The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-12

"Hablan ellos Espanol?" said a mu-
sical voice as party Of newspaper
men, n,guided by Manager Van Osten ap-
preached a darkhaired woman on the
Gaiety stage. She was dressed as the
ideal Carmen and displayed the same
Andalusian grace that had charmed
the audience on the stage a few min
utes before. But though her eyes
flashed as brightly and her smile was
as happy as it seemed when apparently
without fear she sang and danced in
the cage with trio of Nubian lions,
it was easy to see that the woman who
stood painting before them felt the ter
rible strain of the few moments that
had been spent in the den of savage
beasts. Thus appeared behind the
scenes the great Adgie, whose thrill
ling act of daring has probably never
been equaled.
''Hablan ellos Espanol?"
Ana she glanced inquiringly at the
visitors. The majority looked blank
while the South Side reporter involun-
tarily murmured "nicht."
"N-no," said Mr.. Van Osten. "there
are no Spaniards in this crowd" An
almond-eyed chorus girl the first to
stray down from the dressing rooms,
Uttered at this remark which seemed
like joke
"Ah, see!" said Adgie i'll broken
English. Speak no Spanish"
And then the fair animal trainer be-
gan to talk in the lingo of the states so
rapidly that at times it was difficult
to follow the thread of the story. Her
explanation Of the habits of the beasts
of prey We're interesting, and narra-
tives of adventure, accompanied by
pantomime that made them more eff
feCtive, were almost as thrilling as the
act in the cage.
A RECENT ADVENTURE.
Tell them about your adventure
with the lion at Dewey theater the 9TH
er day." suggested the manager.
"Ah, yees," she said. Lots of excite
ment. When | least expect the lioness
she catch me by this arm" and Adgie
threw back her sleeve and displayed
the wounds made by the claws of the
beast that had not get entirely healed.
She pin my arm 70 the floor and
ladies in audience scream and faint
as blood dror out. 1t seem as though
my arm you'd come from the what
you call-the socket. But | know
she cannot strike me with the other
paw while i'm such position and | tell nv
attendant To keep away. Then the big
lion he lick the blood and made a nose
like this and sniff the air. BY this time
! am angry and look sol" ILLUSTRATING.
with an expression of fury. "and then
her paws relax; / hit her a blow on the
nose and she sits back and blinks at
me as though stunned while leave the
cage. And it was Trilby too" she said
solroWfully, THE lioness who had
never given me trouble before. But
YOU can never tell what a lion will do. -
Madame Adgie stated that she did
not attempt to train lions except when
they were very young. They soon get
too big TO be trained by a woman The
animals with which she performed
We're trained by her husband. 1t is
useless to attempt to bring up a lion
from a cub and treat them kindly
she explained No matter whether
horn in captivity or out the lion must
always be governed by fear. The lion
knows no love.
COULD GIVE LITTLE HELP.
Adgie stated that in case of an at
tack the outside attendant would be OF
little help. and when one contemplates
the RISK assumed by the determined
woman at each performance, it is sur,
prising that an ordinary constitution
can stand the strain. The only means
of protection is the club which she car
ries. A sharp blow of the club on the
nose Of the lion has a subduing effect
in most cases.
, Adgie knows that some time she may
perhaps fail to use the club in time