The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-15
LIONS AND THEIR HUMOR
 HAVE A REAL SENSE.
Some Things About That King of Beasts Not Gen.
 orally Known.

eeAO q AOS VI llll6o opouL lions that people don't know" said the circus man last night.
 of course. he will fight; everybody knows that-but he is not the guy that will take any long chances. Let a full chested tiger with big thighs and heavy jaws, come his way, and he will turn tail and soon fade out of sight. In fact, he is a good natured beast, not apt to pick on smaller fel- lows of the animal kind. and quite as vain, is not as tenler, as pretty girl.
 "One thing most people don't know is that he has a real sense of humor. I have seen this trait shown lots of times. if he stood up straight and walked on two legs he would probably be called wag. Rlngling Brothers have lion wag named lingo, and I have picture taken while he was having a good hearty laugh over trick he had play ed on wise monkey.
 This monkey was an overbearing fellow, and made all the others of his kind miserable. He would take away their food and beat them into the bar gain if they made the slightest kick. lingo, the lion, didn't like this monkey. cuss, and laid low for a chance to give him some of his own medicine.
 Monkeys like onions above all things and they can scent one a block away.
 "Jingo got hold of nice big one and peeled it just enough to make it smell for all it was worth. MT. Mon key was sort of privileged character and was permitted to swing around the menagerie tent as far as a fifty y-foot rope would extend. This brought him within range of the lions den, anl he got busy to steal the onion,
 tJingo closed his eyes, as if in sleep, and kept deathly still until the long monkey had reached away into the cage to get the onion. Then he grabbed him by the wrist and brought him up slam-bang against the steel bars, where he held him tight. In spite of his wild screeching, lingo rubbed the onion into the monkeys eyes and nose until it was reduced to a wafer, when he let him go.
 "The monkey rolled over in the saw dust and cried for dear life, his nose and eyes burning and steaming with hot water, while lingo sat back on his launches and laughed until his sides must have ached.
 Another time the lion with the fun ny bone picked out a clergyman for his sport. The clergyman was full of big words about the animal family at large and the lion family in particular. "Jingo must have thought that he was talking light of his species, for he began to lick up a lot of bran, and when his jaws were rounded out to their fullest capacity, and the stuff thoroughly moistened with saliva, he spat it all over the good mans shirt front. He took aim and made a fine job of it. The clergyman was frighten- ed out of his wits, and his women folk 1 picked up their skirts and ran for the | entrance.
 "They thought the lion would be at | their heels, and probably enjoy nice l juicy dinner When the minister cool ed off he sputtered indignation like a l geyser and threatened to- do all sorts of things on account of the insult I did all I could to soften his rage and let 1t go at that. That was the last of the minister as far as I know.
 'The meanest thing that lingo did was to throw huge wad of meat, dripping with blood, at an overfed lady who made faces in passing his cage, and said, Lions were not good except as posers.' The ball of meat struck the stout lady amidship and she | tumbled over into a tub of water that had been placed for the elephants to drink.
 Her white dress was spoiled, and her good nature, if she ever had much, was shot to pieces. The. way her tongue worked to tell all within reach what a miserable lot the show people were was caution.
 "Al Ringing was very much put out i about th1S and made up his mlnd to get rid of the nischievous lion.
 "The boys all liked lingo, however, and they pleaded with him until he yielded. Now when lingo gets away with anybody or anything good care is ! taken by all the boys to keep the fact from Mr Ringling. lingo had a big | laugh at Montgomery near the close of last season, when he caught country pair spooning near the lemonade stand.
 "Tt was after the show had begun and the happy pair were lettering and saying buttery things to each other, 1 Just as they had reached the point which sent the youngsters arm around l her waist to seal the understanding of it lingo gave out roar that stirred | up the whole menagerie and sent the young woman head first over the lem onade glasses and peanut and candy | baskets They did not stop to complain l but with faces burning with embarrass- ment hurrie1ly sneaked out the front | door and left lingo curled up in his