The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-02

A series of tricks in regular order was
fixed upon and l put them through them
every day. Twas with them nearly all
of the time, and they followed me like
two pet kittens. There was ring in the
stables, where ! taught them day by day.
First, with food in my hands, l got them
to follow me around the ring in any di-
rection,I chose to take. In this way got
them to go along on their knees, and to
waltz. What they knew when | got
them had practically to be untaught, as
it was all done by "gce" and "haw." !
found that they were quick Of sight. and
that having taught them certain things l
needed after that to simply get where
they could see me, and to give them a
cue by the motion of my body or my
whip in q certain direction. In this way
the waltz was taught, and when they go
around the ring on their knees | keep
ahead of them and they follow me-"
GLOW did you learn them to fire pis-
toll"
"By piece of carrot fastened to the
trigger by string"
"Do they know their names%
eyes; can call Moody, and he comes,
| but somehow Sankey is always sure to
follow"
"Do you expect them to forget their
tricks?"
mo; find that they are anxious to
do them, and l can put them through at
any time or in any place. The first night
in New York they acted little strange,
but they soon got over that, and now
they don't mind the music, the crowds,
or the lights"
| While Mr.. White was talking the two
oxen were following their keeper around
the dressing tent. Their large round
honest eyes seemed full Of kindness
Zazal, clad in seal-skin, went lovingly
up to Moody and adjusted the red ane
blue ribbons tied beneath the brass tip:
on his horns. Nine. Dockrill, with rec
mantilla about her shoulders, and all il
gauze and white, ready for her "princi
pal act" danced about to the music, ant
, in graceful pirouette came in front Q
! Sankey, whose head she stroked. Cos
: hen, the giant, who dreams OF the da.
$ when his circus life will end, and he cal
E live among oxen of his own on his Ney
Jersey farm, said that upon his word h
had never seen anything in the show lin
. equal to that trained yoke Of oxen
v ''They are such honest, good creatures,
said the giant, zone can't help Gkln
a them" When Goshen stood besid
a Moody, it would have seemed as narura
t for him to have picked the OK up as fo
e Nine. Nelson to have picked up one Q
e her trained doves but he merely tappe
q the animal fondly upon the head. Th
: keeper Of the trained oxen ran out, an
:. the animals trotted after him, playful
n raking each others horns. Mr.. Whit
l. seized his whip and ran after then
made bow to the audience, turned t
l. the oxen, and with sweep Of his whi
e both Moody and Ssnkey dropped o
g their knees, in which position they fo
lowed him around the ring. Then San
:. key lay down and Moody pas ed owe
him sideways and then jumped over b
n back. Then Sankey went up the seesa
board backward, until he reached tt
t. centre, where he balanced himself unit
,s Moody lad placed all fours upon tt
+ board. Then Sankey backed. Mooo
M leaned forward, and they began to 60 |
II and down, while the band played "Swe
p Little Buttercup." Then the oxe
climbed the wooden steps, to the tune
a "Fair Moon, to Thee l Sing. land tn
performance ended with lively walt
The oxen trotted back to their tent, ar
were led around to their beds Of hs
among the wild beasts. "After my e.
perience with these oxen," said M
White, "I believed 1 can train any ar
r NAL, no matter how stupid it seems"