Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11
AN AFFECrIONA1E LION.
His Love for His Keeper and Joy ON Meet
ing Him

His Love for His Keeper and Joy ON Meet
ing Him.
Gerard, the great lion hunter, captur-
ed whelp in the mountains of Jebel
Mezours, Agiers, named it Hubert and
brought it up as he would dog from
puppy hood. After time his huge pet
became to dangerous to go at large,
Gerard, made a present of the animal to
his friend, the DUO d. Aumale, and u
bert travelled to Paris in big cage, be-
moaning his separation from his old
master. The next year Gerard himself
visited Paris on leave of absence from
the army, and went at once to the Jardin
dee Plantes to see his exiled favorite. He
described the interview as follows:
Hubert was lying down, half asleep,
regarding at intervals with half-shut
eyes the persons who were passing and
repassing before him. ALI Of sudden
he raised his head, his tail moved, his
eyes dilated, nervous motion contract
ed the muscles of his face. He had seen
the uniform of the Spshis, but had not
yet recognized his friend. I drew near
or and nearer and, no longer able to re-
strain my emotion, I stretched my hand
out to him through the bars. Without
ceasing bis earnest gaze he applied his
nose to my hand, and drew in knowl-
edge with long breath. At each in
halstion his attitude became more noble
his look more satisfied and affectionate.
Under the uniform that had been so dear
to him he began to recognize the friend
of his heart. I felt that it only needed
q single word to dissipste the doubt.
"Hube1t," said, as I laid my hand
on him-''my old soldierp'
Not another word. With q furious
bound and note of welcome he sprang
against the iron bars, that bent and
trembled with the blow. My friends
fled in terror, calling on me to do the
same. Noble animal! You made the
world tremble even in your ecstacies of
pleasure. Hubert was standing with
bis cheek against the grating, attempt
ing to break down the obs oole that sepa-
rated us, magnificent to behold as he
shook the walls of the building with his
roars of Joy and anger. His enormous
tongue licked the hand that had aban-
doned to his caressee, while with his
paws he gently tried to draw me to him.
If any one tried to come near he fell in
to frenzies Of rage, and when the visitors
fell back to distance he became calm
and caressing as before, handling me
with his huge paws, rubbing against the
bars and licking my hand, while every
gesture and moan told of his joy and
bis love. When I turned to leave him
he shook the gallery with his heart
rending roars; and it was not till I had
gone back to him twenty times and tried
to make him understand that would
come again that succeeded in quitting
the place. After that I came to see my
friend daily, sometimes spending several
hours with him in his cage. But after
while I noticed that he became sad and
and when the keepers alluded |
% his furious agitation every time I left |
him and attributed his worn out changed |
appearance to this cause, I took their
'dvice and made my visits as seldom as
possible. One day, some four months
rom the time of my first meeting with
Tim in Paris, I entered the garden and
ne of the keepers came forward, salut-
ng, and said: 'Don't come any more,
II. Hubert is dead"