Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-02


treating upon " Light" a matter Of inter-
est, and capable of beautiful illustration. /
He had scarcely finished his short and
eloquent exordjum, before we heard
crash Of bottles. and a low, startling
growing in the next room. The proles-
sor started, and stopped a moment, while
those a. the class not in the secret looked
at each other in aslonishment. There
was a pause Of a few seconds duration
and then the profs..sog proceeded.
began to-feei alarmed, as | remem-
bered what had been done the night be-
fore. Under ordinary circumstances there
was no danger TO be apprehended. The
bear was tame enough, and had been
whipped until lie had imbibed a proper
sense Of the superiority Of man. Bat
from the sounds, judged that Bruin had
worked himself into the room, only Sc
parated from us by a thin partition, full
Of windows in which were kept the va
rious drugs used in illustrating the vari-
Gus experiments. There were great
many carboys and bottles Of acid in that
room. Should he overSet any Of these
and their contents tough his skin he would
be apt 10 break through the windows OF
the apartment and do some mischief be-
fore we could secure him. by the looks
of my companions saw they entertain
ed the same fears.
There was another crash and growl.-
The professor stopped again, and the
class looked around in dismay. Those
who were acquainted with the cause OF
the noise could scarcely keep their coun-
tenancc. In spite Of the alarm under
which they labored, there was something
so ludicrous in the growl, especially
when we figured to ourselves the coming
consterration Of the class that they could
hardly refrain from laughing outright
Tho professor, who could not tell from
whence the sound proceeded, and thought
it trick of the class, reproved them
severely, and then continued his lecture
" Gentlemen said be, prepare for .
brilliant experiment l viii show YOU ;
most startling effect"
h And he did Hark there was q
sudden crash as if every bottle in the
place had been destroyed at once-a
smoke rose up-there was a terrible
howl, that made the blood curdle and the
marrow thrill-and, through the fraiI
glass-Father of Truth we had mis-
taken the cage-there leaped forth, III
furiated with the buring liquid which
streamed over him-horror-an untanet
royal tiger.
No words can describe the consterna.
ton of the class. Petrifed by horror
motionless-there VIC sat. Not a muscle
( quivered, so rigid were we with intens,
fear. il was our preservation. Mad
dened with the pain, the animal rushed
on with terrific bounds, and meeting will
no obstacle passed down the stairs intC
the hall. There, as he leaped and rolled
Fl and howlcd in his agony, the cldes
daughter Of our janitor, coming with ;
4 message, unwittingIy entered. Sho
! screamed and fell. The tiger franii,
with the acid which was eating 10 hi.
f very aesh, needed her not. On be pass
ed, and the girl lived. Better lad sh,
died, for never again shone the light 0
reason in those vacant eyes. From tina
f day forth She was a gibbering incuraJl
. idiot.
On passed the tiger, on on llrougI
= the streets With the populace flying &
, every side for shelter-past his old pri
son, where the keepers stood wonderin,
. at his escape. On be went, bound alte
e. bound, bowling, screaming with agony
5 On he went, while behind him, beior
. and around rose the mingled cry Of men
r women and children" the tiger. th
E tiger
. Ar the extremity Of the main street
t traveller was riding quietly TO his home
s lie heard the noise behind him, aud cast
r ing his eyes around saw the cause. II
e spurred his horse, who started snorin
e with terror, for he saw the coming Of th
J., mighty animal as well as bis master.
e II was in vain. The tiger noted nc
?. the man. lie only saw the terrified sieeC
d One leap-the distance was saved-an
e be put his claws into the hind quarters q
tlie horse, who unmindful Of his doubl
= burthen, rushed on bearing bis feaIfu
II load as though II were but feather
r weight. The mar receised no hurt
With presence Of mind aud loolness mos
j determined-lof il resulted from despai