Journal of Dr GFW

Have rode several miles today. Met many people going to town and no other business but to see an elephant. I have seen people who have not even enough to satisfy the cravings of hunger here spending fifty cents for which they have yet to labor, and some whose familyies are at the moment suffering for bread. He who can thus act must be destitute of feeling. I see here also a sable crowd all huddled together, pushing, crowding, cursing, swearing, quarreling, gambling, and almost every variety of vice, following these exhibitionis. Yet people come long distances to see them. But was it to give three cents to a distressed human being, they would have neither time to come or money to give.