The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-04-24
The cynocephalus.
A MIDNIGHT HORROR.
BY JAMES HASTINGS.

animals was the one possessed by the Earl
of Derby, at Knowsley, Lancashire, En-
gland. This gentleman was the grand
father of the present distinguished
statesman, and father of the late and
more famous man, Macaulay's Cru
pert of Debate" The geological col
lection was fostered and sustained with
wonderful care and at large annual
o utlay. Emissaries were employed in
all parts of the world to procure rare
specimens, and so perfect were the ar
rangements for their reception at
Knowsley that the animals seemed to
forget utterly their lost liberty when
the rather eccentric Earl became their
possessor.
Among this varied and valuable col
lection was magnificent specimen Of
the orang-outang, or cynocphalus. Its
height when standing erect was nearly
five feet six inches; its limbs were en-
ormous, and its breadth across the
shoulders indicated prodigious strength.
Long, course, black hair covered its
huge frame from head to foot, and
when anything occurred to excite its
ill-temper its features became terribly
fierce and repulsive,
Not far from the Earl's bea utifu
residence there dwelt at that time q
well-to-do farmer whe had acted for
some years as one of the assistant stew>
ards to Lord Derby. He had recently
become a widower, his wife having
died in her confinement. The farmers
household consisted of himself, the
baby aged four months, and an old woN
man who did general duty as nurse and
housekeeper. The house occupied a
lonely position, there being no other
dwelling within half mile or so, and
a long and severe winter had set in,
covering the entire country round about
with carpet of snow.
One dark and memorable night the
widowed farmer had retired to rest,
having partaken of his supper, in his
bedroom on account of the comfortable
fiie which the chamber boasted, and be-
cause 1t was his custom to have his
child's cradle in that room. Whenever
the nurse was required at nighttime
the father rang bell which communi
Gated with her apartment Immediately
above, access to which was obtained by
a narrow flight of stairs, On the night
in question the young infant lay in
blissful uncorsciousness it its warm
cot near the cheerful fire, and the faith.
er lying in bed "between sleep and
wake" Presently he heard his cham
Der door open slowly, and he reused
himself slightly to see what the faith
fu! old nurse required, for he conclu-
ded it was she who was about to enter.
But she did not enter. The door re-
mained open, and the farmer was on
the eve of speaking softly to the nurse,
when, gently and with a cautious, nois-
less tread, the monstrous orang ,out
ang gllded into the room. The farmer
sank back in his bed dismayed, and his
dismay probably saved his life, for the
visitor--a fitting envoy from "Night's
plutonian shore"--continued to be ig-
norant of his presence, The creature
then proceeded to the neighborhood OF
the FIRE place, near which in its cradle
the child lay, happily unaware of the
grisly intruder's extence. The bright
flames il the old dark wainscoted
chamber gave it a rich Rembrandt
touch. On small table were the re.
mains of the farmers supper, which
; had consisted of a fowl. These the
animal deserted, and for few minute.
they afforded it considerable interest
its thoughts and reflections being seem.
, ingly concentrated upon the anatomica
! arrangements or the deceased bird.
After toying with the bones and 9th
er remnants of the repast the brute'
attention was suddenly attracted to th,
cradle. To walk nearly erect was tn,
! normal habit of this ill.favored beast
|, He quietly approached the sleeping
: child and squatted down at its side. 1
1 is probable that among the select visl.
tors TO Lord Derby's museum the ba,
1 boon had never seen an infant anywa,
so frall and young. The sight wa
therefore very novel, and he gazed up
: on the unconscious creature with mani
Tested interest as he removed the COW
erlet from its sleeping form. The faith
: er, from out of the curtains of his bed
beheld the entire proceedings with in
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