McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-04
Delmonico, the Lion Tanner.
Pail Mall Gazette.

Pail Mall Gazette.
By the time that these lines meet
the readers eye the auctioneer will be
hard at work disposing of what is
really the original Wombwell's menag-
erie, and, beyond all doubt, the finest
and most important of the three
branches into which the property sub
sequently grew. AS the sale was de-
termined upon, we sent our represen-
tative to hear what he could of the me-
nagerie and its history. What he was
told he thus records: 'Lion tanning"
L said, sis always interesting to out
siders. Is there any difficulty in pro-
curing men to perform with ions?"
"No; some one generally turned up
who could do it in q better or worse
style" elbow long does it take be-
fore man and beast are fit to appear
in public?'' cit all depends-but
here is Mr.. Ledner Delmonico himself;
he will tell you all about it." 1 went
off with the celebrated lion tanner, who
has performed before nearly every
crowned head in the world. In pri-
vate life the lion tanner is by no means
a terrible person. Delmonico is a
rather slim but well set up African,
about feet II inches, and if you met
him in train you might think him
shy, retiring man. Jumping as soon
as possible into medals res, l asked:
"Would you, if occasion required, en-
ter cage of strange lions and perform
with them before having first institu-
ted a sort of cupboard love by feeding
them?' Certainly; 1 have practic-
ally done so more than once" "Have
you ever felt nervous?" "Never.
When man once feels nervous it is
time to retire. Training is, 1 sup
pose, long business?" cit varies.
Some animals learn quicker than 9TH
ers like men. Those leopards in that
cage did very well in six weeks, and
those lions there are only now in course
of training" ''But thought you al
ways liked to train them while young?"
''You see" said Delmonico, lighting a
cigar, cit is in this way. In the first
place for performing purposes L prefer
a forest bred lion to one bred in cap
tivity, and, in the next place, like to
begin when he is two and half or
three years old. A lion seldom or
never gets worse tempered after he
gets that age; so, when he reaches it
you can tell whether he will prove
tractable or not. and either train him
or not. as you like.
Tigers and leopards? No, 1 don't
like them as much as lions; tigers are
so uncertain, and leopards are so quick
and active. Just look here" and Del
monico promptly disappeared into
cage containing four leopards that
gave the most marvellous signs of their
quickness, jumping over each other.
starting from and alighting on small
wooden platform hooked on to the bars
of the cage, jumping through hoops
and showing their docility by sitting
up and begging like a dog. you
cont appear to keep hot irons and
firearms in readiness, I said. mo,
never do. The less confidence you can
put in others and the more you feel in
yourself the better for the lion
tanner" ''Have you ever been badly |
mauled?" mo, I've just had scratch |
or two. All the same, one scratch was |
deep enough to leave scar on the |
hand. All, that was done by strange |
lion put in the cage with my other.
The last time l was touched was an
accident, the lion didn't do it on pur-
pose. He was jumping by me, and
one of his fangs just caught me and
went in my arm about an inch, but he
didn't mean to do it, poor fellowr'
And Delmonico is quite happy about it
as there was no malice in it. "Do the
lions eat much?" l asked. '.About
twelve or fourteen pounds day.
Sometimes they get horse, and some
times beef, 1 like beef best Some
people think we stuff them full of food |