Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-12-19
The Talking Bear.


mencing a pair of stockings. when.
casting a glance outward. she per-
ceived great crowd OF men, women
and children coming fro the other
end OF the village. and in the midst OF
them black hear led by n keeper.
The latter Wore large white redlng
nte. in which he was able 10 wrap
himself twice; very short vest and
paniaioons. tie worse for wear. His
boots stood in want OF repair, and his
gray hat had for a long time lacked
part Of its brim. Beside him walked
hungry. looking lad, dressed in white.
playing large fiageolet and beating
/ tarlhour.ne.
Arrived before the Red Lion, the
Dnly hcstelry in the village. the
nouatcbank paused. He made 4 cir
Gle about him and ordered his bear 10
stand upright. Then, fiourisliIng his
baton over the head of the animal, he
began 10 dance with him, taking steps
and poses which the bear Initiated.
One might believe the Inhabitants Of
IIopheh were happy, for the crowd
laughed heartily.
ycntriloquIst, who was stopping at
de Red Lion, regarded from a widow
this spectacle OF buToonery. Arriving
HAT morning. he had already had OPP
5ortunities OF recognizing tie character
OF tie inhabitants OF the place. The
idea. therefore. occurred 10 him of
amusing himself at their expense.
lie descended among the spectators,
and. proiiting by a moment when the
fagsolet and tambourine were silent,
BE- approached tie nountebanx.
NO doubt your bear CAD TALK" he
said 10 him.
The man regarded him fixedly,
<hrugged his shoulders and replied,
. brusqueiy-
Question him. and you win find
out"
This was what Inc ventrilcquist ex-
pected. He made step toward the
bear and said. In mcckin. voice:
: "Yon dance like n member Of an
. OPEN company. and compliment YOU
: From what country are you, my gen
2 tlcmanH
Prom tire Alps. Switzerland"
!, / VIII not attempt 10 describe tbs
A
! were all struck with astnnish ncnt anC
! alright. but the surprise OF the bears
owner was the greatest Of all III
e opened his large. dull eyes. his cavern
e ona mouth, and remained immoyable
Q as IL his feet were rooted 10 the spot.
d Ghe yentriloquist turned towar'
J. him.
: Your bear speaks very good Eng
Is tIsh." lie said Then 10 the animal
!, lyon appear 10 be sadf'
= THE air or Hopciield has made N
e spIcnetic,- replied the bear.
Here tie crowds began TO retreat
s and the yentrIIoquist continued:
Have you belonged Tor some tim
y 20 your MASTER
% Sufficiently long TO be weary Q
&c him"
lis he not kind to youy'
Ie Yes: kind as a blacksmith with hi
" anvil.
n. Would you like 10 revenge yoursel
re upon himT
y. zone OF these days will eat him, a
"a one cats breakfast"
" At these words the affFighted crow
{. retreated still further. The dis naye
is keei,er wished to draw the bear :gai
Il. 90 him. but the animal, tired Of wal
III ing. uttered surly growl. The vel
nj triioqust stayed no longer. but turne
~ away aud took his course toward IL
1" inn. The crowd initiated him, an
yc rapidly dispersed.
Y. The ycnfriiopnist. having reached u
door OF the Red Lion. looked back an
&c laughed nj the fngitives: while the II
j., conscious cause OF all this disorde
TRANQUILITY seated in the road. seeme
III 10 throw careless and philosoahic
so glance upon the terror he had occ
stoned.
The same evening the yentriloqui
10 met some OF the villagers. who hs
, a gathered ut the inn to discuss u
s." mornings adventure, with many M
Ter Publications. and comments. ms W.
ne their amiable custom. He thought u
i'd Joke had been carried far enoug
and iaughingly explained how 4
TRICK had been done. They listened 8
tpntiyely. but when he had ended q
Older men shook their heads with :
ns air Of incredaliiy.
.sThis is very well to tell the ch
ms drep." said Grandfather 'iritfy, b
a. we are persons of experience. II
not the first time that animals la
~ snolscn. for one remembers BALKAN
nae ass, BESIDES. the almanac predict
~ this event I'm announcing that IN m
~. August. three days before CT thr
m DAYS after. marvellous thing ~ou
transpire In the world
~, ~ The yent-iloquist insisted and wish
~, ~, to give proof of what he advanced: Y
~ the crowd departed with suspicit
~, persuaded that he wished to recei
"a them.
~ The innkceper. who had obs rived
~ with a watchful eye and ocki
'e,, smile, approached the discounted v
~ triloquist.
~ Milford he said, do not he asst.
nv ished at what has happened.
81 nance is always more welcome to
~ crowd than reality. You wished
- ~. fest with these rustics. but they ha
l ~ taken the Joke In earnest. Noth
~. will now convince the Inhabitants
~ ~, Hopfeld, who love the marvellous. q
~, the bear has not spoken. This pro
~. one thing. We should beware OF CIR
',e Iating a story which is falss. II
' ns easier TO find believers In the nest
su surd or mischiesous statement Il
Wy 10 convince a certain order OF 9eo