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ALMOST HUMAN 
walked the floor with low-hung head he would occasionally give the 
strange sharp cry that a cat will give when it is not happy, and is asked 
the cause of its perturbation. Then he began to look extremely haggard, 
he neglected his food, and moped badly. His lengthening periods of 
remorseful introspection began to worry the keepers, and they saw that 
his health was being seriously undermined. Nothing could arouse his 
interest, no one could cheer him or make him forget. It was palpable 
that he regretted his frenzied action. Like Mr. Caudle, he even found 
the quiet too much for him, and thought it would be more home-like if 
he could hear himself scolded. The fretted conscience at last proved 
more terrible to endure than the fretted nerves, and he found it easier 
to die than to live. Within three months of his desperate deed he was 
dead from remorse. 
THE GLOVES AND THE TIGER. 
A few years ago there was a quiet old pair of Bengal tigers at the 
Zoo that had been so long in captivity that they had grown quite recon- 
ciled to their fate and wished for no other. Almost anyone could have 
petted them without a superhuman amount of courage. About the time 
they strayed into old age there was a quaint old character employed 
there whose harmless foible it was to swagger before the crowds of 
visitors on Sundays and holidays when they were congregated around the 
bigger animals’ cages, and parade himself as a man who could do any- 
thing with wild beasts. He would dress himself in his very best — and 
he was something of a fop — and in his lavender trousers, his frock coat 
cut extra long, and his shining silk hat and brown kid gloves, he looked 
quite imposing. He would get inside the fences separating sightseers 
from the cages, and there he strutted his little hour up and down, talk- 
ing to the animals as if he and they had known each other all their 
lives. His attitude as he strolled seemed to say to all around: “You 
see how brave I am! I am not afraid of a thing alive!” 
One Sunday afternoon his self-love received a very cruel hurt. 
There was a great throng of people clustered about the cages of the 
lions and tigers. The old man walked up and down in his customary 
manner, speaking to the various animals, and when he had succeeded 
in attracting all attention to himself, he decided to prove how true his 
valour was. Carefully drawing off his gloves, he placed them on the ledge 
of the tigers’ cage, and then began to pat the tigress on the head. She 
had no objection to offer. Like a great cat she held up her head for 
the fondling, closing her eyes and purring her contentment. Then she 
rose and rubbed her long body against the bars in invitation for more 
