Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-28

john KEMBLE, BASIL MONTAGUE, AND
THE L1oN.-Kemble was at one time inn
mensely delighted by the present of a
young lion whelp, which with his famous
cat, "Mustapha," (immortalised by Mat
thews, he reared with most tender and
solicitous care. While the animal was
yet very young, John and his friend, Basil
Montague, got into coach to take drive
before going to the theater, and the lion
was favored with a scat. This peculiar
mode of travelling, however, did not seem
to be very agreeable to the animal, which
became very restless, and set up tire.
mendious howl, as the wheels ratified over
the rough stones. Hush, hush p said
John, as if he were speaking TO spoiled
child, and patting the whelp on the head
"Hush, my poor, poor fellow, remember,
all the good ciGzens!' But the lion
was quite Indifferent either TO the good ci.
tizens or Kemble's Establishments so he
uttered another "hOo-ow ooh - and ma
king leap, smashed the window, and
thrust out his head. E
The alarmed driver turned hastily
round, and seeing the head of the wild
beast grinning at him from behind, he
leaped from his seat in terror, and left his
vehicle and its unfortunate contents to 20
anywhere they pleased. The horses,
Heightened at the noise behind, and freed
from all control, started off at fearful
pace. "Do you know, my dear friend,''
said kemble, "that am afraid the horses
have run away ?" 81 should not be as
tonished," said Montague, stretching his
neck from the window. "IIoo.ho. .ow.
ooh p howled the animal, again thrusting
his grizzly head through the window
"NOw do, for Heavens sake, be still r.
demonstrated Kemble, soothingly; the
only response being louder and prolong.
ed growl. that frightened half the people
in the street. On they went faster and
faster. A sharp turn was before ; the
wheel caught the edge Of the pavement
and over went the coach with tremcn.
diOus crash, the horses galIOping off with
the shafts.
A crowd gathered round in an instant
and Kemble (who was unhurt) smothe
ring his discOmposure, stepped from the
wreck with his usual dignity Of manner
Turning round 70 look for his friend, he
found poor Montague with his head buried
in the foOt-rug, and his feet IN the air, the
unhappy lion nearly squeezed TO jelly
beneath him. "Here, here. my deal
friend, )" cried Kemble, displaying unwont
ed activity, and pulling up Montague from
the bottom Of the vehicle, II am sorToy
my dear friend, GlatYou have suffered
Montague was ubopt.to interrupt by pro
testing that De had not suffered grea
deal. when Kemble. added, eyes, m,
friend. that you should have suffered your
self TO become the Instrument of inhictinl
serious injury upon my poor unfortunat
animal 70 and he pointed 10 The, lion
/ which had rolled itself up ike 4 bail =;
"The animal y shouted Mopsag gae, sr
ragged at the misplaced cohGdehe4 eL lii
friend, and sputtering out moathfulSo 2
dust "denl the animal ~ NO don't d
that, said KembIe, drawing hinself "a
with princely air; "buI," and liere' b
drew his companion, nearer 70 him, pat
I ting aside the IMPROPERLY Of the expres
sion. allow me to say, that the proper pre-
: nuneiation Of the word is damn 70 20
I