The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-07-16
ADVENTURE WITH A LION.

aDN FIN UhE WITH A HUN.
 The lion is not by any means loving
 or lovable beast. l have not enjoyed
 the pleasure of personal acquaintance
 with this king of quadrupeds in his na
 tive wilds and solitudes. speak now
 simply from home experimentation
 what have seen of him in geological
 gardens, travelling caravans and menag.
 cries; but, judging from these posts of
 observation, I think have formed a
 tolerably fair estimate of his character
 and disposition. The story of the mouse
 that nibbled the net, set the captive
 monarch free, and earned the latter's
 undying gratitude; with that of An
 drocles, picking out the thorn, and dis.
 covering an old friend years afterwards
 in the fierce animal who had been com.
 missioned to cat him, are all very we'll,
 and pretty and picturesque in their
 way, but these were evidently eXcep.
 tionally good-natufed brutes, and
 modern representative of the genus
 would. l fear, have exhibited far less
 fcruple and made short work of both.
 have always, from a boy, liked to stand within a few inches (the bars be-
 tween us) of one of these majestic creat- ures, and peer into those huge bronze eyes. turned scornfully away with that far-off look as though gazing into the depths of distant forests. I was one day thus interestingly engaged. when a young artist came, with crayons and sketch-book, in the hope of getting q good front view of our tawny friends physiognomy and transferring it after wards to canvas; but the latter, mot in a mood to appreciate the compliment, wheeled deliberately round and sat down with his back to us. Getting tired ofthe sulks, however, by andby he arose and went to quench his thirst at the trough. Nothing could be better" cried the enraptured artist. "I wanted to catch him at that" and he made a splendid picture with few masterly strokes of a little bit of charcoal, held lightly between his finger and thumb.
 On another occasion stood watching y gardens. He had finished his dinner and was lying half asleep in the front of the cage, with his paws crossed and a huge well-polished bone between them. wben a handsome young sailor ap- preached, put his hand coolly through. seized the drowsy captive by the mane, and shook him as one would tame cat. The lion awoke quickly at the insult, and darted forth paw, but pulled the daring youth back by the collar just in
 iIne to save his arm. shall not soon forget the rage of the angry beast be- hind the bars, the lightning flash of his eyes, and the roar he set up at not being able to redress the grievance.
 Let me how shift the scene from Eng land to Q small settlement in upper 100 miles or more north of Lake Ontario, and not far from one of my old hunting grounds.
 Hans Derrick, an enterprising show man, by dint of infinite pains and per had brought up his four car avans of animals into the "bush" on eI- hifition. Being quite new thing in that out-of-the-way part of the world. Derrick's collection drew numbers of people from the neighboring settle ments, and there was full tent of en- thusiastic spectators. a wild-beast per formance being promised as part of the show. Next to the elephant, who claimed the largest share of popular wonder and admiration, the lion called "Gen. Taylor" in compliment to that military hero who was then earn ing laurels in Mexico-enjoyed fair of both. He was prodigious- |y fine specimen, and, except now and then, when something rufIled him Con which occasion he thought nothing of eating a keeper or two), a beast of tol- erably amiabie department and gentle manly manners. was subsequently, | informed that he had bitten off the | head of young girl who was supposed | to be q particular favorite of his. Der rick. though detected little anxiety 'n his countenance at times, was able .o walk into his cage, caress him, and 10 other things that kept the onlook- ,rs' hearts in pleasing state of palpita- tion. Having gone through these everyday feats. he now advanced, whip in hand, and invited any person pres- ent to accompany him into the den and shake it's grim occupant by the paw.
 There was dead silence. No one 
 Will any gentleman come for vard?" repeated Hans. gazing round the sea of faces. "The general is in good humor tonight and receives com. pany."
 still no one accepted his offer. A man got up from his seat, but sat down again suddenly. Two others did the same, their wives seizing them by their jacket skirts.