Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-06-27
The Lion-Tamer.

travelling circus, iatlShlllS at tliS
predictions of his assistant.
@You may laugh as much as
you please, but some day you
will find / am right, and that
TO your sorrow, though then it
will be too late"
81 have performed with all
the animals for some years, and
never had any difficulty"
"You forget the one at Long
town."
"That didn't amount to much.
/ soon brought them to subjec-
tion."
But the trouble commenced
with this same lioness."
eyes; though it wouldn't
have been so bad ifthose eats OF
hunting leopards not had set up
yell and drawn the black IT,
ger into the affray."
"She has devil of a temper
when it is UPS the most treach
erous beast | ever fed or had any
thing tc do with. | have been
watching her close for a couple ol
days." continued the assistant.
"aud know she is mighty cross
grained. So, depend upon it, you
are going to have trouble"
81 don't see why, more than al
any other time"
"There are times-and yor
k now if, if You will only reflect
and this is one of them. If
was in your place | wouldn't try
to show off to-day with any ex-
tras, but just give common per-
Torrance and get out of the cage
as quick as | could. "
"You know what we advertise
and what crowd has gathered.
"Yes," with a laugh; "and
know we never have or do one
half there is in the bills Paper
is cheap, Joe, but human life ii
precious, Think how poorly off
you would leave your wife and
child if any thing should happer
to you, and what would become
of your wife If any thing -shoult
happen TO the childi"
t.Do not mention It,
The man who had handled ant
tanned and toyed with the savage
beasts as if they had been harm.
less kittens groaned aloud at the
thought. A man of the most ar
dent, even passionate, nature, hC
bowed down in worship TO his wife
and little girl. And that day i
had been advertised that he woulC
take his child and a rail Of blooC
into the cage with him.
1t was very daring, foolhardy
project at the best; but how mucl
more SO when the beasts wer
doubly and savage out Of temper
when the slightest thing NIGH
arouse them to all their pristin'
fury. and the fierce blood of th'
wilderness assert itself in all it
tempestuous wrath.
But the huskandly and fatherl,
emotion was soen conquered
The habit of years and his nat
ural strength gave him self-reli
ance; and it would take more thar
idle words to turn him from hi
purpose, no matter how danger
Gus it might appear TO others. II
this must be added the esprit d
corps that would make him TAX
the most desperate chances befor'
having even the shadow OF COW
ardice attached to his name.
Still, he could not help think
ing more deep, perhaps, that eve
before. Was there in reality any
danger? He could not convine'
himself of it, argue the matter a
he would.
The old lion in the cage, thrugl
monster in size, was inoffensive
tame and obedient. In the Ian
guage ofthe keepers, he was ''goo
for nothing but to make a sho'
and set back in the corner, grim
his teeth and growl." Besides, h
was friend, and upon more tha
one occasion had acted the par
of o peace maker. The leopard
! "a pair cf spotted cheetahs-
were scarcely to be taken into cor
! sidration. The black tiger, tn
: ! most rare and strikingly beautiir
d animal 10 any collection, was o.
dinarily quiet. though when full
aroused not to be trifled with.
}. But the lioness was the especia
: one to be dreaded and watched
A She was a beast of uncommo
$ power, with massive arms, Ion.
curving claws, tail 1.-THE and lie
: vous as a serpent, teeth sharp I
s needles, fiexile, treacherou
smooth, tawny skin and yello
S eyes that ever flashed fiercel,
Never, even in her best moods, ha
she been submissive, and her milk
est play was rough in the extrem
The lioD-tamer turned from b
companion to 60 and dress for b
attractive but dangerous pertorr
ance; but before doing so he Wis
ted the double cage, and made
critical examination Of the beast
who any instant might be to hiI
as fate. There was nothing 10 Z