The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-09
How Wild Beasts are Educated.

How Wild Beasts are Educated.
Since the birth of the baby elephant in
Philadelphia, there have been hundreds
of visitors at the Ridge Avenue Car Com
pany's old stables where the interesting
event TRANSFERRED, seeking admission to
get peep at the little wonder. Cages
ranged closely against the walls contain
lions; tigers, leopards, panthers, hyenas,
bears and many other ferocious ANIMALS.
In one of the cages, whom q Su,, report
ler visited the place q few days ago, q
thrilling sensational performance was go
ing on. An exceedingly pretty woman,
the wife Of Alfred Still, the animal train
5er, was engaged in training i've large,
sleek, savage looking panthers. At least
three of the eyil-eyed brutes were con-
stantly emitting such threatening growls
and snarls of rage, that words spoken in
an ordinary tone in the barn could not be
heard. The woman. clad in sort OF
small cowhide whip. But in front OF the
cage stood her husband, armed with
long and very strong pitchfork, with two
short, sharp pronys, made especially for
reasoning with ferocious animals. Elk
cited until her cheeks we're glowing and
her eyes flashing, but without fear, she
occupied herself in putting the beasts
through their tasks, while he stood by to
save her from death or excessive mang-
ling should they spring upon her. cover,
Pet" she commanded loudly, stamping
her foot and waving the whip threaten
ingly. One OF the panthers darted like
streak of brown light through the hoop
she held over barrier. cover, Cheeky"
she shouted again, lashing one that was
snarllng most threateningly, showing bis
cruel fangs and holding his ears close to
skull. He gave spit and yell OF rage,
made a sharp dash at her with his keen
claws, missing her by barely an inch got
in the same second lunge from the long
pitchfork prongs, and with another cry
Of mingled pain and fury, sprang through
the hoop. "Over, Bijou,' she cried, and
the three remaining brutes all went over
together in huddled rush, Bijou through
he hoop, the others beside it. Two then
instantly darted back to the end OF the
den which they had just left. 'Look
| outl'' warned Still, hastily; 'don't let
him get his head behind you'll" One OF
them just attempting that was turn
ed aside, and cent back into his corner
snarling. Ten cruel, murderous eyes
watched the Young woman's slightest
movement; five great mouths, half open,
exposed large, cleaning rows of sharp
teeth; five snaky tails kept up the con-
slant, side long twitching that cat al
ways practises when about to spring up
on mouse. One of the brutes was fix
ing his regards upon her more quietly
than the others, but was seen to be steal
thily gathering his limbs under him pre-
par1ng for a spring. She detected his
movement and forestalled it by q quick
streke of the whip. He reared up and
| struck at her with both fore paws, re-
ceiyed thrust from the pitchtork and
leaped away to the corner, yelling as he
went. .4
So the lesson went on. There was not
a moment in which the woman's life was
not in peril while it lasted. One of the
brutes sprang upon bench at one end
Of the den and lay down. She seated
| herself beside him to caress him. It was
the most an1iable looking one Of the lot,
and that pettang business is intended to
demonstrate to the public the affection
and confidence existing between the
trainer and his subjects. '.Take care T.
cried Still. stake carel Keep farther
back. He might take your whole face
off in second there. Don't turn SO far
around las she turned to strike another
that was threatening herr, or you Will
lose an elbow before you know it,
"They are the most treacherous, fero-
cious, and the quickest beasts we have to
deal WITH" explained Still to the report
er; "worse even than tigers or hyenas,
especially where so many of them are to-
getrer. The trainer must watch every
one of them every moment he is in the
den."
In still another huge stable, across the
muddy yard from the ''cat animals
house," is the elephant house. Upon
entering it, one can at first make out
scarcely any thing, it is SO dimly lighted.
Gradually, as the visitor becomes aocus-
toned to this twilight, be distinguishes
in the foreground some men grouped at
the edge Of a circus ring; beyond them
several monster forms IN strange atti-
tudes. Half dozen elephants are being
trained to stand upon pedestals, rear up
on their hind legs, and do o,her queer
things quite incompatible with elephan-
tine form and dignity. They all under
stood their places and duties IN '.forming
a pyramid" last season. but have now to
be trained over again, as Hebe was then
| the apex of their pyramid, but now, as
the mother OF that precious baby, is
| much too valuable to be risked in unsafe
places. When the hour Of their lesson
| expires, they are marched to platform
on one side of the ring, chained by their
feet to strong bolts in the beam flooring,
and about a ton Of hay is laid down be-
fore them. There they sway, and
MUNICH, and swing their enormous heads,
and twirl their great trunks contentediy
for hours together.-N. Y. Sun.
Su,anaercJ Of the Dressmaker.
| Nrs. julia Ward Howe, IN her lecture
on Modern Soeiety, " strongly porhays
the sapsemacyof the dremmaker OF to-
day. The fashionable women say to
her: DO how yon viii with mo. Make
mo modest or immodest. Tie up my feet
or straighten my arms till the use Of
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