The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-04


During the week that interviewed, the
Sicilian performed every day in the
show, instead of two days a week
as had been his custom. Never was
be more calm, graceful and fascinating
in his performances. The evening be,
fore the eventful day he repeated in
pantomime his victory over the lion near
Damascus with so much elegance, pre-
cision and suppleness as to elicit round
after round OF enthusiastic cheers. Oh
course everybody who had seen him play
killing a hon was wild with curiosity to
see him actually fight with real lion.
So, on the following morning, in the
early dawn, the terrace around the lions
pit was crowded with people. For three
days the grand lion had been deprived
Of food in order chat he might be the
more ferocious and terrible. His eyes
shone like two balls of fire, and he in
cessantly dashed his TANKS with his tail
At one moment he would madly roar,
and, in the next, rub himself against the
wall, vainly trying to find a chink be-
tween the stones in which to insert his
claws.
Precisely at the appointed hour, the
princely Bey and his court took the
places that had been reserved for them
on one side of the terrace. The Sicilian
came few steps behind, dressed in his
costume of velvet and silver, and holding
his club in his hand. With his accus-
toned easy and regular step, and nat
urally elegant and dignified bearing, he
advanced in front of the royal party and
made low obeisance to the Bey. The
Prince made some remark to him, to
which he responded with fresh salute;
then he withdrew, and descended the
steps which led to the lions pit.
The crowd was silent. AT the
end of some seconds, the barred
gate of the pit was opened
and gave entrance, not to the brave and
powerful Hercules, but to poor dog
that was thrown toward the ferocious
beast with the intention of still more ex-
citing its ravenous appetite. This I'M
expected act of cruelty drew misses from
the spectators, but they were soon alb
sorbed in watching the behavior of the
dog. When the lion saw the prey that
had been thrown to him, he stood mo-
tionless for q moment; ceased to beat his
TANKS with his tail, growled deeply, and
crouched on the ground, with his paws
extended, his neck stretched out, and
his eyes fixed upon the victim.
The dog, on being thrown into the
pit, ran at once toward a corner of the
wall, as far as possible from the lion,
and, trembling, yet not overcome by
fear, fixed his eyes on the huge beast,
watching, anxiously but intently, his
every motion.
With apparent unconcern, the lion
creepingly advanced toward the dog,
and then, with a sudden movement, he
was upon his feet, and in q second
launched himself into the air But the
dog that same instant bounded in an
opposite direction, so that the lion fell
in the corner, while the dog alighted
where the lion had been.
For a moment the lion seemed very
much surprised at the loss of his
prey; with the dog, the instinct of
self-preservation developed GOODNESS
that even overcame his terror. The
body of the poor animal was all in q
were watchful. Without losing sight of
his enemy, he slowly retreated into the
corner behind him.
Then the lion, scanning his victim
from the corners of his eyes. walked
sideways few steps, and, turning sud-
denly, tried again to pounce with one
bound upon the dog; but the latter
seemed TO anticipate this movement al.
SO, and, in the same second, jumped III
the opposite direction, as before, cross.
ing the lion in the air.
At this the lion became furious, and
lost the calmness that might have insured
him victory, while the courage of the
unfortunate dog won for him the sym
patty of all the spectators.
AS the lion, excited and terrible, was
preparing a new plan OF attack, rope
ending in loop was lowered to the dog
The brave little animal, whose implor
ing looks had been pitiful to look upon
saw the help sent to him, and, fastenine
his teeth and claws into the rope, wa
Immediately drawn up. The lion, per
ceiving this, made a prodigious leap
but the dog was happily beyond his
reach. The poor creature, drawn il
safety to the terrace, at once took fight
and was soon lost to view.
At the moment when the lion threw
himself on the ground of the pit, roar
ing with rage at the escape of Iii
prey, the Sicilian entered, calm ant
firm, superb in his brilliant costume
and with his club in his hand.
At his appearance in the pit, a silence
like death came over the crowd o
spectators. The Hercules walked rapid
ly toward a corner, and, leaning
upon his club, awaited the on
slaught of the lion. who, blinded b,
fury, had not yet perceived his entrance
The waiting was of short duration, 70
the lion. in turning, espied him, and tin
fire that flashed from the eyes OF tn
terrible beast told of savage JOY in find
ing another victim.
Here, however, the animal showed TO
a moment feeling of anxiety; slowly, a
if conscious that he was in the presenc
of powerful adversary, he retreate,
some steps, keeping his fiery eye
all the time on the man. Tn
Sicilian also kept his keen gaz
on the lion, and, with his body shghtl
inclined forward, marked every altera
ton of position. Between the two al
versaries, it was easy to see that fear wa