The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-04-17
The Talking Bear.

ceived q great crowd Of men, WOmen
and children coming from the other
end of the village and in the midst of
them black bear led by 4 keeper
The latter wore a large white reding
ote, in which he was able to wrau
himself twice; a very short vest snd
pantaloons, the worse for wear. HE
boots stood in want of repair, and hEs
gray hat had for a long time lacked
part Of it's brim. Beside him walked q
hungry looking lad. dressed in wh7feS
playing a large fageolet and beating S
tar,bour:ne.
Arrived before the Red Lion. the
only hcstelry in the village, the
mountebank. paused. He made a cir
Gle about him and ordered his bear to
stand upright. Then, t1ourislling his
baton over the head Of the animal, he
began to dance with him, taking steps
and poses which the bear initiated
one might believe the inha bitants or
Hop1leld were happy, for the crowd
laughed heartily. se.. - (
F. A Ventriloquist, who was stopping a3
the Red Lion. regarded from wiadoe
this spectacle of butfoonery Arriving
that morning. he had already had on
Dortun1tles OF recognizing the character
OF the inhabitants Of the place. Ths
idea, therefore. occurred to him OF
amusing himself at their expense -
He descended among the Spectators.
and, profting by a moment when ths.
fageolet and tambourine were silent
he approached the ,nountebanx.
''No doubt your bear can talkso In
said to him. 80 Il
The man regarded him fixedly,.
shrugged his shoulders and. replied.
Drusquely. -. .-.
Question him, and you will EnH
OUT - - ="
This was what the. ventrloqu1st ex-
pected. He made a step toward t1sss
bear and said, in 4 mccking voice.
s YoH dance like a member of aIE
opera company, and compliment xsn.
From what country are you, my gem
tlenany" ES a} @ .,s. - -
r s'I'rom the Alps, Switzerland
l will not attempt to describe the
4dis1nay that seized the crowd They
were all struck with astonishnent and
alright, but the surprise of the bearsE
owner was the greatest Of an Hes
opened hisslarge, dull eyes, his cavern
GUS mouth, and remained immOyabTe,
as if his feet were rooted to the SPOT
The: ventriloquist turned toward
him. -. S..-=.-v sE
''Ycur bear speaks very good Eng
lish,' he said. Then to the an1maI@
You appear to be sad?"
''The air of Hopefeld has made me-
splenetic," replied the bear. s.
Here the crowds began to retreat,
and the ventriloqujst continued:
'Have you belonged for some TING
to your master?"o ~.
''Sufciently long to be weary ssf
him. s..
''Is he not kind to your :
''Yes; kind as blacksmith with hts
anvil: sre $ mr. - ~, a. .
Would you like to revenge yoursah
upon him?" - Z a.-
Zone of these days I will eat him, aH
one eats breakfast n -
At these words the affrighted Crowd
retreated still further The dis mayed {
keeper wished to draw the bear sgaIH:
to him, but the animal, tired of wait.
ing, uttered a surly growl The ven
trilonuist stayed no longer, but turned
away and took his course toward Tine
inn.3 The crowd initiated him, and
rapidly dispersed.
The ventriloquist, having reached the
door Of the Red Lion, looked back anR
laughed at the fugitives; while the ER-
conscious cause Of all this disorder
TRANQUILITY seated in the road, seemed
to throw a careless and philosophical
glance upon the terror he had 9ccn-
stoned. ..s
Il The same evening the ventrilouuisf
met some of the villagers, who had
gathered at the inn to discuss the
mornings adventure, with many ann.
plifications and comments, as waR
their amiable custom. He thought the
joke had been carried far enough.
and 1aughingly explained how the
trick had been done. They listened AT
tentiyely, but when he had ended the.
older men shook their heads with ana.
air Of incredulity.
q. This is very well to tell the chill
dren, said Grandfather Gritty, t'buR
we are persons of experience. It ls
not the first time that animals have
spoken, for one remembers Balaam,E
ass. Besides, the almanac predicted
this event in announcing that in mid
August, three days before or three
days after, a marvellous thing Wou1ds
transpire in the world
The yentriloquist insisted and wished
to give proof of what he advanced; buk
the crowd departed with Suspicion.
persuaded that he wished to deceive
them. $50
The innkeepeE who had observed an
with a Watchful eye and a Z. ocking
smile, approached the discounted ven
triloauist.
Milford, 2 he said, .sdo not be astoB-
ished at what has happened R0-
nance is always more welcome to the
crowd than reality. You wished To-
jest with these rustics, but they have
taken the joke in earnest Nothing
will now convince the Inhabitants OF
Hopfeld, who love the marvellous, THAI
the bear has not spoken. This proves
one thing. We should beware of cirru
lating q story which is false. It is ;.
easier to ind believers in the most m,
srrd or mischievous statement than
to convince a certain order OF people
Of the simple, harmless truth. z
change.