Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-23
The Sturp Tel1er.
THE LION TAMER.

"That liouess will be the death of you yet
Joe."
"Pshaw |" and Joe Amberly, "the lion ta
mer" of large travelling circus, laughed al
the predictions Of his assistant.
"You may laugh as much as you please
but some day you will find l am right, and
that to your sorrow, though then it will be
too late.''
II have performed with all the animals fol
some years, and never had any difficulty"
"You forget the one at Longtown."
"That didn't amount to much. l soor
brought them to subjection."
"But the trouble commenced with this same
lioness."
Eyes; though it wouldn't have been so bad
if those cats of hunting leopards had not sci
up yell, and drawn the black tiger into the
ARRAY"
"She has devil of a temper when it is
UPS the most treacherous beast ever fed
or had anything to do with. have been
watching her close for several days." contin
ued the assistant, "and know she is mighty
cross.grained. So, depend upon it, you are
going to have trouble"
81 dom see why, more than at any other
time"
"Ehere are times-and you know it, if you
will only refect-and this is one of them. II
I was in your place, I wouldn't try to show of
to-day with any extras, but just give com
mon performance, and get out of the cage as
quick as l could"
"You know what we advertise, and what a
crowd has gathered2'
eyes," with laugh ; and l know we never
have or do one half there is in the bills. Pa
per is cheap, Joe /; but human life is precious
Think how poorly off you would leave your
wife and child if any thing should happen to
you, and what would become of your wife il
any thing should happen to the child|
"Do not mention it,"
The man who had handled and tanned and
toyed with the savage beasts as if they had
been harmless kittens, groaned aloud at the
thought. A man of the most ardent, even
passionate nature, he bowed down in worship
to his wife and ffrtfe gfrf. And that day !,
had been advertised that he would take bis
child and pail of blood into the cage with
him.
1t was very daring, foolhardy project al
|
beasts were doubly savage and out oftemper-
when the slightest thing might arouse them tc
all their pristine fury, and the fierce blood OF
the wilderness assert itself in all its tempes
tuous wrath.
But the hushandly and fatherly emotion
was soon conquered. The habit of years and
his natural strength gave him sef-reiance
and it would take more than idle words tc
turn him from his purpose, no matter how
dangerous it might appear to others. 10 this
must be added the esprit de corps that would
make him take the most desperate chances
before having even the shadow Of cowardice
attached to his name.
Still he could not help thinking more deep
ly, perhaps, than ever before. Was there in
reality any danger? He could not convince
himself of it, argue the matter as he would.
The old lion in the cage, though monster
in size, was inoffensive, tame and obedient
In the language of the keepers, he was "good
for nothing but to make show and sit back
in the corner, grind his teeth and growl." Be
sides, he was his friend, and upon more than
one occasion had acted the part of a peace
maker. The leopards-a pair of spotted
cheetahs-were scarcely to be taken into con
sideration. The black tiger, the most rare
and strikipgly beautiful animal in any colec
ton, was ordinarily quiet, though when fully
aroused not to be trifled with.
But the lioness was the especial one to be
dreaded and watched. She was beast Of
uncommon power, with massive arms, long
curvng claws, tail 1.-the and nervous as ser
pent, teeth sharp as needles, fexile, treache
rous, smooth, tawny skin and yellow eyes
that ever flashed fercely. Never, even in
her best moods, had she been submissive, and
her mildest play was rough in the extreme
The Lion Tanner turned from his compan-
ion to 20 and dress for his attractive but dan
gerous performance; but before doing so, he
visited the double cage, and made a critical
examination of the beasts, who any instant
might be to him as fate. There was nothing
to especially awaken fear; and, halfvexed
with himself for having been needlessly dis.
turbed, he passed from the great canvas into q
smaller compartment, and found his wife and
child waiting for him-the one young and
beautiful woman, and the other very fairy
of child, whose hair hung down upon hel
back, as the brightest and finest of spun silk
81 am sorry, Joe" said the wife and moth
er, as her husband entered, "that you have
consented to so foolish performance as the
one advertised for to-day.
"Why, May ?" and he looked most earnest
ly at her.
because the ordinary performance is haz
ardous enough"
"Then you think this more so?"
sI don't know that it is" she replied, hav
ing the utmost confidence in her husband {
ability "but somehow | don't altogether
fancy having Inez taken into the cage"
you know my reason for consenting, anc
that it would never have been given had your
assent not been first obtained"
"Certaiuly, and it was very good of you
Joe"
"That it was promised on account of my
salary being raised"
Eyes"
"And that it was to secure the rise of sala
rw. 80 as the sooner to accumulate enough tc
buy a little home against the rainy days thai
may come ,. - ;,h . .ni,e-
chad not pride something to do with 1t
That's the curse of the profession. Each one
is always trying to outdo the other-runnlng
risks on that account they would not other
wise attempt"
"Well, May, only gave my promise to DC
the act once but even now will give itup il
you say the word. I had rather disappolnI
all the managers and be called coward by al
the rabble in the world, than cause your hear
to beat with fear, or to bring tears into your
eyes"