Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-14
Miisftllanfons.
Liou.Tamer Martins Method.
HIS GIFT OF CONTROL OVER THE NosT
SAVAGE BEASTS.

A curious history. and one that sheds
many CLEANS of light upon the character
of beasts in the menagerie. is that Of
Henri Martin, the lion-tamer, who died,
80 years old, quietly at his home. among
his collections of butterflies and his books
of botany" Martin, according to his own
letters, began to cultivate his gift OF con-
troll over animals in the days when he
was connected with circus, by acquiring
an extraordinary power over horses.
which he taught every trick known 10 the
profession, and some which have hardly
been exactly paralleled. From this he
went on to tanning wild beasts, and soon
after he had started business as part pro-
prietor OF a menagerie he had labored
eight months in training royal tiger and
had taught spotted hyena to pick up his
gloves, He was never seen with a whip
in his hand but he crossed his arms and
gave his animals the word Of command to
leap on and of his shoulders. and he con-
sIdered his method infinitely superior 10
that Of the trainers who go through their
business chiefly by the terrorism of a
heavy whip and revolver. Their beasts
obey them, but, he said, ''they are not
tanned as mine were, and when one Of
them rebels you can judge the tragic re-
suit from the tragical end of Lucas
One day Martin told his wife that he
anticipated trouble with his lion Cobourg,
who was then in dangerous state Of ex-
element. She begged him to put off the
performance, but he said: ''No; for II
should do it once I should have to do it
every time the animals have caprices.
TIE next night his forebodings were full
filed. Instead Of performing his part
properly, Cobourg crouched low and dug
his claws into the stage and his eyes
Jared Martin had no weapon at com
mand. except dagger in his belt - Il
have said never whip" Instead of obey
ing orders the lion leaped at Martin and II
combat occurred. in the course of which
the lion took Martin up in his mouth and
shook him in the air. Martin struck the
animal over the nose for a second time
and then. feeling his strength exhausted
gave himself up for lost and turned his
back To the beast. so that at the next spring
il might attack the back of his neck, aud
so snake an end Of the business. >
But twdpseconds passed, two seconds
that seemed to me an eternity. | turned
around the lions mood had changed He
looked at the audience, he looked at me.
] gave the sign to 90. He went away as
If nothing had happened.
II was fourteen weeks before Martin
could perform again, but then the lion
worked as well as usual. and continued Ia
to do so for four years without any more
caprices. In tanning one of his tigers
Martin began by taking the brutes atten-
ton off the door of the cage, and then,
armed with dagger. went RAPIDLY into
the cage and stood looking at the tiger,
which, for some minutes, lay motionless
staring at him. Then, feeling SILVER,
and knowing that if the tiger saw it all
would be over with him, he went swiftly
out. At the end of "A fortnight he went
again into the cage. and this time stayed
there half an hodr. A third time he paid
the tiger a visit of three quarters of an
hour The fourth time the tiger trembling
at first. lay down before the pygmy who
braved it. To tame hvena, Martin
wrapped his legs and arms with cords and
protected his head with hankerchiefs. and
then, walking into the cage. went straight
to the animal and offered it his forearm.
The hyena bit it, and the tanner, looking
steadily in his eyes. stood motionless.
The next day he repeated the experiment.
substituting leg Tor an arm. land all
the time Martins black pupils were dash
ing into the gray eye of the hyena. The
beast gave up. cringing and smelling the
feet of the MASTER" Martin tanned his
subjects by his personal influence alone.
and Charles Nodier once said of him AT
the head of an army Martin might have
been Bonaparte. Chance has made u
man of genius a director of a menagerie. -
--Baittmore Netcs.