Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-02-11
sSAleceuameo,la sAatter.
BRUIN STARRING

succession OF nights he attracted overflow.
ing audiences. On this occasion, however
something had put his "s,ar" out OF humor
and he was observed TO be wanting il
those brilliant displays of the histrionc
which had previously overwhelmed hin
with applause. In the third act, instead
OF coming down the mountain by a wind
ing path, with slow and solemn step pre-
scribed in the prompter's book, he alighted
on the stage at one bound, like the descent
of an arolte. On his return behind the
scene, he received reproofs, which, instead
OF improving, made his temper more sui
len, and it was with difficulty he could be
prevailed upon 10 60 through his part.
In the last scene, be was induced 10
commence a waltz with young and beau
tilul peasant girl, and seemed to take so
much enjoyment in The dance, that the
whole audience gradually rose in their
seats, and standing on the benches, drowned
the sound Of a powerful orchestra with
their acclama.lons OF wonder and delight.
In moment, however, the joyous Specta-
Gle was changed into a scene of terror
A piercing shrek was heard through all
the tumult, and the lovely dancer was
hurled round with the velocity of swift
wheel, and discharged from her partners
arms head foremost into the pit, where,
however, she was caught by the audience
without damage.
The next moment the Stage lover of the
peasant girl, who had been coquetting in a
dance, in the distance, with group Of bal
let dancers, advanced in the performance
of his part, to waltz with the bear The
former catastrophe had been so rapid that,
though his danger was fully perceived by
the audience, whose cries were quite loud 10
deter him, it was evidently unpercelvcd by
the lover. The bear was instantly on the
qui vive, measuring him from top 10 toe,
and, flinging his legs around him, he began
10 waltz with such extraordinary bound
ings that the astonshed lover was soon
whirled of his feet, and, in another mo
ment, was at the top OF a stage precipice,
and tossed into the surges below. The as
tonishment, now, however, had turned into
CONSERVATION. The bear was seen dancing
forward, evidently pleased with his own
exploits, and with his muzzle broken, the
mask hanging loose around his neck, and
roaring fiercely.
The whole audience now started on
their feet, rolled over each other, and in
the attempt to escape, choked up the doors
of The pit, boxes and gallery. The town
police were now called in, formed circle,
and charged the bear with fixed bayonets.
Firing was cut of the question, as the bull
lets which missed the bear must take effect
upon the audience; but the hero, though
left alone, exhibited at once the adroitness
OF education, aud the inttepidity OF his ma
ture, A part of his training had been the
platoon exercise, and suddenly knocking
down a corporal of the guard with one
paw, and seizing his musket with the other,
he threw his crossbelt over his back, and
proceeded deliberately to prime and load.
| The terror of the audience was now ex-
| treme, and shrieks We're heard from every
side, as be pointed the muzzle towards the
crowded pit.
The guard, which had regarded it as a
remarkable effort of city valor TO have ap-
preached him at all, now widened their
circle in all directions, to a respectable po-
sition from an antagonist armed alike with
the feroClty OF savage nature, and the
weapons Of civilization. But the bear, al
ready long accustomed TO military manGu-
vres, and who haG exhibited lately at St.
Petersburg, in the pantomine of The battle
of Pultowa, palpably took the Swedish
captives, and picked out each ofthem from
his hiding place by tender touch at the
point of the bayonet. In all their fright
the audience rDared with laughter; it was
evident that his pantomimcal recollectons
were still strong upon him, for he compel
led every man OF his captives to knee
down upon the stage, strip off his accoure-
m'nts, and beg for his life.
A flourish oil trumpets should have fol,
lowed this unequivocal victory; but the
orchestra, half terrified out Of their live
by the near neighborhood OF the conqueror
had forgot this part of their duty. Tn,
bear now advanced 10 to the front part o
the stage, growled fercely at the kettle
drummer, and finding that his signal wa
not obeyed, he made one mighty bound a
the drum itself, and rolled into the orches
ira. All the performers now ran for thei
lives, desks were tumbled down, fiddle
, ments, and the sons of Apollo hiding them
selves under the benches, scramblng owe
the rails, or making battle with The frag
mens of trumpets and trombones, roare
for help.
The audience, who saw that he had com
, so much nearer by the route of the orche:
D ira, now tried TO make their escape in eve
ry direction. Shreks and screams, roal
and oaths, filled all parts Of the theatre
' but whether the bear thought that tn
= lyoperation was too tardy, or recolecte
some Of the old scenes Of towns taken
!. storm, he had no sooner prostrated the fc
dlers than he sprang gallantly into the pi
Here all was confusion worse confoundet
!. The rapidity of the flight equalled th
terror of the moment, and each was ele'
trio the bear, stamping, bounding an
roaring with all the air of conqueror
and it was not until the theatre was con
pletely cleared, and his roar had entirel