BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CIRCUS. 285 



of Germany's stables. He had been carrying 

 one of the young princes, but he got thrown one 

 day, and I had the chance of buying him. That 

 one belonged to the Emperor of Eussia — Sultan 

 they call him ; and the next — that chestnut — ■ 

 was given to me by King Victor Emmanuel. He 

 gave me a horse, an elephant, and a lion the same 

 day, and told me to call the horse Eomo ; it was 

 the day he made his state entry into Eome. 

 Ah ! he was a king ! " says my guide, reflectively. 

 " He gave me this watch, too," and he shows a 

 heavy gold watch with the royal cypher in big 

 diamonds on the back, and on the face a wonder- 

 ful collection of guides to the day of the month, 

 of the week, of the year, and other conveniences, 

 including a barometer. 



" Does it tell you correctly ? " I ask. 



"Wonderfully true," Mr. Tanring answ^ers. 

 " With that and the lions and elephants I feel 

 certain about the weather. Many a time they've 

 saved my tents from being blown down." 



" It never occurred to me to regard lions and 

 elephants in the light of barometers," I humbly 

 remark, fully aware that there are more things 

 in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in my 

 philosophy. " How can you tell by them what 

 the weather's going to be ? " 



" Surest sign in the world," he repUes. 



