Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-30


The DEATu-BED OF LIoN.-Every one
nav not be scientific; but every one may at
least be close observer ofnature animate,
and nature inanimate. If plain people, with
..ood ewes and open hearts, would but keep
& notebook for their original observations,
and lot down in few words the simple facts
OF lifeamong Gods lower creatures, the great
men of the day would always have good
store OF fine materials to deal with. The
philosopher would stand at ease on the grand
platform of truth, and build with stones read
ily hewn TO his hand, instead OF having TO
send his thoughts wide over the land III search
Of straw wherewth to make bricks Tor the
house of his wisdom, or perhaps TO gather
offers for the waddled wigwam OF a nomadlc
theory
Do animals understand what death Isl
Do they recognise its coming sigus!' asks
the uninitiated. No" says gifted phi!os-
opher of our acquaintance, you never see
snimals apprehending the meanngof death"
Very we'll, then, here is Il fact:
The writer once Strayed into a managerie
in the north of England, which had camped
for day or two in little mountain metrop-
oils. 4 large elderly lion was making an
involuntary tour of the country IN company
with his wife and fine family of young
people What an insult to put the desert
monarch into such vulgar clap-trap travell-
ing carriage AS this
But what is the matter with that grand old
lion? He is in pain; surely he is III pain.
His breathing is short, and is drawn with
etfort; his nostrilS are spread wide, lips drawn
back, and that great shaggy chest heaVeS un-
easily. He is suffering from bronchitis, for
he evidently cannot bear the keen air OF the
north. Heis C0urhant; but now be lifts his
head high, and looks round and ronnd the
show, into the hundred faces otthat untceling
crowd as if searching for sympathy.
But no: they cannot read his eye ofmute
appeal; he is nothing to them but great.
tawnv lion, with a shaggy name, and tufted
tail, Suddenly he rears himself up to his full
stature, throws back his grand head, utters
tremendous desert roar, and falls down hea-
Willy on his side-dead. Dead: but with an I'M
nerial gesture, such as Caesars when he tell.
Look at the widow. She has been taking
short and stately turns up and down the den;
avery Juno in her gait, aud In her temper too.
But she stops, looks inqulringly at the pros
1rate figure, draws nearer bends her head
with an anxious, bewildered look, and then, as
if at last receiving the great idea, she throws
herself down upon the dead monarch with
great abandonment. Presently up comes the
heir; crown prince he was-he is the young
king now He stops short, in fierce, brus-
que attitude, spreads his nostrilS, flashes his
ewes, and snorts aloud. That was a long and
searching gaze, truly. But at last be, too
filings himself down, with great sounding
flop upon the dead body of the old lion. Up
comes the coarse-looking keeper, and fogS
eway the widow and son. But they watch their
opportunity, and stalk forward again. and
throw themselves down in the same attitude
of grief. Again the hateful whip, and
again they spring to the further end Of the
room, with short, impatient roar. Three
times did this take place, and three
times did they return to the same position,
abandoning themselves to the same eloquent
symbols of grief. Not many can say that
they have been present at the death bed of q
lion: and never can the scene, SO touching
and yet 80 grand, be forgotten by the writer,