though Topsy was the first to be successfully executed for pure spectacle does not discount that others had tried to do this before. There were other elephants previous to Topsy; such as Jumbo; who thrilled audiences for years, only to have his bones displayed by P.T.Barnum for 25 cents a look in New York.

The book is sprawling in its range, encompassing even the founding of Luna Park in Brooklyn’s Coney Island, as well as the sadistic trainer who abused Topsy until her fateful day. When that day arrived, the only help that she received was from the SPCA, which forbade the owners from charging to see Topsy killed. The crowd was limited to about 800 select people, all of whom were either reporters, or residents of Coney Island. Below is the film which Edison took of the execution. Don't watch if you are easily upset. The date of the film is January, 2, 1903.

A startling look at the underside of human nature, this book reads like a film, and haunts the reader afterward with questions about who we all are, and why? There are no more public executions of animals anymore; either for profit, or even to prove a point. But the fact that there once was, and laws had to be passed to outlaw the practice in the first place, is what really disappoints me the most.

The Swimming Elephant

This footage of a baby elephant swimming on the beach at Phuket, Thailand made the rounds last weekend on the internet. Though it is from 2008, it is still a wonderful sight. Elephants are very special to me. For all of their lumbering size and strength, they possess; and display; a keen sensitivity which I usually associate with dolphins and whales. They’re all stronger and faster than we are, yet somehow I feel as if they look upon us humans with a bit of pity. We do such odd things in their eyes.

The baby elephant; who was on the beach at Phuket for a wedding party; just couldn’t understand why everyone was dressed up in the sweltering heat. The ocean looked so inviting that he naturally jumped in, to the delight of all present. Turn up the volume and you can hear the reaction of the people who were watching this in person.

I have seen the whales, swam with the dolphins, and even had a slight disagreement with a monkey once; but I have never seen an elephant enjoying himself quite as much as this fellow. The funniest part of the whole thing is that while the people on the beach couldn’t understand why he went into the water; he couldn’t understand how they could stay out!