The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-15
A STORY ABOUT BEARS
BY DOM PLAT


OF bruin. There is something about the
bear that fascinates a boy. The little
four.year-old, climbing upon our knee,
will call for story about bears, and aft or
hearing the thrilling recital he will get
down behind chair and act the part to
tho mute amazement of h is little sister.
| This interest in the clumsy creature
seems to be as instructive as our horror
OF snakes. My earliest adventure, that
, had disagreeable conseque noes for me,
arose from my personation of a bear.
Arrayed myself in shaggy rug which
afforded me superb concealment, and
solemnly determined to scare sume ono
into fits. That "some one" happened
| TO be old Uncle ShHck's horse Gunpow-
der, 90 called from the difficulty expert
enced in getting him to go off
Now this Uncle Shack was an Ameri-
can citizen of African descent sort OF
com missary attached to our family oead-
quarters. He had become superannuated
at tue age of 40, and devoted the re-
mainder of his colored existence to a
light pursuit of vegetables. At the tim Q
qnainted with bears. Uncle Shack was
ABOUT ~, gray.halred. blear-eved, and
with well-srttled convictions, the most
prominent OF which appeared to be that
boys, as general thing, ought to be
killed. On this occasion, having gath
cred an assortment of vegetables, he stood
up in his crazy vehicle such only as a
negro can devise, and drove slowly to
his doom. His horse had a tradition at
tached to him that at one time in his
past life he had been spirited animal.
Wild stories were ahoat of deeds on the
road that were positively incredible to
she observer. He was, at the time re-
ferred to. living hat rack, with nothing
left of his former activity but an sccen-
trio movement in bis right leg, that came
OF the striny halt, and, while the animal
seemed to be moving with the solemnlty
of a funeral, this leg continued the IA
nous old trot Of the road.
When directly opposite my ambush
moved out. with head covered, on my
hands and skness, growing in approved
bear fashion. Gunpowder at first seemed
lost In smazement. He stopped abruptly,
stared. and then. as l approached making
hideous noises, he gave fierce snort,
and actually broke into gallop. Uncle
Shack attempted TO arrest this by wild or
ders OF "Whoa! whoaG' and drafts upon
the reins. These last we're old and de-
cayed; in the midst of the effort they
snapped, and the aged African came
down in sitting position upon his vege-
tables.
The fates then took command. From
the gate to a bridge below the mill the
road was descending. Along this | saw
and heard the doomed vehicle roll and
rattle. The race was not swift, but 1T
was portentOus in its noise and grave IN
its consequences. The wild horse OF the
vegetable garden. uDguided, missed the
wooden structure, and l saw wagon, rider,
horse and all disappear down a dreadful
abyss of six feet. Then followed silence
fearful in its contrast to the late upr0ar.
The wagon. horse and man. so full OF
vigorous life and sense, seemed to drop
through hole and vanish from the
earth.
With that diplomatic ability that has
since distinguished me, l ran into the
house. replaced the rug, and was among
the first to give the alarm. Indeed, no
proof could be adduced that had been
guilty OF this outrage on bears and Afri-
cans, but WAS subsequently thrashed
on presumption.
The vehicular convenience for vegeta-
bles was fished out. The horse disd como
after from over exertion, and Uncle Shack
survived the shook only twenty years.
He dated from that event, his decline and
death, and, retiring from business, ex-
listed on the charity of the family and
detailed account of the dreadful affair.
Looked ut from an intellectual point OF
view, Bruin can scarcely be considered
success. lie lacks the keen instinct OF
the dog and the ponderous sagacity OF
VIC tlSpudUt. I16 has uO 1ousc VI luu III
his position. He is as serious as an
ass, and fur more stupid. Numerous
stories were told us in early youth touch
ing this lack of common sense, such, for
example, al that Of the man in the wilds
OF the west who was experimenting a
sawmill. While sitting upon the log that
was beiLg sawed, and eating his frugal
repast, huge black bear suddenly
bounced in and invited himself to dinner.
The proprietor politely withdre W ,clam
bering into the rafters a. Dove, while Bruin
took his place upon the .og and continu-
ed the meal. In few seconds the ap
preaching saw touched the rump of the
rasped him, and he resented the indignity
with growl. The third time he turned
furiously and Rugged the saw. Then II
contest ensued that was very lively but
exceedingly brief. At the end the modest
sawyer descended to find remnant of
his dinner and considerable bear meat.
Again, We were assuerd that the com.
mon way of killing bears in Hardin for
ests was to suspend log by grapevine
to bee tree. Bruin, who is passionate
ly fond of honey. In ascending the trse
wJuld knock the log aside with his paw.
The log returning wonld hit and infnri-
ate the bear, and, a contest arising be-
tween the two, would bring the poor
beast to giref-for the harder he wo lid
strike the more severe would be the re-
bound. Not a pad fable is that to illus
traits The evil which comes to the indi-
vidual who creates strife in his own heart
through hate. envy, malice and all I'M
charitsbleness.
This fondncss for sweets is only equalled
by bruins taste for infant pig. He can
not resist the squeal of the young porker.
and will run his stupid head into all
sorts of traps baited with the living ami
NAL.
There is certain lumpsh activity
about bear that is extremely diverting.
One must not count too positively, how
ever, on mis- lack of dexterity. The late
witty and eccentric Judge Tappan once
had a realizing sense OF this He, with
two or three companions, was boating
on Lake Erie, Teat Sandusky, at an early
day, when they observed . bear swim
island. The parry, armed only WITH an
preached their proposed prey, the Judge
stood with ak in hand, intending to hit
pruin OF the skull. But the animal,
cycling his enemy warily, was prepared,
ana as the ak descended he turned sud-
denly in the water, and with one swift
stroke of his paw sent it flying from the
grasp Uf his foe far into the lake. Then
bruin passed from the defensive to the
vigorous attack, and beagn climbing into
the boat. To take such passenger
aboard was exceedingly unpleasant, and,
armed with oars. the party used due dill.
igence. 1t proved impossible to keep
him ont, but by quick, concei ted action
they succeeded in passing him over into
the water again. The pear returned to
thu charge, and was again tumbled out.