Susan Johnson, age 11,

Bishopville, South Carolina, for her question:

Are white elephants really white?

Just as some people are darker than others, so are some elephants darker than others. Once in a great while, an Indian elephant is born paler than his gray relatives. He is almost, but not quite an albino. He is almost, but not quite white.

Being a rare animal, the people of Asia give him special attention. He is something to be treasured. Usually he is sold to some bigwig, clothed with rich fabrics and decked with jewels to appear on state occasions. In some countries the white elephant is still considered a sacred beast,