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except at feeding…time。  In every respect we uphold the biped lions

against their four…footed namesakes; and we boldly challenge

controversy upon the subject。



With these opinions it may be easily imagined that our curiosity

and interest were very much excited the other day; when a lady of

our acquaintance called on us and resolutely declined to accept our

refusal of her invitation to an evening party; 'for;' said she; 'I

have got a lion coming。'  We at once retracted our plea of a prior

engagement; and became as anxious to go; as we had previously been

to stay away。



We went early; and posted ourselves in an eligible part of the

drawing…room; from whence we could hope to obtain a full view of

the interesting animal。  Two or three hours passed; the quadrilles

began; the room filled; but no lion appeared。  The lady of the

house became inconsolable; … for it is one of the peculiar

privileges of these lions to make solemn appointments and never

keep them; … when all of a sudden there came a tremendous double

rap at the street…door; and the master of the house; after gliding

out (unobserved as he flattered himself) to peep over the

banisters; came into the room; rubbing his hands together with

great glee; and cried out in a very important voice; 'My dear; Mr。

… (naming the lion) has this moment arrived。'



Upon this; all eyes were turned towards the door; and we observed

several young ladies; who had been laughing and conversing

previously with great gaiety and good humour; grow extremely quiet

and sentimental; while some young gentlemen; who had been cutting

great figures in the facetious and small…talk way; suddenly sank

very obviously in the estimation of the company; and were looked

upon with great coldness and indifference。  Even the young man who

had been ordered from the music shop to play the pianoforte was

visibly affected; and struck several false notes in the excess of

his excitement。



All this time there was a great talking outside; more than once

accompanied by a loud laugh; and a cry of 'Oh! capital! excellent!'

from which we inferred that the lion was jocose; and that these

exclamations were occasioned by the transports of his keeper and

our host。  Nor were we deceived; for when the lion at last

appeared; we overheard his keeper; who was a little prim man;

whisper to several gentlemen of his acquaintance; with uplifted

hands; and every expression of half…suppressed admiration; that …

(naming the lion again) was in SUCH cue to…night!



The lion was a literary one。  Of course; there were a vast number

of people present who had admired his roarings; and were anxious to

be introduced to him; and very pleasant it was to see them brought

up for the purpose; and to observe the patient dignity with which

he received all their patting and caressing。  This brought forcibly

to our mind what we had so often witnessed at country fairs; where

the other lions are compelled to go through as many forms of

courtesy as they chance to be acquainted with; just as often as

admiring parties happen to drop in upon them。



While the lion was exhibiting in this way; his keeper was not idle;

for he mingled among the crowd; and spread his praises most

industriously。  To one gentleman he whispered some very choice

thing that the noble animal had said in the very act of coming up…

stairs; which; of course; rendered the mental effort still more

astonishing; to another he murmured a hasty account of a grand

dinner that had taken place the day before; where twenty…seven

gentlemen had got up all at once to demand an extra cheer for the

lion; and to the ladies he made sundry promises of interceding to

procure the majestic brute's sign…manual for their albums。  Then;

there were little private consultations in different corners;

relative to the personal appearance and stature of the lion;

whether he was shorter than they had expected to see him; or

taller; or thinner; or fatter; or younger; or older; whether he was

like his portrait; or unlike it; and whether the particular shade

of his eyes was black; or blue; or hazel; or green; or yellow; or

mixture。  At all these consultations the keeper assisted; and; in

short; the lion was the sole and single subject of discussion till

they sat him down to whist; and then the people relapsed into their

old topics of conversation … themselves and each other。



We must confess that we looked forward with no slight impatience to

the announcement of supper; for if you wish to see a tame lion

under particularly favourable circumstances; feeding…time is the

period of all others to pitch upon。  We were therefore very much

delighted to observe a sensation among the guests; which we well

knew how to interpret; and immediately afterwards to behold the

lion escorting the lady of the house down…stairs。  We offered our

arm to an elderly female of our acquaintance; who … dear old soul!

… is the very best person that ever lived; to lead down to any

meal; for; be the room ever so small; or the party ever so large;

she is sure; by some intuitive perception of the eligible; to push

and pull herself and conductor close to the best dishes on the

table; … we say we offered our arm to this elderly female; and;

descending the stairs shortly after the lion; were fortunate enough

to obtain a seat nearly opposite him。



Of course the keeper was there already。  He had planted himself at

precisely that distance from his charge which afforded him a decent

pretext for raising his voice; when he addressed him; to so loud a

key; as could not fail to attract the attention of the whole

company; and immediately began to apply himself seriously to the

task of bringing the lion out; and putting him through the whole of

his manoeuvres。  Such flashes of wit as he elicited from the lion!

First of all; they began to make puns upon a salt…cellar; and then

upon the breast of a fowl; and then upon the trifle; but the best

jokes of all were decidedly on the lobster salad; upon which latter

subject the lion came out most vigorously; and; in the opinion of

the most competent authorities; quite outshone himself。  This is a

very excellent mode of shining in society; and is founded; we

humbly conceive; upon the classic model of the dialogues between

Mr。 Punch and his friend the proprietor; wherein the latter takes

all the up…hill work; and is content to pioneer to the jokes and

repartees of Mr。 P。 himself; who never fails to gain great credit

and excite much laughter thereby。  Whatever it be founded on;

however; we recommend it to all lions; present and to come; for in

this instance it succeeded to admiration; and perfectly dazzled the

whole body of hearers。



When the salt…cellar; and the fowl's breast; and the trifle; and

the lobster salad were all exhausted; and could not afford

standing…room for another solitary witticism; the keeper performed

that very dangerous feat which is still done with some of the

caravan lions; although in one instance it terminated fatally; of

putting his head in the animal's mouth; and placing himself

entirely at its mercy。  Boswell frequently presents a melancholy

instance of the lamentable results of this achievement; and other

keepers and jackals have been terribly lacerated for their daring。

It is due to our lion to state; that he condescended to be trifled

with; in the most gentle manner; and finally went home with the

showman in a hack cab:  perfectly peaceable; but slightly fuddled。



Being in a contemplative mood; we were led to make some reflections

upon the character and conduct of this genus of lions as we walked

homewards; and we were not long in arriving at the conclusion that

our former impression in their favour was very much strengthened

and confirmed by what we had recently seen。  While the other lions

receive company and compliments in a sullen; moody; not to say

snarling manner; these appear flattered by the attentions that are

paid them; while those conceal themselves to the utmost of their

power from the vulgar gaze; these court the popular eye; and;

unlike their brethren; whom nothing short of compulsion will move

to exertion; are ever ready to display their acquirements to the

wondering throng。  We have known bears of undoubted ability who;

when the expectations of a large audience have been wound up to the

utmost pitch; have peremptorily refused to dance; well…taught

monkeys; who have unaccountably objected to exhibit on the slack

wire; and elephants of unquestioned genius; who have suddenly

declined to turn the barrel…organ; but we never once knew or heard

of a biped lion; literary or otherwise; … and we state it as a fact

which is highly creditable to the whole species; … who; occasion

offering; did not seize with avidity on any opportunity which was

afforded him; of performing to his heart's content on the first

violin。







MR。 ROBERT BOLTON:  THE 'GENTLEMAN CONNECTED WITH

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