The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-07-19
THE GOVERNOR
AND THE BEAR,

pected meeting, the town council
lors of Sydney City assembled IL
the senate hall. Sydney City IL
one of the quetest and most peace
ful communities in India. Moth
ingunexpected ever happens there
and the days pass in serene monot
ony. This may help to explain the
tumultuous emotions of the
worthy councillors on this occa
sion.
Arriving at the hall, they
hastened to ask what was the mat
ter. Had any terrible catastrophe
occurred? Had the police discov
cred some new and horrible crime
The eager questions flew from one
side of the room to the other, but
to no purpose. No one knew any
thing about the matter.
Finally, to their great relief, a
bell rang, the door opened and the
president of the council, the ven
cradle Rajah Por, appeared. But
alas! the uneasiness felt by his col
leagues was only too clearly
stamped upon his own face. He
looked haggard and worn.
Taking his seat, Rajah Por be-
gan, in a cavernous voice:
''The ancients, our masters in
the noble art of learning"
The president was well-in-
structed man, but he had selected
a poor time to air his erudition.
From all sides of the hall came low
murmurs.
Tell us the reason of our as
sembling. What has happened?"
The president bowed graciously.
"Very well, then, gentlemen.
This is the reason of your presence
here now. You know that his ex-
cellency, the governor, is about to
honor Sydney City with visit for
the first time. / do not hesitate to
say that we have done all in our
power to prepare a magnificent
and worthy reception for him.
Who could have foreseen what has
actually occurred?
'This morning ] received tel
egram from his excellency. 1t con
tanned these simple words: 'Ar-
rive tomorrow morning early for
bear hunt"
The councillors gave one low,
simultaneous groan. There is one
Indispensable condition for bear
hunt. There must be bear. And
hunting for bears in the pleasant
forest around Sydney City would
be like fishing for crocodiles in the
Atlantic ocean!
"We are ready for discussion"
said the president, as a horror
stricken silence fell upon the room.
81 entreat you all to show the
greatest calm. Do not all talk at
once"
He might better have said: "DO
not all be silent at once" for no
one said a word. The president in.
sisted.
"Some one must say something.
Kaschemir Kousch, you are a clev.
or man; what in your opinion is the
best thing TO be dOne?"
Kaschemir-Kousch ventured the
opinion that the best thing to do
was to tell his cxcellency that, as
there were no bears in Sydney
City, it would become necessary
for him to postpone his hunt.
This proposition was immedi.
ately voted down. II the governor
wanted a bear, n bear must be pro.
cured. 1t would be highly imper-
tinent to suggest to his excellency
that he was but poorly informed
of the fauna of one of his own
cities.
"Rahma-Dou, what have you to
say?" asked the president.
Rahma-Dou suggested weakly
that mechanical bear might be
made which would answer the |
There was no time for
this, however, and the suggestion
was passed by.
"Surah-M MabOul, have you any
advice to Offer?" continued the |
president, in a voice that sounded |
almost i'm ploring.
Surah- Maboul was silent for o
moment, and then a brilliant In
seized him. Why should |
not bear skin be borrowed some.
where and one of the councillors
dress mp in 1t and enact an appro-
pirate pant0mime?
Thispidea was received with
much applause until one of the
members remarked plaintiyely:
"Rut his exeellency would shoot