Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-02
Yf@istellameuns &eading.

Sicilian athlete of RlnaldOs circus excited
general admiration by his manly beauty and
feats of strength. He was in the habit of
overcoming lion during the performance,
which, however, was trained to succumb. The
Bey of Tunis, hearing of this, sent him an
offer of thousand ducats if he would kill a
lion which he possessed. The proposal was
accepted, and on the day appointed the Bey
had large company gathered around the pit
where the lion was kept.
The beast had been there three days with
out food, and was furious. The iron door of
the pit opened, but instead of the athlete, q
trembling dog was thrown forward, which
timidly took refuge in corner. The lion,
who was at distance, turned in surprise at
the humble intruder. His tail ceased to lash
his side, his roars ceased, and he sat, with
paws extended, contemplating his victim.
Propelling himself forward upon his belly,
he finally made spring. The dog, however,
who had watched him with vigilant eye,
sprang in the opposite direction.
The lion seemed astonished at missing his
prey, but after rolling over few times, made
another jump which was also avoided. Pity
for the dog induced the Bey to order cord
to be lowered for him, and while the lion was
gyrating preparatory to a renewed spring, the
dog intelligently seized the cord with bis teeth
and was drawn up As he assembled, the lion
sprang again, but was too late. At this mo.
ment the Sicilan appeared, calm and fearless.
He was in rich circus costume, and carried
heavy mace. He took his position in the
corner previously occupied by the dog. At
first the lion did not perceive him, but, on
turning, his eyes expressed vague inquietude.
He slowly withdrew few steps, watching his
enemy with furtive and sidelong glance.
The Sicilian, on the contrary, looked straight
in his eve and watched every movement. The
lion evidently had misgivings, but impelled
by hunger, sprang upon the man with terri
BILE roar.
The Sicilian slipped aside with agility,
and before the paws of the lion touched the
ground, violent blow from the mace upon
the head laid him insensible. The mace was
raised for the death blow, when the Bey inter-
posed. He offered the man another thousand
for the life of the beast. 1t was accepted,
and the lion was allowed to recover. :.
MOURNING IN FRANCE.-As regards mourn
ing, says a writer in Appletons Journal, the
French are far more sensible than are we.
The rules of bowed shutters, and of wool and
Grape habiliments of the hue of outer dark
ness, donned for an indefinite length of time,
would appear absurd to this peculiarly inteli-
gent nation. Their rules on this head are
extremely precise, each shade and style Of
mourning being severely regulated. A widow
must wear mourning for two years. She must
wear black woollen stuffs, with collar, cuffs
and veil of Grape, for one year she must not
creper or friz her hair, and she must wear a
cap in the house during that period. At the
end of one year she can wear black silk trim
med with black lace this not very oppressive
custom is de rigueur for six months. During
the following six months all shades of violet,
gray aud lilac are permissible, after which,
her two.years' mourning having expired, she
can dress as she pleases. The mourning for
a parent or child is to be worn for one year
six months of Grape and bombazine, three
months of black silk and lace, and three
months of grays and puppies. For grand
parent the rule is six months, and for broth.
er or sister four months. the half of which
period only is to be passed in black stuff and
Grape In deep mourning it is not considered
proper to wear kid gloves, cloth gloves being
considered appropriate; nor is any ornament,
even of dulled jet or Berlin iron, admissible.
When the head of family dies, the servants
are put in mourning as we'll as the relatives.
Each servant receives from the heirs two COM
plete toilets, one for everyday wear, and one
for Sundays. Children under twelve years of
age are never put in mourning Abstention
from society or worldly pleasures is marked
by the duration of the deep mourning only /;
that is to say, for one year after the death of
a husband or wife, six months after that of q
child or parent etc. 1t might seem, to our
exaggerated American notions of mourning
formalities, from the above rules, that the
French lacked affection as signally in all re-
lations of life as they do in the marital one.
Such, however, is not the case. The tie be-
tween parent and child is peculiarly close
and touching one among them. Not lack
of affection, but plenitude ofsense, has die
tated the French regulations as regards
mourning.
The LAUGHING ScHooL-Muggins is res
ponsible for the following: Young Pilkins,
who had just graduated from medical col
lege, determined to strike out in different
field from any that had been trod before. He
had read that laughter had been known to
cure desperate diseases, and his plan was to
establish the laughing school of medicine.
Novel idea, wasn't it? But, unfortunately
for the success of Pilkins' practice, he had
very queer ideas about what makes person
laugh He was called to prescribe for man
who had the rheumatism, and he endeavored
to divert him by telling about the cases he
had known of men being crippled for life by
the disorder, ending with an amusing descrip-
ton Of man whom rheumatism doubled up
in the form of circle, until he died, and
they had to bury him in an enormous cheese
box. To the surprise of young Pilkins the
man never smiled once, although it was