Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-11
continued the speaker, "and under
the able tutelage Of Franconelli, the
best lion-tamer ever saw, and who,
NV fba WOW suhsanuantlv met hia

Dy tue way, subsequently meb HIS
death in q lions den in the city of
Havana. After having twice accom-
panied the fearless Franconelli into
the den of Richard III, the largest
and fiercest African lion ever exhibited
in this country, it was at Vincennes.
Ind, that / at length determined to
enter the den OF the beast alone. Clad
in tinsel and spangles, at the after.
noon performance, amid an outburst
of music by the band, boldly ap-
preached the lions cage, opened the
barred door and entered unharmed.
The great brute, which was lying upon
the floor at the further end Of the
cage, seemed to not held my presence
other than by glance of sullen in
difference, so that I deemed my first
attempt at entering lions den sue
cess.
'But my assurance of success was a
lIllIe premature, ana fort~.a&e WOO il
for me that beneath the cage was d
furnace in which glowed red-hot iron
rods and that trusty attendants were
at hand to effectively WELD them upon
the lion if necessity demanded. After
three minutes stay in the lions den
made parting salute to the breath
less audience and prepared to leave
the cage. As 1 backed toward the
door observed to my horror that the
lion had almost imperceptibly risen
from the floor, preparatory to spring,
ing upon me. Almost overcome by
the grave danger of my situation, I
contrived to signal the attendants to
thrust the heated rods in between me
and the bloodthirsty brute. Scarcely
had I done so when the great tawny
creature hurled itself upon me and,
burying its claws in my shoulders,
bore me to the floor.
"I felt the hot breath of the lion in
my face as he opened his huge jaws
preparatory to sinking his fangs in my
throat, and horrible death was but a
brief second distant, when the redhot
irons were brought into play and used
so effectively that the brute was forced
to retreat to the far end OF the cage
without intlictiug further injury upon
me. I was hurriedly drawn from the
cage, none the worse for my thrilling
experience, save badly shaken nerves,
lacerated shoulders and tattered tin
sci jacket. As hurried behind the
curtain the band triumphantly played
See, the Conquering Hero Comes!'
and I noticed that a panic in the audi
ence had been narrowly averted. And
what became OF Richard III? Oh, he
lived to kill Franconelli few months
later. Los Angeles (Cal.) Times.
He Put Out the Flash.
The Rev. Thomas Allen, the first
minister ever settled in the town of
Pittsfield, Mass, was q man renowned
and beloved for his gentleness and
piety. When hostilities between Eng.
land and the colonies were declared,
Pastor Aliens flock was astonished
to hear their mild shepherd announce
his intention to join the militia and
nHi.t f.. ,l.v :oL+.
At the battle of Bennington the
Berkshire militia had their share in
the conflict, and the Rev. Thomas
Allen fought as common soldier, side
by side with his fellow countrymen.
Knowing this good mans natural
aversion to violence and bloodshed,
some one said to him after the battle
was over:
"They say you fought at Benning-
ton, Mr.. Allen. Is it true?"
eyes, I did," answered the man of
God. 1T was a hot, close battle, and
it became every patriot to do his
duty"
"Well, but, Mr.. Allen" said the
parishioner, "did you kill anybody"
"No," replied the courageous but
conscientious clergyman, II don'tknow
that 1 killed anybody; but happened
to notice a frequent flash from be.
hind a certain bush, and every time I
saw that fash one of our men fell. I
took aim1 at the bush and fred. I
don't know that killed anybody, but
I put out that aash!"