THE GREAT AFRICAN LION-TAMER.
["He fully admitted the difficulties of the Government and Sir Henry Loch. Both found themselves to be in a most exceptionally difficult position, created by those who had gone before them by granting in the wrong way the charter to the Company. He admitted that both Lord Ripon and Sir Henry Loch did their best in the circumstances for a long time to maintain peace; both urged that war should be avoided.... Mr. Rhodes was Prime Minister of Cape Colony, and obviously Sir Henry Loch had an exceedingly difficult position in dealing as Prime Minister and as the head of the Company with that gentleman, to whom he could not say that he did not quite believe him, and that he was forcing on the war."—Mr. Labouchere on the Chartered Company and Matabeleland.]
Lion-Tamer (grandly). "Walk up, walk up, ladies and gentlemen! See the great African live lion, Matabele—called Lo Ben for short—larger than (average) life, and thrice as natural as normal (menagerie) nature! Walk up! Walk up! Taming process just about to begin——
Agent of Menagerie Proprietor (sotto voce). Oh, well you know—subject, of course, to—ahem!—every provision being made for—a—humanity—and—ahem—every precaution being taken against—a—a—needless risks, you know, and—a—obvious cruelty, you see—and—ahem!—all that sort of thing, don't you know.
Lion-Tamer (nettled). No, I don't know, dontcher know. And what's more I don't believe you know, dontcher know, nor your guv'nors neither, for that matter. What is your little game, anyhow?
Agent (with some assumption of dignity). We have no "little game." Little Game is not the word. Lions, I believe, are generally called "Big Game," by Nimrods and others.
[Sniggers as one who has scored.
Lion-Tamer (sardonically). Nimrod, indeed! Ah! a mighty hunter before the Lords you are, ain't you? You and your lot! Rural rabbits and parochial foxes are G——'s "Big Game," eh?
Agent. This is neither the time nor the place to argue that point. Your business is lion-taming; ours is menagerie-managing.