The Russellville Democrat., 1877-05-03
Lion Kings and Trainers.

Lion Kings and Trainers.
 The training of wild beasts for ex- hibition purposes is an art requirln much patience and discretion to insure success. The trainer commences tg feeding the animal from the outs;ie of the den or cage; then ventures t. en- ter, keeping his face steadily towards the animal, and avoiding any violence. Rough usageis abstained from as much as possible, as it rouses the dormant demon" in the creature. Lions like tickling and stroking, and may be tickled into submission when they could not be compelled. An old train- CT once said:
 "To get lion to lie down and al- low the trainer to stand on him, is difficult. It is done by tickling the beast over the back with small whip, and at the same time pressing him down with one hand. By raising his head, and taking hold of the nostril with the right hand, and the under lip and lower jaw with the left, the lion by this pressure loses greatly the power of his jaw; so that the man can pull them open, and put his head in- side the beasts mouth. The danger is, lest the animal should raise one of his fore paws and stick his claws in the venturesome trainer. If he does, the man msst stand fast for his life till he has lifted the paw"
 Aboutsixty years ago, when Ballard's menagrerie was halting on the road near Salisbury, lioness escaped from one of the caravans, and before she could be recaptured, attacked and tore one of the horses of the Exeter mail but she was recaptured nevertheless, by the coolness, and daring of the keepers. Soon after this, Ducruw, the accom-. plished equestrian, engaged Atkins lion, tigress, and hybrid cubs as addi. tional attractions to his circus. This achievement of rearing the progeny of a lion and tigress was much talked of at the time. The novel family were exhibited before royalty at Windsor castle, and then at Bartholomew fair, where keeper lay down in the den, with the lion on one side, the tigress on the other, and the cubs disportng near him, ending by lying down on the lion, with the tigress lying on the man.
 The historically famous "Lions in the Tower" gradually ceased to be a source of wonderment when the Zoo logical gardens became familiar and the collection was dispersed about forty years ago.
 Van Amburgh, the most renowned, perhaps, of all the lion kings, came to England year two before the reign of her present majesty. He was q native of Holland, well-.ormed and handsome; and his collection of trained lions, tigers, etc, drew immense. mum bers of spectators, Van Amburgh's cool daring was remarkable and when Edwin (atterwards Sir Edwin Landseel exhibited at the Royal academy his pictures et the lion-king in the midst ol his trained quadrupedal pupils, the ex citement spread to a class of society above that which is usually supposed to be weak on such points. Van Am, burgh's career in England continued of and on for some years. One of his ex. hibitions included black tiger; color rarely met with in that animal, and a sort of drama was got up in which the lion-king personated Moroff, brute tanner. Among the bits of gossip which cannot we'll be traced to an authentic source, is one to the effect that the Duke of Wellington (who is known to have had a liking for the performances of Van Amburgh) once asked him whether he was ever afraid to which the brute-tamer replied: "The frs, time I am afraid, your grace, or 1 fancy that my pupils are no longer afraid of me, I will give up."-Ctam- ber's Journal.