The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-07-31
Tanning Beasts in Ancient Times.

Tanning Beasts in Ancient Times.
Van Amburgh and Herr DriesLach, as
much as they may astonish the present age,
with their control over the tierccst beasts of
the forest, seem to be much inferior in this
respect to the lion tanners of ancient days.
The Romans were adopts in tanning wild
beasts. In all astrological poem of the early
imperial date, where the consultations which
predestlne men to their several callings are
given, there is found the horoscope of those
who =" tame the tiger, soften the rage Of the
lion, converse with elephants, and render
these unwieldy masses fit for human arts and
duties" In another poem of the fourth
century OF our era, the horoscope is represen-
ted Of those who make bears, bulls, and
lio;.s fit for intercourse With men," Plny
relates that 6 in play given by Germanicus,
the elephants brought their clumsy evolu-
tons into the shape of dance. Sometimes
they used to brandish their weapons in the
ali, to fight one another like gladiators,
and to riot in walton dance. Later. they
pracliced Oh the rope, on which -four OF
them carried another in a litter, which was
supposed to represent woman in childbcd,
and whom they let down 50 gently upon the
sofas of guest-:atlc. that they disturbed
none gifts occupants. 1t is told of an clc-
plant that was slow at learning, and which
had often been beaten on that account. that
it was watched in the night, and found prac-
t:cing its lesson by itself These huge
animals mounted the tight.ropes with the
greatest agility, and, what is even more
remarkable, descended them with equal ease
Mucianus mentions an elephant that had
learned to write Greek, and to its perfor
mances used TO add Il have written this
with my own hand"
Liens also were tanned. The Carthagnian
l1anno is said to have been the first who
went about attended by tanned ion.-
Bcrcnice, the Egyptian queen, had favorite
lion that ate at her table ami use to lick
her cheeks. Marc Antony rode about Rome
In chariot in which two lions were yokcd.
Domtian had lion that was taught to carry
the game in hunting, who let himself be chased
by harcs, ard into whose throat one might
thrust his hand with impunity This prodigy
was the subject of several poems. Martial
counses the hare to take refuge from the
pursuit of the hounds in the Jaws of the lion,
and asks which was the greatest miracle,
that the eagle of Jupiter had not hurt Ganv-
mede, or that the Emperors lion had not
injured the imprisoned hare This wonder
full lion, however, was torn in pieces by
another beast that broke out from its cage in
the arena but he lad the consolation, as
Status says. Of being mourncd by both the
people and the Senate, and that the Emperor
took his loss worse than that of ever so
many Egyptian, African, or German beasts.
aelioga.alus used sometimes, for joke, to
terrty his guests by bringing his tame ions
suddenly into the dinng-room Even tigers
were sometimes so far subdued as to lick
their Keepers hands and faces. Lcopards
were easily reduced to submit to the rein of
the chariotecr. Oxen in general were very
tractable; they learned to stand upon their
hind-feet, and would allow iongleurs to
perform their tricks on their backs. and were
even skilled in playing the part of drivers in
chario's at full speed.
Dogs and Apes became distinguished actors
We have the description of play in which
dog acted the chief part, which was
performed with great applause in the pre-
sence of the Emperor Vcspasian, in the the
atre of Alarccllus at Rome. The four. footed
actor showed the greatest self:poscsson,
when. in the course Of the representation
some drink was given to him which purported
to be poison. but which was really ouly a
sleeping -draught. AFTER he had wallowed
the draught," says the narrator, "he began
to trcmble, to reel, and to become uncon-
scious; at length he stretched himself out,
as ifdying, lay as really dead, and allowed
himself 10 be pulled and draggc d about as the
plot of the drama required. But as soon as
the signal was given, be began to move gently,
as though awakcing out of deep sleep lifted
his head, and looked round him; and while
the spectators were expressing their admira-
ton, he went up to the person to whom, ac-
cording to the fiction Of the play, he belonged,
and showed so much delight and fondness by
wagginy his tail, as to excite universal aston
ishment.
Birds also were trained The Empress
Agrippina, who was great fancier of birds,
had i thrush which could initiate the human
voice-the first instance of the kind, accord
ing to Pllny. Pliny adds, that at the time
OF his writing, imperial princes had starting
which could speak Greek and Latin words !;
nighlingaes also which had learned the same,
added daily to their knowledge, and could
even speak good long sentences. These
were taught in separate room. where they
heard no other sound than the voice of the
trainer, who was constantly repeating the
same words to them, aud rewarded their
proficiency with some favore dticacy A
story of remarkable magpc is told in
Plutarch's treatise Oh the cleverness Of
animals. A barber in Rome had bird
which not only initiated human speech, but
also the noises of beasts and the tones of
instruments, all spontaneously. One day a
great funeral procession happened to pass the
bar ber's shop, and stopped Immediately
against it, upon which the accompanying
trumpetcrs blew long tune on their instru-
ments. From this moment the magpie
became dumb, and uttered no cry even to
make its wants known. The whole neighbour
hood became excited, and various surlnises
were circulated on the occurrence; some
said the bird had been robbed of his voice by
witchcraft, while the more knowing ascribed
the calamity to sudden deafness produced
by the blowing of the tlumpets. After a
time, however, he recovered his voice. but
did not exercise it in his former tricks, but
sang the whole trumpet-piece from beginning
to end. From this it was evident that his
former silence arose from the pains he took to
learn the melody.
Fishes in basins used. at the sound Of n
bell or rattle, to come to the edge TO receive
food from their owners hands, sight very
often seen at the mansions of distinguish ed
Romans. 1t is even maintained that some
fishes recognized the names that were given
them.
The Elk PRES lDENTs. -Ex-Presid dent Tyler
! IS in NorioIk Va. Ey.Prcsidcnt Van Buren