Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-02-19

Ho< Ell was lion keeper in Il
travelling menagerie, and Martins first
plaything was lion cub. When the
boy was twenty-One years old his faith
er left the menaGerie, and Martin
stepped into his place.
TO Martin as boy and man lions were
as familiar as brothers and sisters are
erie well; but the constant travelling
began to wear upon him, and long be:
fore he was gray he sought and Sc
cured employment from the Royal Zoo
logical Society, of London.
He's the best lion man in England"
the superintendent of the gardens
once said.
For fifteen years Riley kept his place
and remained whole, although lie bad
often been attacked in the cages, and
once he thought the end had surely
come when ferocious lioness, lately
deprived of her babies, struck him
over the ear with her open paw.
1t was i'll June, two years ago, that
Riley had his most dangerous and cur
iOus adventure. One afternoon, after
carrying great pals Of water up to
the lion house to battle some Of the
beasts, he set the two pals down at
the door Of the long, low building and
entered, to be greeted by roars from Il
Few OF the ten cages ranged along the
wall upon the right. The cages were
exactly similar, and at the back of each
was a sliding door leading to an ell
closure, where Riley usually turned
loose any animal that he wished to
battle.
He crept along the iron railing which
is i'll front of the cages and walked
the length of the building close to the
bars, scrutinizing the beasts behind
and now and again stopping for word
with one or another
Thus he went on TO the last cage
behind the bars Of which Stalked back
and forth two immense male lions. As
the voice of the man outside fell upon
their ears they stopped in their prom
roared. Then Jupiter. one Of the
beasts. advanced to the front of the
cage. and raising Il forepaw lightly
from the floor. thrust it out between
the bars. Riley seized that paw in
both hands and shook it violently. The
other lion glared upon this display Of
friendship from dark corner at the
back. His eyes glowed il the half
light like two Goals.
And how are you, Jupiter. old boy?"
asked Riley The answer was a roar
that might be termed mild for 10 Ril-
ey's experienced ear it bore no rote OF
anger. In fact, Jupiter ever since his
cub days. had always shown remarka-
bic fondness for the keeper.
I'm thinkin' ye need Il bath, Jupi-
ter" said Riley.
Another roar was the answer.
well, then, You shall have it. And
there's Jim glowering with jealousy
at us. He shall have bath, too We
Shall both get it in about two minutes"
The keeper went back to the door of
the building. where he had left his
pals; picking them up, he shambled
along the path at the rear Of the lion
house until he reached the iron enclCs-
ure, which was Just behind the cage
occupied by Jupiter and bis cOmpan-
lou. There he stopped Drawing q
bunch OF keys from his coat pocket. he
selected one. and fitted it to the pad
lock on the door. Throwing back the
heavy screen upon its creaking hinges.
he lifted both pals inside the inclos-
ure, and then clambered mp on the CO.
ment floor himself, shutting the gate
after him, and slipping an iron bar
through the heavy cleats to hold it
shut
Merrily whistling MARY of Athlone,"
Riley shuffied over to corner of the
enclosure, and put down the pals. \
roar came from the inner cage.
Now don't you get excited" said the |
keeper, as he crossed over to the door |
connecting the cage with the enclos-
IRE. I'll be there in minute"
AS he spoke he released the sliding |
panel by removing a peg: it went UP I
automatically. being raised by the |
weights attached to chains running
over blocks at the top. here was now
nothing but air between Riley and the
two beasts.
Il guess Ill take you first, jim" he