The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-11-01
NINE. AUGUsTE'S LION.
mo. Times Translation from Horace Berlin

poplars of the village of LIE Cours, not
very far from the church. On either
side OF the entrance there was fiaring
painting representing lions of enormous
size, with open jaws and waving names
rising upon their hind legs as though
seeking to devour the spectators. The
peasants, especially the women, felt
cold chills run down their backs; and
in spite OF the pressing appeals of the
doorkeeper, no one dared for long
time to enter the interior.
At last when the tax-co1lector-who
was an ex-oficer of zouaves-made up
his mind to cross the threshold of the
menagerie, some of the villagers sum-
moned up courage enough to follow
him.
A boy moved back sliding partition
in the cage, and poked big iron pitch
fork between the bars. Then lion
was seen to rise up painfully--an aged
lion, aE broken down and worn out-a
blear-eyed lion, whose fur was meagre
and filthy, and whose tail vas all raw,
excoriated, scabby. When he yawned,
only a few stumps of teeth were visible
in his jaws. Madame Auguste drew
a curtain aside, and introduced herself
to the public. She had thin face
SCARED with smallpox, and nose like
an eagles beak. Her faded velvet
bodice and tights speckled with grease
spots, nevertheless excited the admira-
ton of the country people. She
entered the cage, brandishing whip.
The lion uttered feeble roar. There
was timid shrinking toward the door
way on the part of the. ..spectators-and
some of the peasant women even had
one foot on the street. A little girl
sobbed with terror, and pulled at her
mothers dress.
Madame Auguste, however, fogged
the old lion; and the animal finally re-
signed himself to the duty of leaping
over bar; but only to lie down again
Immediately at the further end of his
cage. Then the lion-tamer crouched
down before the animal, and, opening
his mouth, thrust her pitted face again
against his jaws. All the spectators
uttered cry of horror, and the women
rushed out in alright, communicating
their panic to the whole crowd of
urchins gathered at the door, A few of
the men, seeing that the tax-collector
merely shrugged his shoulders, held
their ground. Madame Auguste then
arose with smile, and the performance
was over.
AS they went out the country folks
discussed the wonderful courage of the
lion tanner; and continued to ask one
another whether the bars of the cage
were really strong enough.
The tax-collector was the only one
who had hard word for the lion, when
they talked the thing over among his
own circle. Hes limp as an old to-
bacco-quid," said he to the notary and
the druggist; "Pve seen a very differ
ent kind of lions in the province Of Con-
stantine!"
Three o'clock had just struck. The
men of the village were amusing them
selves in various ways; some playing at
| piquet in the tavern, others at ten-pins
on the public road. The women were
hurrying by to disappear within the
doors of the church, where vespers were
commencing. The peal of bells from
the steeple alone broke the silence of
LIE Cours, which soon appeared COM
pletelv deserted. Behind the canvas
booths thin column of smoke was
rising from the roof of the canary
colored wagon, with its shafts in air.
Madame Auguste was cooking In her
travelling car.
| The menagerie was tranquil; +; the old
lion continued to sleep, and the menag-
erie boy had gone to the inn to see
whether Madame Auguste's horse and
mule had received their peck of oats.
But after little while, the lion
teased and harassed by flies, opened
one eye, moved his tail, and rubbed his
head against the bars. Forthwith the
barred door by which Madame Auguste
had entered the cage moved upon its
hinges, and stood ajar. It had not
been properly secured, and nobody
had observed the fact--not even the
lion, who had lain down more content
edly than usual after the departure Of
his mistress. The captive pushed his
muzzle against the door, looked before
him, and after a moments hesitation
leaped into the booth. He proceeded
very slowly, very cunningly, and poked
his head through the calico curtains
which concealed the entrance of the
menagerie from the public. LIE Cours
had all the aspect of an uninhabited
place.
The lion stepped into the street and
halted again. Then he RECOMMENDED
his promenade, but very timidly, with
an embarrassed air-as though very
distrustful and supremely suspicious
One would have thought that he hae
already regretted having proceeded 81
far; and every once in awhile he woult
turn his head half-round to look at hi
domicile. Nevertheless he skirted the
church wall, and finally took up his po
sition under the porch, without making
the slightest noise. The church
doors had been left wide open, be
cause of the heat, and within
profound silence reigned, broken onl.
by the outbursts of the preachers voic
from the pulpit, and the mad music o
the crickets from the neighboring trees
The priest had only just commenced hi
sermon; and the peasant women in thei
rows of bottomed chairs, wer
!, either listening or yielding to the drow
siness of the hot day.
It was the beadle who first perceived
the enormous shadow of the lion upol
the wall of the porch. He let his hal
, berd fall to the pavement, and erie
out in voice half-choked by terror
"There's the lon!"
The whole congregation was imme
diately seized with unutterable terror
Chairs and benches were overturned i