The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-06-11
7 ' : 4 - " :" I u
Selfrt Stury.
THE LloN-TAMER.

I.,-.--..--.,-.
THE LloN-TAMER.
"That lioness will be the death Of you
yet, joe"
"Pshaw !' said Joe Amberly, "the
Lion.tamer" of large travelling circus,
laughing at the predictions Of his assist
ant. y F,aa<~-.e..,,.,,si,.,.,, ...-....,, y.
"You may laugh as much as you
please, but some day you will find am
right, and that to your sorrow, though
thenit will be tooelate" @ ar2ga
"I have performed with all the animals
for some years, and never had any diff
culty..' pc s.r-'9 .ee u.
E"You forget the one at 1ongtown."
sssThat- didn't araopas 10 much. soon
brought them TO subjection,' - +
"But the trouble commenced with this
same lioness.n l5esa w; ssse. ~s,-s
though it wouldn't have been
SO bad if those cats of hunting leopards
had not set up q yell and drawn the black
tiger into the affray." fa@ : uas' e s'a
''She has devil OF a temper when It
| is up--is the most treacherous beast
ever fed or had anything to do with; I
havebeen watching her close for q couple
of days." continued the assistant, 'sand
know she is mighty eross.grsined. So,
depend upon it, you are going to have
trouble" s'H' q
81 don't see Why, more than at any
other time," s.sq,sas5.ss a.,.
"There are times-and you know it il
youfwill only reaect-and this is one oil
them. If I was in your place wouldn't
try to show off to-day with any extras,
but just give common performance end
get out Of the cage as quick as / could
"You know what we advertise, and
what q crowd has gathered.
EYES," with laugh; "and know We
never have Or do one-hslf there is in the
bills. Paper is cheap, Joe; bat human
life is precious. Think how poorly of
lyou would leave your wife and child If
! anything should happen to you, and what
would become OF your wife if anything
should happen to the child" Fsa ~
ssDo not mention it." e1 81 .F
The man, who had handled and tanned
and atoyed with the savage beasts as II
they had been harmless kittens groaned
aloud at the thought. A man of the
fmost ardent, even passionate nature, he
bowed down in worship to his wife and
little girl. And that day it had been ad.
vertised that be would take his child and
pail of blood into the cage with him.
| It was q very daring, foolhardy pro.
iject at the best, but much more 60
when the beasts were doubly savage and
out Of temper-when the slightest thing
might arouse them to all their pristine
fury, end the fierce blood Of. the wilder.
ness assert itself III all its tempestuous
wrath. " n,,s-.s, ..-.r,.-.
But the husbandly and fasherly emo
Lion was soon conquered; the habit OF
years and bis natural strength gave him
self-reliance, and it would take more than
idle words to turn him from bis purpose,
no matter how dangerous it might ap.
pear to others. To this must be added
the esprit de corps that would make him
take the most desperate chances before
having even the shadow Of cowaidice
attached to his name, hsT w
Still, he could not help thinking more
deeply, perhaps, than ever before. Was
There in reality any danger2 He could
mot convince himself OF 1t. argue the
matter as he would. =
Theaold lionesin the cage, though .
monster in size.Nas inofensiye, tame and
obedient; in the language Of the keep,
lers, heBwas e'good for nothipg butte
lmakea . show and set back in the corner,
lgrind his teeth. and growl." Besides, be
Twas q. friend. and upon more than one
Occasion had acted the part Of q peace
maker. The leopards-a pair Of spot
tied cheetahs--were scarcely to be taken
tinto consideration; the black tiger, the
most rare and strikingly beautiful anima
lin any collection, was ordinarily quiet
Though when fully aroused not to be tri
LIED with.
| But the lioness was the especial ONT
Ito be dreaded and watched; she wssss {
beast Of uncommon power, with massive
larms, long, cnrving claws, tail 1.-THE anl
nervous as q serpent, teeth sharp IS nee
ldles, ,fexile, treacherous, smooth, tawny
lskin and yellow .eyes that ever flashed
lfercely. Never, even in her best moods
had she been submissive, and her mild
Test play was rough in the extreme. s
II The lion.tamer turned from his com
Ipanion to, 90 and dress for his attractive
but dangerous performance; but befor
1dolng SO he visited the double cage anl
made q critical examination Of tn
/ beasts, who at any instant might be t.
i him as fate. There was nothing to es
pecially waken fear and, half-vexed wit
4 himself for having being neediessly dis
!. turbed, he passed from the great canva
4 into a smaller compartment, and foun
!, his wife and child waiting for him-th
one young and beautiful woman, an
the other q very fairy of a child, who's
hair hung down upon her back, as th
brightest and finest Of spun silk
Il am sorry, Joe,'''s said the wife an
mother as her husband entered, 9Th.
!. you have consented to so foolish pei
formance as the one advertised for te
day" '9 ~ 7as1' bzs fo:dv- fssH
4 sWhy, May7'' and he looked mo-
earnestly at her: ;eos ioi 'ilo5 D
!, "Because the ordinary performance
hazardous enough" "aT-.fiIg
I "Then you think this more 80 2"
i Il don't know that it is," she replies
having the utmost confidence in her hn
!, bands ability; "but somehow don't 9
|. together fancy having Inez taken int
J the cage"
."You know, my reason for consentinl
and that it would never have been give
had your assent not FIRST been obtained
certainly, and it was very good
you, Joe.''4sqs'E Is .&es'o e5ss
!, "That it was promised on account
my salary being raised.". ee4''fs q
!, eyes" rus t"'.i+ea ss ''s-
aAnd tha. is was to secure the rise
salary, 90 as the sooner to accumula
: enough to buy q little home against tt
rainy days that may come."' gear
"Yes, my dear Joe; butt with a asmil
s'hadl not pride something to. do with il
4 That's the curse of the profession; eat
. one is always trying to outdo the othe