356 tHE COMMON BEAR* 



some Stone or hard spot of ground, eat the grain, 

 and carry off the straw to their dens. 

 ^ It is well known, that the Bear may, with some 

 little difficulty, be rendered tame and docile ; and 

 it has then the appearance of being mild and obe- 

 dient to its master ; but it is not to be trusted, 

 without caution. It may be taught to walk, to lay 

 hold of a pole with its paws, and perform various 

 tricks to entertain the multitude; who are highly 

 pleased with the awkward measures of this rugged 

 animal, which it seems to suit to the sound of an in- 

 strument, or to the voice of its leader. But, to give 

 the Bear this kind of education, it is necessary to 

 have it taken young, and to accustom it early to re- 

 straint and discipline. An old Bear will suffer no 

 restraint without discovering the most furious rescnt-> 

 ment : neither the voice nor the menaces of his 

 keeper have any effect upon him ; he equally 

 growls at the hand that is held out to feed, and at 

 that which is raised to correct hifn. 



The excessive cruelties practised on this poor 

 animal in teaching it to walk upright, and to regulate 

 its motions to the sound of the pipe, are such as 

 make sensibility shudder. Its eyes are frequently 

 put out ; and an iron ring being passed through 

 the cartilage of the nose, to lead it by, it is kept 

 from food, and beaten, till it yields obedience to the 

 will of its savage tutors. Some of them are taught 

 to perform, by setting their feet upon heated iron 

 plates, and then playing music to them while in this 

 uneasy situation. It is truly shocking to every 

 feeling mind, to reflect that such cruelties should be 



