The Portland daily press., 1899-08-05
ROSA BoNHEUR's LION.
ais Rearing Emcaeious In Preserving
Her Home from Thieves.

Rosa Boneur's studio has for many
years bnen few miles from Parts, at
by on the edge of the forest of Fontaine.
blsau. Her house Is the most Important
in the place, and the spire Ct her studio
tower can be sesn from long distance.
To enter her house tho visitor must have
had some well-detined claim upon her
friendship or acquaintance for she never
liked the stare of the lion-hunter. She
courtei fame and reputn ton, bnt only
through her productions. The grounds
are behind high walls. and ring at the
gate would bring forth Wild hysterical
laugh. followed by soma one shouting ir
high key 1t was the parrot that lived
in tie coraer tower. The hell and the
parrot would start up a lot of dogs of ali
kinds. who came Quito give their vel
come. THESE and magnificenb bull and
a COW, two channels from tie Pyrenoes,
sheep. deer and many other animals
fe,ved her for models. Rosa Bonheur
] sed among her happy family of animals.
She was accustomed to visit menageries
frequently, to paint wild animals behind
the bars. But few years ago, when she
wished to paint picturesof liona, she de-
termired that instead Of going to the
liocs, they should me TO her. SO she
ordered q huge one direct from Africa.
he was shipped to the port Of MarseIl.es
and from there sent y rail to Fontaine-
bieau, and finally the cage came to u
stunastill on e lawn at the back Of Rosa
Bonhsur's house, 1t was strange pei
60 add TO the many In the grounds, and
the neweon er'5 occasional roar was some
what of disturbance to the inmates OF
the house, and created much trembling
in theskennels and stables; but as the
lion was fast behind strong iron bars his
roaring was soon as little noticed as the
parrots chBttering. In thu house human
peinRs recovered fr5m their nervousness;
the dogs in thl yard tarked as before the
strange. voice1 one came among them,
and in the stables the cattle munched
their end without fear of tecoming food
fer the creature from the desert.
But the village psopls heard the lions
voice en- the Other side Of the high chateau
w II and told strange stories of the beast
they heard but cou not see; and as the
popular belief was that he moved about in
the place at will, if there were any wick
ed Ierson who had harbored an intention
o. climbing that wall some dark night he
changed his intention.
One morning Mile. Rosa, having made
study CT the lions head, was trying in
vain 30 put life and expression In the
eyes OF her painting. The animal wou'd
MOI remain in one position, nor would his
eyes turn in one direction. Happily her
.scinating sister-in.law lifted the corner
OF the TENT and looked in. "Dont
novel; exclaimed thu painter; for t Ia
ION had suddenly turned his eyes on the
newcomer with fixed stare. What was
u that attracted the animal in that face :
No one o1rld understand.
AS IL was, the woman stood there In Il Q
eici ming sunlight long time, the great
yellow eyes staring continually at her,
ana the painter working almost breath
iessly, copying the intense expression onto
CANVAS The Lell rang for lunchson and
louIs psssi; but before the brushes were
laid down the eyes in the lions portrait
were tnishe5.--New York Tribune.