The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-23
RFuiR Sa8rriRag.'

! Of melo. drama called the Bear Of The Noun
| Ialn," the principal ACTOR Of which was a hruln c
such wonderful docty and dramatic talent tha
for long succession Of nights he attracted over
! flowing audiences. On This occasion, however
! something had put this star out Of humor, ant
he was observed to be wanting in those brlllIan
displays of the hisrrlonc which had previous
overwhelmed him with applause. In the third act
instead OF coming down the mountain by wind
ing path, with the slow and solemn step prescribed
IN the promptcr's book, he ahghted on the stage
at one bound like the descent Of an aerollte. VI
hls return behind he scenes he received reproofs
which instead of improving made his temper more
sullen, and it with difficulty he could be PIE
vailed upon to 60 through his part.
In The last scene he was induced to commence
waltz with a young and beautiful peasant girl
and seemed to take so much erioymenl in the
dance, that the whole audience gradually rose in
their seats, and standing on the benches, drowned
the sound of powerful orchestra with their ac.
cIamatons Of wonder and delight. In a moment,
however, The Joyous spectacle was changrd into a
scene Of terror. piercing shrick was heard
through all the tumult, and the lovely dancer was
"hlrled round with the velocity of wifi wheel,
and discharged from her partners arms headfore
most into The pit, where however, she caught
by the audience without damage.
The next moment the stage lover of The peas
an; girl, who had been coqueting in dance in the
distance with group of bale: dancers advanced,
III The performance Of his part, TO waltz with the
bear. The former catastrophe had been so rapid,
that, though his danger fully perceived by the
audience, whose cries were quite loud enough 20
deter him, it was evidently unperccved by the
lover. The bear was instantly on The QUl Uire,
measuring him from top to toe, and fngng his
legs around him, began to waltz with such extra.
ordinary boundings, that the as,onished lover was
soon whrled off his feet, and in another moment
was at the top OF stage precipice, and tossed
into the surges below. The astonishment now,
however, had turned into CONSERVATION. The
bear was seen dancing forward evidently pleased
with his own exploits, and with his muzzIe bro.
ken, the moose hanging loose around his neck,
md roaring fercev.
The whole audience started on their feet, |
oiled over each other, and in the attempt to es-
ape choked up the doors of the pit, boxes, and |
gallery. The town roIice were now called in,
ormed circle and charged the bear with fixed !
'aYonets. Firing out Of the question:, the
uHets which missed the bear must take effect on
he audience; but the bear, though left alone, ex-
ibled the adroitness of education, and the intre-
ldity of his nature. A part of his training had
cen the platoon exercise, and suddenly knocking
own corporal of the guard with one paw, and
eizlng his musket with the other he threw his
ross-belt over his back, and proceeded deher
tely to prime and loaG. The terror Of the audi
nee was now extreme, and shrleks were heard
ON all sides, as he pointed the muzzIe towards
he crowded pit.
The guard, which had regarded it as a remark
Die effort OF city valor to have approached him
all, now widened their circle in all directions,
a respectable distance from an antagonist armed
ike with the lerocity of savage nature and the
eapons Of civilization. But the bear, already t
ng accustomed to military mannuvres, and who {
I'd exhibited lately at ST. Petersburg. in the pam I
mime Of the Battle of Pultowa, palpaby took |
e Swedish captive, and picked out each Of them
ON his hiding place by tender touch at the G
int Of the bayonct. In all their fright the au, t
once roared with laughter; it was evident that '
pantomimlcaI recollection still strong up q
him, for he compelled every man Of his cap a
es to knecl down upon the stage, strip off his c
coutrements, and beg for bis life. C
flourish Of trumpets should have followed a
S uneqnivocal victory, but the orchestra, half fl
rlhed out OF their lives by the near neighbor- p
Oh OF The conqueror, had forge: :h;s part of Il
;ir duiy. The bear now advanced 10 the front I
lhe slage, growIrd fiercey at the kettle drum. II
r, and hndIng that his signal not obeyed, la
made one mighty bound at the drum itself, and c:
led into the orchestra. All performers now n
J for their lives; desks lumbled down. OF
lbIe bases shattered into fragments, and the f'
sons of Apollo hiding themselves under their tn
lchcs, scrambng over the rails, or making al
lie with the fragments of their :rumpets and
mbones, roared for help. W
he audience, who saw that he had come so ia
ch nearer by the route OF the orchestra, now all
d to make their escape in every direction.- dc
'Ieks and screams roars and oaths, filed all ha
IS OF the thrcatre; but whether the bear bought ab
| the operation was 100 tardy, recOlectcd
le OF the old scenes of towns taken bv Storm
mad no sooner Frustrated the fiddlers than he M
ang gaiIantiy into the pit. Here all was con. 81.
on worse corlounded. The rapidy of the S,
ht equalied the terror of the moment, and each all
electric; the bear stamping, bounding, and NJ
ring with all the Of conqucror; and it Te
moi until the theatre was completely cleared an
his had entirely subsidized that the CITY cl,
rd, gathered from the stage made temporary on
,ment in one Of the lobbies. The COMMANDER no
hIet made his approaches with the Caution of y
nee and nothing could be more deliberate than RH
courage with which he opened the door of the up
e box. There he discovered tha, The bear Nc
fallen asleep in the lap OF victory, and in uai
was snoring at full length on one of the Grim.
benches IN The pit. The Captain of the guard me
ngulshed in the city OF CZernby for his valor.
us crisis Of affairs boldly venIured forward.
ordered his platoon 10 fire a voIIev at the me-
oing monster but before this could be effected tbe
of the mcnagere from which the ami h
had been borrowed came in with ropes and
and were suffered TO supersede the truard | ma
bear very quietly followed his keepers, and
OF the city on the plea, that though
5 might make dangerous actors, Bohemian We
= would MAJ 20 rpr CrI -, M