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The lion at the Zoological Gardens； for instance。 He is all very
well； he has an undeniable mane； and looks very fierce； but； Lord
bless us！ what of that？ The lions of the fashionable world look
just as ferocious； and are the most harmless creatures breathing。
A box…lobby lion or a Regent…street animal will put on a most
terrible aspect； and roar； fearfully； if you affront him； but he
will never bite； and； if you offer to attack him manfully； will
fairly turn tail and sneak off。 Doubtless these creatures roam
about sometimes in herds； and； if they meet any especially meek…
looking and peaceably…disposed fellow； will endeavour to frighten
him； but the faintest show of a vigorous resistance is sufficient
to scare them even then。 These are pleasant characteristics；
whereas we make it matter of distinct charge against the Zoological
lion and his brethren at the fairs； that they are sleepy； dreamy；
sluggish quadrupeds。
We do not remember to have ever seen one of them perfectly awake；
except at feeding…time。 In every respect we uphold the biped lions
against their four…footed namesakes； and we boldly challenge
controversy upon the subject。
With these opinions it may be easily imagined that our curiosity
and interest were very much excited the other day； when a lady of
our acquaintance called on us and resolutely declined to accept our
refusal of her invitation to an evening party； 'for；' said she； 'I
have got a lion coming。' We at once retracted our plea of a prior
engagement； and became as anxious to go； as we had previously been
to stay away。
We went early； and posted ourselves in an eligible part of the
drawing…room； from whence we could hope to obtain a full view of
the interesting animal。 Two or three hours passed； the quadrilles
began； the room filled； but no lion appeared。 The lady of the
house became inconsolable； … for it is one of the peculiar
privileges of these lions to make solemn appointments and never
keep them； … when all of a sudden there came a tremendous double
rap at the street…door； and the master of the house； after gliding
out （unobserved as he flattered himself） to peep over the
banisters； came into the room； rubbing his hands together with
great glee； and cried out in a very important voice； 'My dear； Mr。
… （naming the lion） has this moment arrived。'
Upon this； all eyes were turned towards the door； and we observed
several young ladies； who had been laughing and conversing
previously with great gaiety and good humour； grow extremely quiet
and sentimental； while some young gentlemen； who had been cutting
great figures in the facetious and small…talk way； suddenly sank
very obviously in the estimation of the company； and were looked
upon with great coldness and indifference。 Even the young man who
had been ordered from the music shop to play the pianoforte was
visibly affected； and struck several false notes in the excess of
his excitement。
All this time there was a great talking outside； more than once
accompanied by a loud laugh； and a cry of 'Oh！ capital！ excellent！'
from which we inferred that the lion was jocose； and that these
exclamations were occasioned by the transports of his keeper and
our host。 Nor were we deceived； for when the lion at last
appeared； we overheard his keeper； who was a little prim man；
whisper to several gentlemen of his acquaintance； with uplifted
hands； and every expression of half…suppressed admiration； that …
（naming the lion again） was in SUCH cue to…night！
The lion was a literary one。 Of course； there were a vast number
of people present who had admired his roarings； and were anxious to
be introduced to him； and very pleasant it was to see them brought
up for the purpose； and to observe the patient dignity with which
he received all their patting and caressing。 This brought forcibly
to our mind what we had so often witnessed at country fairs； where
the other lions are compelled to go through as many forms of
courtesy as they chance to be acquainted with； just as often as
admiring parties happen to drop in upon them。
While the lion was exhibiting in this way； his keeper was not idle；
for he mingled among the crowd； and spread his praises most
industriously。 To one gentleman he whispered some very choice
thing that the noble animal had said in the very act of coming up…
stairs； which； of course； rendered the mental effort still more
astonishing； to another he murmured a hasty account of a grand
dinner that had taken place the day before； where twenty…seven
gentlemen had got up all at once to demand an extra cheer for the
lion； and to the ladies he made sundry promises of interceding to
procure the majestic brute's sign…manual for their albums。 Then；
there were little private consultations in different corners；
relative to the personal appearance and stature of the lion；
whether he was shorter than they had expected to see him； or
taller； or thinner； or fatter； or younger； or older； whether he was
like his portrait； or unlike it； and whether the particular shade
of his eyes was black； or blue； or hazel； or green； or yellow； or
mixture。 At all these consultations the keeper assisted； and； in
short； the lion was the sole and single subject of discussion till
they sat him down to whist； and then the people relapsed into their
old topics of conversation … themselves and each other。
We must confess that we looked forward with no slight impatience to
the announcement of supper； for if you wish to see a tame lion
under particularly favourable circumstances； feeding…time is the
period of all others to pitch upon。 We were therefore very much
delighted to observe a sensation among the guests； which we well
knew how to interpret； and immediately afterwards to behold the
lion escorting the lady of the house down…stairs。 We offered our
arm to an elderly female of our acquaintance； who … dear old soul！
… is the very best person that ever lived； to lead down to any
meal； for； be the room ever so small； or the party ever so large；
she is sure； by some intuitive perception of the eligible； to push
and pull herself and conductor close to the best dishes on the
table； … we say we offered our arm to this elderly female； and；
descending the stairs shortly after the lion； were fortunate enough
to obtain a seat nearly opposite him。
Of course the keeper was there already。 He had planted himself at
precisely that distance from his charge which afforded him a decent
pretext for raising his voice； when he addressed him； to so loud a
key； as could not fail to attract the attention of the whole
company； and immediately began to apply himself seriously to the
task of bringing the lion out； and putting him through the whole of
his manoeuvres。 Such flashes of wit as he elicited from the lion！
First of all； they began to make puns upon a salt…cellar； and then
upon the breast of a fowl； and then upon the trifle； but the best
jokes o