Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-07-25

out, 1t was convenient uRlClnS- place
between two important centres. There
fore, with the triple object of resting
his horses, holding couple of full
dress rehearsals, and affording the in
habitants treat of a lifetime, he de
cided upon one.day's sojourn. Or
their part, the public in general dis
played due appreciation of his laud
able intentions, and prepared to accord
to show vociferous welcome.
BY ten o'clock two enormous tents,
one circular. the other oblong, were
struggling to maintain their upright
position in the face of pretty stiff
breeze, which threatened every mo-
ment to level them to the ground.
Strings of horses, spotted and speckled
like the patriarch Jacobs kline, were
led down to the river, followed by all
enthusiastic and admiring crowd. The
members of the equestrian troupe
wandered through the town in search
of breakfast; and, Judging by the
roar after roar that came from the
geological section of the show, an
erstwhile king of the forest was clam
curing loudly for his.
The oblong tent was set apart for
the menagerie. Inside, the close,
fetid atmosphere seemed to have a
very drowsy effect upon the solitary
custodian, for he lay stretched face
downwards on pile of straw in the
corner, his head pillowed upon his
arms. The great breadth of back. the
girt and sinewy hardness of his power
tul limbs, proclaimed him to be YER
liable Hercules. He was none other
than the renowned and much.adver.
tised tanner, Signor Petro Farrelli,
otherwise, plain Peter Farrell.
At the further end of the tent stood
a long cage, capable of being divided
into two compartments by means of a
sliding barrier. 1t contained the
lions. Gau1t, skinny, hungry-looking
brutes they were, the bones sticking
out sharply through their tawny hides.
From end to end of the cage they
moped in a ceaseless, monotonous
tramp, like restless spirits that know
no peace. Every minute or so one of
them would rear up his head suddenly
and glare through the bars, as if con.
templating an imaginary crowd, and
then resume his weary round.
The Polar bear seemed to vie with
them as to the extent of ground he
could cover, but the brown specimen
sat upon his launches looking decid-
eddy mournful and out of sorts. Sig.
nor Farelli slept through it all. An
occasional growl or a snarl did not
appear to disturb the quietude of his
slumber. But when the two hyenas
became engaged in a lively discussion
over the thigh-bone of horse. he
raised his massive head and glowed
around the tent with sleepy eyes.
With sudden twist of the body he
rolled over on his back, and for some
minutes lay there contemplating the
canvas overhead. Then he
INDUCED in mighty yawn, shook
and sat upright. In list
less sort of way he plucked straw
from the heap and began toying
with it indolently. His manner was
thoughtful and preoccupied (; 1t almost
seemed as if he had something on his
understanding, perhaps, which had
been suggested to him in his sleep.
Having given the matter, whatever
it was, five minutes grave considera-
ton, he dismissed it with an impatient
"Pshaw!" and sprang to his feet.
Lounging across the tent, he went up
and stood before a cage which con.
tanned the latest addition to the menag-
erie. 1t was black panther, full.
grown specimen of this somewhat rare
known to be the most Zero.
cious of the whole species. Farrelli
had been trying his hand at tanning
the brute; but as yet, though his reck.
less daring often prompted him to
foolhardy feats. he had never ventured
into the cage for more than a second
or two at time.
Striding up and down, with the
stealthy, gliding motion of cat, the
fierce beast kept its head persistently
turned towards the man, and regard
ed him with savage, blinking eyes.
With his face close to the bars, Far
relli watched every movement of the
animal, as if each had significance
which he alone understood. Then he
seemed to drop back into q reverie;
and in this fit of abstraction he com.
inenced striking idly at the panther
with the straw in his hand. .t.'
An hour or so later the tent was
densely packed from end to end.
When Farrelli appeared on the scene,
armed with his short whip, and
boldly up to the lions den,
the hush of awe fell upon tie specta.
tors. He proceeded to lash the cowed
brutes round and round the cage,
made them leap through hoops of fire
and perform other surprising feats,
all of which elected shouts of applause
from the multitude. The display
wound mp with what was designated
"a lion hunt" in which there was a
tremendous flashing and banging Of
pistols, and wild skurry ON the part
Of the beasts to get into the corners.
When 1t was all over, and the tanner
had backed out of the cage, the man.
ager mounted the steps to address the
crowd. He extended cordial invita-.
ton to all present to attend the per-
Torrance that evening, promising
them that, among other marvellous at.
fractions, they would witness an ex-
traordinary aud unique feat of daring
on the part Of the celebrated Signor
Petro Farrelli. He worked upon their
there was scarcely man or
woman in the assembly who did not
resolve to avail themselves of the op.
even If it cost them their
last sixpence.
in the interval, after the animals
had been fed, FarrelIi wandered up
into the deserted tent. aud again ap.
the ca9a of tha hlack nan.