WASHING AN UNTAMED TIGER.

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1913, Page 2

WASHING AN UNTAMED TIGER.

\. Cossack, ignorant of the French language, was hired at Moscow -by Che lion-tamer Pezon to clean the cages of his wild beasts. Their understanding or misunderstanding, was arranged by means of gestures, as neither understood the language of the other, and Pezon thought that the man thoroughly understood what he had to do.

The next morning the Cossack began "his new duties by entering, with bucket, sponge, and broom, not the cage of a tame beast, tout that of a /splendid untamed 'tiger, which la{y asleep upon the floor. The fierce animal awoke and fixed his eyes upon the man, who calmly proceeded to wet his sponge and approach the tiger. At this moment Pezon appeared upon the scene, and was struck with horror. Any sound or motion on his part would intensify the danger of the situation by rousing the beast to fury, so he quietly waited till the need should arise to rush to the man's assistance.

The Cossack aapproaached the animal, and, perfectly fearless, proceeded to rub him down as , if he had been a horse, while the tiger, apparently delighted by the application of cold water, rolled on his back, stretched out his paws, and, purring, offered every part of his body to the Coswho washed him as complacently as a mother bathes her infant. Then he left the cage, and would have repeated the hazardous experiment upon another savage frem the desert had not Pezon drawn him off.