Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-21
When the ...'
Animals Speak
Rx GARRETT p. SERVIsS.

day, looking out upon scene which
in some OF its elements was well cal
culated to recall the country OF his
birth. If you doubt that animals
have a sentiment corresponding to
our amor patriae, love of the native
land, that doubt would have faded as
you watched this lions eyes and noted
his bearing.
In front of the cage, which was
placed beneath the shade OF row OF
trees, extended broad level space Of
ground, covered with yellow sand and
pebbles, cleaning in the sunshine,
and beyond that rose other leafy trees
intermingled with grassy glades and
clumps OF park shrubbery. The shad-
ows projected across the wide,
tawny expanse, and falling upon the
green intervales among the trees were
precisely such as might be seen in an
African landscape, far from civiliza-
ton, where the roar Of lion at night,
beside some still pool rejecting the
| tropical stars, would have been alnote
accordant with the natural surround
ings.
The lion stood erect, motionless, at
tentive, with piercing but far-rang
ing look in his eyes. Before him,
their feet grating on the ocher-colored
gravel, passed many two-legged curl
osity seekers, staring, gaping, bab-
bling, wondering. A mother lifted up
her little girl that she might have
better view of "the dreadful yellow
beast" A young woman shook her
parasol before the lions eyes with
delicious thrill Of imaginary defiance,
while her empty-faced escort struck
bold posture and tried, with voice
and gesture, to draw the attention of
the mane-crowned king to his insight
ficant person, swelling with insolent
assumption of superiority. The lion
looked straight over their heads and
did not see them. Not the :Eshtest
alteration occurred in his attitude or
his gaze.
Suddenly affair, perhaps of humap
flesh, reached his nostrils. There was
a little culver of their delicate mus
cles, a just perceptible stiffening OF
his mighty fore limbs, slight raising
OF. the name, and movement OF the
tail. But the direction of his eyes
did not change. His wild soul was
wandering in Africa, beholding, under
the stimulus OF awakened memories,
the scenes of his early days.
Without warning, he lowered his
head, and "a deep, ground-shaking
thunder-like growl issued from his
throat. He looked att none OF the
suddenly covering creatures before
him; but they started back as if he
had sprung at them. Women ran
away screaming, the girl with the par
asol shrieked, her bold escort turned
pale and nervously clutched her arm
as they backed swiftly away fro. the
cage. Perhaps there was faint smile
on the lions broad face, but if SO it
was only smile Of contempt.
As he gave forth his voice, his mate,
a beautifully formed lioness, who had
been apparently sleeping in corner.
rose and softly advanced to his side.
She rubbed against him as if in
caress, but he paid no attention. The
ldl -Oll lOOh was otIl ohu |
his head was once more erect.
She touched him again, and this
time he instantly responded to her ad-
vance, and their eyes met. They
turned their backs to the crowd, which
had now assembled in front OF the
cage, all alert with excitement, as
the word flew from mouth to mouth:
THE lion is roarihgl Come quickt
Look at himl" .- |,
In the meantime the lion and the
lioness lay down side by side, and
without glance at the throng be-
fore the cage they fell into COM
in the feline tongue, which
no man is yet wise enough to under
stand through his ears. The lion
spoke first:
II have been dreaming" he said,
"of the old life before we fell into
the trap. The strong sunlight and
the long shadows recalled it to me,
and ! seemed to catch the scent of
kraal" ..s.-.-l,
The lioness sighed. THAT life was
pleasanter than this" she murmured.
why do we remain captive herel
Your limbs are still mighty to strike"
THE petty strength Of those con.
creatures out yonder should
never restrain u.s." returned the lion.
Twenty of them would be helpless
before me. But they have a secret
power which our Creator has not
given to us. l have learned where
its seat lies, for | have listened when
they did not dream that | attended
10 them. One who came with spark
ling ovals over his eyes stood long
in front of our cage one day and re-
vealed the whole truth. The secret
is in their heads. 1t is the power of
the brain that makes them our mas
ters."
What is the brainf' asked the
ioness. s........
at is something mightier than
The mightiest muscles" replied the
ion. What weapons have we but
hose with which we we're born?
These weak creatures, tottering on
heir two ridiculous legs, are fur.
,ished, through their brains, with
title hre-shooting weapons that
sill us, and kill even the great ele-
,hant, from afar off.
,anlsIr lnYnrooPny nrllI