The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-11-23
AN OLD MANURE FAKE.
THE STORY OF ANDROCLUS AND
THE LION.
1t Has Been Preserved For Us in That
Mine of Curious Learning the Attic
Nights" by AuIus Ge'llns-A Tale
of the Circus Maxirnus.


of the Circus Maximus.
Those whose childhood was nonr
ished on "Sandford and Merton will
probably remember the story OF An
droclus and the lion. although they
may have forgotten some of Mr.. Bar
lows edifying dialetic resulting in
variably in the confusion Of Tommy
But even some very poor scholars are
not aware that this famous story mas
been preserved to us in that mine or
curious learning. the Attic Nights
of AuIus Gellius tV., 40. 1t is there
given on the authority of Apion Pleis-
tonices. man famous in his time.
This is how he told the story:
"A great fight with wild beasts was
being exhibited to the people in the
Circus Maximus. Happening to be in
Rome at the time, attended as a
spectator. There were many savage,
many huge beasts, and all were re-
markab!c either for their shape or
ferocity. But it was above all the
monstrous size of the lions that eX-
cited admiration, and, beyond all the
rest of one This particular lion by
his ferocity and dreadful size, by ms
terrific and resounding roar. by his
muscles and his waving name had at
tracted to himself the attention and
gaze of all. Among several others VINO
had been brought into fight with the
beasts was Androclus When the hon
caught sight of him in the distance.
all of sudden he stopped as If in
establishment and then. as though rec
ognizing him. walked up to him quiet
". Then he wagged his tail in a ca
ressing way, as a dog does "nen
fawning on you and having come
quite close. gently licked the legs and
hands of the man. who was by THIS
time almost dead with fear. Amid
these Establishments. however. OF the
awful beast Androclus recovered his
lost elf-possession, and began to d.
rect his gaze at the lion. Then their
recognition seemed mutual, and you
might have seen man and lion evlnc'
ing every sign of JOY and satisfaction
This surprising incident was hailed
with loud shouts by the people. and
Androclus was summoned by the En-
pcror and asked Abe reason why so
ferocious a lion had spared him in par
ticular
Then Androclus related wonder
full story that might we'll raise our ad-
miration. When my master. he said,
was Proconsul of Africa l was driven
to run away owing to the unjust and
daily floggings which l received from
him and to make my retreat SAFER
from my master, who was Governor OF
the country, retired into the lonely
fields and deserts, determined II food
should fail me to seek death by some
means or other Then. when the mid
day sun was scorching and blazing, l
came across a remote cavern, when
was lust the place to hide in, and into
it | made my way and concealed my
self there. Not long afterward TINS
lion came into the same cavern, WIN
one foot disabled and bleeding. utter
ing groans and low growls that seem
ed to express pity for his pain and the
| torture of the wound. Hereupon ne
declared that at the first sight OF the
| approaching lion he had been scared
with terror But when, he conth'
ued, the lion came into what as the
fact showed was his own dwelling
and saw me lurking in the distance
he came up to me quite gently ana
tamely. and, lifting his paw, showed II
and stretched it out to me with all the
appearance of asking for aid. There
was a huge stalk stuck in the pad OF
his paw. which l extracted. and then
wrung out the matter which had col
lected in the interior OF the wound and
having now pretty nearly lost my fear
dried the inside carefully and wiped
off the gore Relieved by this medl
eel treatment on my part. he reposeo
his paw in my hands, law down aho
went off.
i ".From that day forth for three
years the lion and lived together III
the same cave and on the same 1000
For he used to bring to me IN the
cave the choice limbs OF the Deasls
, which he hunted. and !, not having the
means of kindling fire. used to roas'
them in the midday sun and eat them
, Having got tired, however OF this WIG
beast life he said, when the lion NAT
s gone out hunting, l left the cave all"
! after | had gone about three days
Journey, was seen by soldiers arrest
, ed and brought to my master at Rome
y from Africa. He at once took care u
have me condemned on capita
charge and given to the beasts nu
7 ;nfor, no said that this lion alse