The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21
ruE DAUNTLzAs BAKTOURO.
A FIGHT WITH A WILD LION.

dispute the point. Tell me what there can De IN |
high Life more Intoxicating, with sort o. puo-
spherpalia Of q circus, Why, your opera IA
child's play beside it-beside, the first moment
when the tent rises like one great, swelling cioud,
and the Gag, hutsering and Tapping above, makes
your heart futter as wildly, too 4; your approacn |
through such shrongs Of strange people never IN I
earthed before the triumphant purchase OF your
ticket from the man at the back OF some psinteo
wagon; and then the stepping IN between tne |
mysterious canvas folds that sweep their great
wrinkles down to your very feet, and the opening !
upon the great smphithcater, tlresdy crowded
with faces and colors rank above rank, like
great full petsled blossom.
WIS thinking all these matters over one Gay,
IS ] entered one OF these sunny paviliops. and
thinking too whether, in spite of my love OF mo-
ton and swiftness, and strength and grace, SO
tmid person as would have had mroh ENJOY.
ment In an old Roman circus where men and
beasts encountered in contests OF blood. and /
where ladies', whose hearts could have been not |
greatly different from my own. applsuoed the
death struggle of q gladiator as did the somer-
sauts OF little Ninonito. ! had no idea how
nearly the performances were going to approach |
the old Roman standard before we were done
with them.
bills Great Moral Exhibition; and as with the
circus II combined q superior mansgerie, wnlcc
Asian iungles and African deserts had contrib
uted, clergymeD and others were cordiaiiy invited
to witness the trained lion and the iamD lying
GOWN
lures upon the Tags of the various stages, which
were nothing less than scenes from the noiy
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on the whole, an Illus
tre.iys Bibaer eYfl6zhcs OF wmcn am parucuisriy
speaking the last item had been described In the
advertisement az the Terrible Exploits OF the
Dsuntless Bartouro In the Den Of Wild Beasts; the
capitals had been thrilling. And accordingly,
after q sufficient quantity Of little boys had peen
thrown by the horses, an enormous carrisee, Una.
aled nearly half the space. was slowly wheeled
a he aiT la
den OF wild beasts was disclosed.
II was In compartments with strong partiuons
made of lattice work Of iron bars between them.
| In the first one some leopards ana bengal ueer
of loathly beauty were roaming rest.essy round,
| up and down, in and out, round and ABOUT, 10
| way to make ones heart ache. In the central
| compartment a lion was striding up ana down,
flashing his tail about; while his honess, lying IN
| one corner with her Two wbelps fawning round
/ her. looked with complscent curiosity at the
| crowd who returned her gaze. But when the lids
| were let down from the last compartment, all
thought of the occupants OF the other TWO was LOT
| a moment forgotten, as the immense and single
| lion within that one sprang upon his hind legs.
| paving ss the side Of the cage rs If he would
| break through and bound out upon Us, and utter
| ing simultaneously roar that resounded ana re-
! yerberssed from side TO side and made every hesrt
| stand still.
We were almost all decorously plsoed on the
tiers Of seats but at the sound and the sight the
whole audience shook little closer together and
4 49,
promised TO be, had risen togo.
"Neyer mind, :" said my companion 10 me, 40 L
excitedy sign6ed my wish TO hasten on; " IL Is Q
trite thing enough; the creatures are gorged Win
food and handled from their birth tne exnipisor
| il in no danger"
| "You are mistaken, SIR" said one of group OF
bystsnders. "In the first two cages, they are
| certainly tame enough: bat the last beast is the
true Nemean. raging for MS liberty, a. ready 20
rend man to atoms ss ever bis widest ancestor
l WaaD
Then why is he In that cage. sir ?" l asked
shivering beneath the blaze OF those eyeoals Ike
He was only added to the collection few
| hours since" said another gentleman at my side
"Some sailors brought him home on their owl
account; the ship happened 70 arrive In naroo
this very morning Just as the sasss.e n ws
ing their bargain and the animal was transferred
Immediately; but an injury happening TO his owl
cage hs vss temporarily shut Int this one I'll
better accommodations could be arranged,
"Bus is II strong: enough" l asked With
> Q1sver.
"Oh, without doubt.n
"And then the exhibitor does not venture int
"Not unless he In insane, fancy"
"Ah, what a roar II is thunders salt!
"Poesibly he has not been fed to-day"
81 think we had better so,' said. "Is resil
| makes me ILL.," -,
. "No, indeed,"l was the response met witt
"If there is going 70 be anything unusual let
have the benefit OF IT."
"But IL seems TO me the exhibitor Is nos READY
do believe he is afraid himself"
"He has no occasion" zsld the second bystsnd'
o | again. 'sIn spite OF our friends opinion OF q
beast, unless the exhibitor should open the do'
of the third cage there is absolutely not shado
l. | of danger"
"And il he should,'
u "why, Ihen l imagine he would get his q
serts."
ls "oh, how nervous you make me-" exclslme
j. "I wonder Why the Dauntless Bartouro does
q. come" +.
ot Possibly he is asleep" said the second B
le Islander. once moro. "He has little habit IN
say. which occasions crowSiness. | suppose
70 hazardous an occupation rs his may have been,
the beginning requiring stimulsnss, and he q
IL abused the necessity. And II they are not soo'
ing him with buckstsful of cold water dashed oy
n. him, they are probably assisting MN % nuffy
his tights and spanglss."
As he spoke, man carrying little swift
Us bounded Ia the ring, made his DOW 70 the az
y, ence threw open the cage OF the leopards, iesI
Dr. lightly Up, and in an instaot hsd shut INNS
within BE =. vas s6cF 1 sad q bsan ss ss NO
OF ments, that one had not time TO ses bis iust
.s' face and IL swollen veins before Il sserned
D. the exertion Of taking leopard and tossing B
Js into the air had oocssioned Is.
"Whst o handsome fellow" cried my &C
10 psnion, What shoulders! what toresr
ur his neck is white column IL is the torso o
hero Was he put together in that splendid W
ue wonder for nothing else than TO play With
~ | tens"
or he was q picture as he fronted us; the
leopsrds stood with paw on his either should
the spots seeming to wsver IN their supple 81
Die IKE the sparks and glows IN half blackened
brands while the tiger bounded to and fro o
Ca the switch which he held for him as II his s'
or. curves were made Of nothing but csouscho1c.
ow was plsin that the creatures loved the man :
Do reached oct their long, rough tongues and lic
hirn-he had fed them and tended them, and
10 them their only visible Providence.
~ As thought Ihas, Bsrtouro flung aside the I
~ II partition OF iron bars, with thrust, and was
90 the central cage, stepping quickly 70 the lion
iSss and switching her till she rose upon her II
10 catching the hairy little cubs in his arms
az throwing them about like jugglers balls cal
@ the lion 10 his side and lying down between u
no ' ell, as if for peaceful repose tn the bosom OF
-. | family. Meanwhile tine tiger came and stretc
W. himself ct bis feet, end one Of the eopsrds anu
ant himself with boxing an impairment cub, vnils
~ | other leopard retired to tne fartnest corner
~ the cage and appeared TO keep watch Ike