Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-04-09


mind was strikingly illustrated at
Cooper & Bailey's stables, Phfladelphis,
where the great London circus was in
Quarters. In the main building, where
most all the animals of the fnehagerie
are kept, was a cage containing five or
six full l-grown Mexican panthers, whose
fierce aspect and savage capers are the
terror Of all who pass through there.
Directly opposite these panthers there is
a cage containing lions, and on either
side of them are cages containing tigers
and leopards. Savage as the tigers and
leopards appear, there is not half the
terror in them for the keepers that there
is in the long, stealthy, cat-like animal,
the Mexican panther. In size they are
auuuL u, iars q full grown Sattor
dog, though their whole appearance is
of the cat order, having. long claws. |
sharp teeth, and eye-balls which, IN |
their anger, gleam and culver like llVld
| fire. These animals at Cooper q
Bailey's, on the day in question, seemed
worse than usual. They had been hght-
ing among themselves until their heaos
approach of any visitor near their cage
thev would spring against the iron graf
ing, with cleaning eyes and exposed
fangs. with force that would shake the
cage from top to bottom, at the same
time thrusting their claws through in
their efforts to clutch the intruders
and bring them within range of their
teeth. To stand off and look at them
would provoke them almost to mad
ness. They would bound against the
grating with a loud and savage scream,
and strike and tear at the iron rods with
|, their claws in q way that would make
the stoutest-hearted visitor fall back
and almost shudder to think OF the con-
sequences should they by any mischance
once oct at large. Even the keepers
themselves, after they had prodded up
the tigers and leopards ard passed close
1 TO their cages in safety, made detour
1 when they came to the panthers, giving
1 them a wide berth. Presently young
e woman. dressed in bloomers and with
!, her hair tightly done up on the top OF
r her head, came along, with a stout whip
in her hand.
! "See," said one of the keepers, " she's
y y going into the cage"
WhatP" exclaimed three or foul
= different voices, amazed.
I "She's going in among the panthers
u she's training them" said the keeper.
q "Surely she won't go in among then
: as they are nowp" said one, while other
II fell hack still further and some hastene(
U away. o1,,
l. TO the cage, whip in hand, and, Will
!. the assistance of the keeper-who wa
IL also her husband-the panthers Wer
y driven back in one end OF the cage
: the man using a long stick, with Tn
l. and of which he ssss~o tfi1lii IN 00ii1 Z %
o, e,,r, ems rams on the nose. After a great des
of Swapping and scuffling among eac
u othar-each animal, every time he wa
a. hit seeming to visit his vengeance fo
e. the blow on his nearest telloW-the
al were all gotten back in the end furthe'
III from the cage door. The man then pre-
ne cepded to unfasten it, his work being Il
20 terrupted frequently by the animal
he some of which would now and thC
up hound out of their corner over the bacl
so of those of their fellows who stood
rs the way and land halfway up the HOT
% of the cage, where they would dra
ST themselves UP in crouching. postur
c, and with ewes of fire and a deep, 10
no whine or growl they would rema
watching him as though only waltll
for him TO get inside to make the fat
spring. The keeper, without SNOWY
the least discomposure, went on WI
we his work until the door was opene
IS The Young woman, who had been stan
is. ing beside him with her whip in ha
len and a pleasant smile on her face, VIII
M out a moments hesitation stepped
de- and the next moment was inside I
bic cage. The moment she got IN there v
'lts the most terrific screaming ana nghtl
er- of any time yet. The partners Wo'
we lump over each other in their eagern
lay to spring upon her, and would sprl
TO halfway up the cage, put 'Wo,
ere ere get no further, being heIo os G
lest by fear. They would tnen sprI
nay upon one another ana teaI e %
ais, others ears and scratch ana ne
ICES tbis being apparently the only me-
the that would satisfy their ferocity. Me
en- time the woman stood perfectly 81
will holding her whip out and speaking
few them in a soothing manner, as thol
1ge; she was pacifying a favorite dog or
ana Gradually the screams and groWls
TWO gan to get lower and lower and the rs
Iull. ING among one another began to ce
lage Still they kept growing and LOOKING
tlng her and showing their teeth ana 81
llet; ping now and then until she had
)ude vanced q step. Then they began
MI. growl again, and one OF them spl
ugh over the Others and got nearest to
What bnt had no sooner alighted than he
din Donncad D mon nv another, and they a
n its began to fight. Then the young wor
local with a bold step, advanced a pace
is thpr and struck one of the animals
only the hut end of her whip, at the s
1t is time scolding him. He sprang bat
ingle the end of the cage among the otl
Il TO while the woman, carelessly lettln!
itful whip fall in harmless position,
omen ceeded to soothe and caress the pal
'SSso's nearest her, pattlng him upon the I
the head and stroking him @ me
until his growls had almost SUBS
and he sullenly allowed himself
H.. petted. winking his eyes and mou'
Chey like a cat, the other panthers mear
y uo. having grouped themselves togeti
lhSlng the end of the cage looked on Will
Jake d len growls. If any advanced she
wn as them a sharp rap on the head al
"L dered them to 90 back, and they oh
~ W snI El1 While she kept petting the one IN
u leel tion she never lost sight OF the o
gop. keeping her eyes on their every ]
,iQl1 H'5iuC ~ ment and being always prepared
lufly the whip on the slightest provoc
Cer l9i Sometimes three or four, as Il
I heeu. Jealous of the other, would sprin
lre Cile ward and approach sullenly, as Il
neais' ll'o9 inviting her to caress them, too
.tlul W she would take one to each hand al
IVA we and stroke them until they became
Is iooo f;ed and quiet, and she seemed as
eating. at noau m,t' "ats Rnt This nacifc Il
-, anu things would not last long. They S
nished. TO 9e IahahS ,ru,. Smo,, ~, tho br;nr of
grSl. az