News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-03-28
THE LION KING.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
OF DRIEsBAcH, THE ANIMAL
TRAINER.
How the Famous Conqueror of Lions
Secumbed to a Demure Country
Lass-His Adventure with Edwin
Forest, the Actor.

A paragraph is going the rounds of
the press to the effect that the marriage
of Herr Driesbach, the famous lion
tanner, with country maiden was
brought about by the young lady daring
to hand the lion king dish of onions at
a hotel table. The paragraph, accord
ing to the Chicago Inter Ocean, is er-
roneous in the main, although the odor-
iferors vegetable mentioned played a
prominent part IN the affair that termi-
mated in the matrimonial event that
made Herr Driesbach benedict. The
marriage took place in the country, and
was rather romantic in its way. The
famous ion-tamer breathed his last not
dozen miles from the marriage altar
at which he became husband, and his
remains were laid at rest in a cemetery
Just beyond the southern suburb of this
city, many residents of whom remember
the grizzled old lion king, who, as late
as half score years or so ago came to
town in veritable 'one-hoss shay"
drawn by spotted horse.
Mrs. Driesbach, the lion tanners
widow, q matronly, dignified lady, who
nearly two score years ago was Miss
Sarah Walters, comfy country school
at Mt. Eaton, at the southeast corner of
the county, is at present the guest of
relatives here, and tells many interest
ing anecdotes that occurred during the
life of her famous husband. She recent
ly related the romance of her marriage
to the lion king One August day in
1850, Driesbach, with his circus, was
travelling over the old Wooster and
o4 10
through Mt Eaton. That little ham,
tavern there became the place of enter
tainment for Driesbach and his COM
pany.
Mrs. Driesbach, then Miss Walters,
was boarder at the hostlery and assist
ed in preparing the meal. Her meeting
with the lion tanner is given in her own
words: "We had taken special pains
to get up a nice meal, and went into
the dining-r room to wait on the tables
Like every other country girl, was on
the lookout for Driesbach of whom l bad
heard as the lion tanner. He came in
and took a seat at the table near where
[ stood Another gentleman, whom /
afterward learned was Gus Hunt, an old
Snowman known as Uncle Gus, who had
been with Driesbach for many years, sat
Mt the side of Driesbach and remarked to
him: We'll, Driesbach, how does this
meal suit You? About everything here,
amt there?' Driesbach surveyed the
table and replied: Yes, about everything
but an onion. I heard him mention
onion and stepped up and inquired ifhe
desired any. He told me he would take
one if fresh. / ran out into the garden
and hastily secured two nice onions,
which took TO him.
1.-The man Hunt then said to him in a |
sort of undertone, which l overheard, !
old fellow, L guess you struck your
match that time Dricsbach looked up
at me and smiled and said, Perhaps
That was all that was said then, but that
evening l spoke to him, casually passing
the compliments of the day. A few
days after he had left 1 received letter
from him asking me to correspond. /
answered the letter, and from that on
we correspondent. Tom Eckcrt, who is
now general manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, WAS post
master Mt Wooster at that time, and
used to tease me about writing to the
lion tanner. But | fooled Mr. Eckert.
Driesbach would send me the route of
his show and / would enclose my letter
in an envelope addressed TO the post
master of the town where the show
would stop. 1t is told that few months
after 1 met Driesbach we were married.
Such was not the case. We were mar
ried in April, 1854, four years after we
first met"
Among the anecdotes related in Dries
bach's unpublished biography is ono dc
scribing how he frightened Edwin For
rest, the actor, and his personal friend.
Forrest was playing ut the old Bowery
in New York, and the entertainments
would close with an exhibition of lions
by Driesbach. Forrest was one day
saying that he had never known fear,
and had never experienced any emotion
of fright. DricSbach made no remark
at the time, but i'll the evening, after the
curtains had fallen, he invited Forrest
home with him. Forrest assented, and
the two, cutcring house, walked n
long distance through many dark pas
sages, and finally Driesbach said, after
opening the door: ''Ihis way, Mr.. For
rest"
The actor followed, and heard a door
locked behind him, and at the same time
he felt something soft rubbing against
his leg. Putting out his hands he
touched what felt like cats back. A
low, rasping growl greeted his ears, and
he saw two fiery cycballs glaring up
at him. "Aie you afraid, Mr.. ForTest!h
asked Driesbach. "Not a bit" replied
Forrest. Dricsbach said something,
and the growl decpcncd and became
hoarser; the back began to arch and the
eyes to shine more ferccly. Forrest
held out for several minutes, but the
SYMPTOMS became so terrifying that he
owned up that he was afraid. He be-
seeched Driesbach to let him out, as he
dared not move finger while lion kept
rubbing against his leg After Forrest
acknowledged that he knew what fear
was and agreed to stand champagne
supper, Driesbach released him.
One incident Dricsbach took delight
in recomting was the time he was in
England, when Queen Victoria spoke
to him, praising his mastery over lions
he had exhibited before her Majesty,
although she did not know she was ad-
dressing Driesbach. The lion tanner
laughingly referred to this as his joke
on Queen Victoria whenever he related
incidents of his career to friends.
The Students Got Even