38 WILD BROTHER 



The effect that the story had upon different peo- 

 ple, however, was rather curious. I soon learned 

 that it wasr better not to tell it, especially if ladies 

 were present, without the pictures to prove my 

 facts and to show the real character of Mrs. Wei- 

 don. I had a striking example of this feeling sev- 

 eral years after my first introduction to the bear, 

 when the story had become rather well known in 

 my vicinity. 



One afternoon in summer, a number of men and 

 women were sitting about on the verandah of a 

 hotel. The men were discussing various sports, 

 particularly fishing and hunting. The subject of 

 bears came up, and in the course of conversation 

 someone asked if anyone had heard about the bear 

 that was brought up as a child. One lady replied, 

 "Yes, I have heard about it, and I think it is the 

 most disgusting story that I ever listened to." 



I immediately sat up and gave attention. She 

 seemed quite angry and impatient. "I can't im- 

 agine any woman doing such a horrible thing," she 

 went on. 



After her resentment had been fully expressed, 

 and she had quieted down a bit, a general discus- 

 sion ensued. At the first lull in the conversation, I 

 mildly asked the lady where she had heard the 

 story, and received the reply that her husband had 

 told her about it. 



