A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



I could handle Satan whenever or however 

 I pleased, and he would not lose his temper. 

 It would be dangerous for a stranger to put 

 a hand on him. One could almost step on 

 him and he would not take offence, but he 

 drew the line at touch. During the nine 

 months that he was in my possession he at- 

 tacked but one person. I met the gentleman 

 in question at Barnum's Show, on Stage Fort. 

 After the people had entered the main tent 

 I stopped some time in the animal tent. I 

 noticed a dudish-looking fellow acting in a 

 peculiar manner before a cage containing two 

 lions. I was interested, and strolled over to 

 the cage. The fellow was a dude beyond a 

 doubt. He wore a cowboy hat, a checkered 

 coat, a crimson vest, and lavender colored 

 trousers. He was trying to look the lions out 

 of countenance. The big African lion, the 

 male, seemed to feel uneasy under the fixed 

 gaze of the dude, and at last crowded behind 

 his mate. " See him cower and hide," cried 

 the fellow, addressing me. " The human eye, 

 intelligently used, can subdue the most fero- 

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