Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-06-22
THE LION tanner.

NC" orK correspondent OF the Nation
al lnteiligencer gives the following singular
account OF visit to Menagarie in that city :
IT nave spent an afternoon, since I wrote to
you, IN the ''animal kingdom' cf Herr Dries
bach. Four elephants together were rather
an uncommon sight, to say nothing of the me-
iodrama performed by the lion-ia,ner There
was another accidental feature Of interest, too
The presence OF one or two hundred deaf
and dumb children, whose gestures and looks
OF asIonishment quite divided my curiosity
with the show. Spite of the responsiveness of
me thought 1t was impossible not to reflect
how much of the difference between us and
some OF the brute animals lies merely il, the
gut OF speech, and how nearly some human
beings, by losing this gift, would be brought
to their level. l was struck with the predomi-
mating animal look in the faces of the bows Of
The school, though there were some female
children with countenances of a very delicate
and intellectual cast
At four O'Clock Siam knelt down, and four
or five men lifted his omnibus of a saddle nm
on his back. The band then struck nm =
march, and he made the circuit of The immense
tent, but the effect of an elephant in motion
with only his legs and trunk visible This oodv
quite covered with the trappngs-was singu-
larly droli. 1t looked like an avenue Iaking
a walk preceded by a huge caterpillar. ,could
not resist laughing heartily. Alter one round. |
Siam stopped and knclt again TO receive pas
sengers. The wooden steps were laid AGAINST |
his eyebrow, and thence the children steppeJ |
to the top OF his head, though here and there |
a scrambler shortened the step by putting his
foot into the ear Of the patient animal. The |
saddle was at last loaded with twelve grls,
and with this ''iear(ul responsibility" on his !
back the elephant rose and made his rounds,
kneelng and renewing his load of slnnocenccn
at every circuit.
The lIon-tamer presently appeared and as
tohiShed the crowd rather more than the ele-
phane prologue was pronounced, setting
forth that slave was 10 be delivered up to
Wild beasts, &c. sc. A green cloth was
spread before the cages in the open tent, (srer-
lious work." thought, among such tender
meat as two hundred children, and out sprung
suddenly foil grown tiger, who seized the
gentleman III fiesh-colored tights by the throat
struggle ensues, IN which they roll over
ana over on the ground, and, finally, the VIC
tim gets the upper hand and drags out his de-
vourer by the nape of his neck. ] was inclin-
ed 10 think once or twice that the tiger was
doing more than was set down for him in the
80 - 'S w It)S Oh TIE eS
adjustment looked on very quietly, reserv-
ed my criticism.
The Herr next appeared in the long cage
with all his animals--lions, tigers. leopards.
&c He pulled them about, put his hands in
their mouths, and took as many liberties with
his stock OF pettry as if il was already made
INTO mufis and tppets. They growIed and
showed their teeth, but came when they were
called, and did as they were bid, very nuci, !
10 my astonishment-IIe made bed of
Them, amcng other things-puttng the tiger
across the lion for pillow, stretching himself
On the lion and another tiger, and then pulling
The leopard over his breast for s.comforter -
lie then sat down and played nursery. The
Tiger was as much as he could lift, but he seat
ed him upright on his knees, handled and caA
ressed him, and finally rocked him apparently
asleep IN his arms! He closed with an imi-
aton of Fanny Elssler's piroue,tc, with ii
ger standing on his back. | was very glad,
or one, when saw him go out and shut the
door.
man then brought out young anaconda
md twisted him round his neck, Ga devil Of 4
'oa it looked,) and, after enveloping himself
in other snakes, took them of a.
gain like cravats, and vanished And so end
I'd the show. Herr Driesbach stood at the
loor to bow us ont, and fine handsome de-
ermined looking fellow he is"