Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-26
A CIRCUS In WINTER
TRAINING THE BABY ELEPHANT TO WALK
A ROPE.
Rewarded with Carrots for Performing an tx
temely DifOult Task-Ths Girl Bare
Back Rider Who Aims Al
$50 3 Week.
Detroit Free Press.

| SullukLuS aA hNAAHNS 49, -
more than three inches wide, until her
feet rested upon a bar of similar width
which extended horizontally from one
strong post to another distant about ten
feet. The horizontal bar was raised some
three feet above the ground, and it was at
once interesting and pitiful to notice
Baby's cautious steps and the extreme
care with which she balanced herself ON
the perch, while her eyes had in them an
appealing expression almost human.
BABY" was young elephant, which
| Mr.. Hiram Marks, for thirty-hVe years
connected with old John Robinson's circus
in the dual capacities of ring-master ana
trainer, was teaching to walk the tight
rope in the practice ring at the winter
headquarters of the circus. A raised ridge
of clay. banked up in approved equestrian
arenic STYLE, inclOSed a circular patch OF
sawdust about rs large as the usual circus
ring. Rows of cream-colored, black ana
calico horses chewed hay without ceaslng
along two sides of the stable around the
ring, Their names and tails were braided
and tied at the ends with strings, and their
coats rlistened with q luSter which all the
clipping and brushing in the world never
Give to the rough dress of the shaggy little
Shetlands punched at the stables Tar end.
I'VE are fairly well advanced with our
lesson" remarked Mr.. Marks, as he re-
yersed the action of the iron hook, and IN
stead of leading Baby forward, began 10
gently urge her backward. She had reach
ed the limit of the sO-called tight rope ana
was now about to proceed crab fashion
hack to the starting point. "At the begin
ming our little student here merely walked
six inch plank placed upon the ground;
then the plank was gradually narrowed To
its present width and raised to It's present
height. We shall send it up from four 10
six feet higher, and possibly narrow IL
somewhat still While an elephant Is not
80 quick and much more timorous than
horse, it is quite as intelligent and almost
rs easy trained as that animal-not more
80. no. A bright young horse will take up
tricks within the limit of its capacity IN a
smaller space of time than any otter animal
TINT | know, with the exception OF the one
shall put into the ring next.
Watch that curtained door andyou Will
see that invaluable animal come on III
about five minutes. Hercapacity IS limit
less. She understands the English Ian
guage as well rs you or |, and unless she Is
treated with far more consideration, and
boarded and lodged far better than l my
self she sulks. and then her training Is
Knocked into cooked hat. Twenty thou
sand dollars would not buy her, and when
she takes the road next spring she will par
alyze the natives.
Baby gave little snort OF delight when
she stepped from the narrow bar TO the
solid footing on the sawduSt Her lessons
were done for the day, and like Hoods
school boy she ran and leaped like trout
let in brook She tapped her big ears,
switched her tail and numbered out of the
ring at a 2:4O gait toward bucket of car
rots which an attendant had in waiting.
A broad-back white horse, with a silver
silk name and Que of those billOwy tails
rarely met with in real life, cantered into
the ring There was an arch i'll his swan
neck proud carriage of his head never
seen outside OF the circus ring. a white
corded girth secured pad on his back,
back, and the lines leading to his bit were
OF blue silk, frayed soiled.
Then the invaluable young animal,
whose capacity for taking up tricks was
limitleSs, came on. She pushed aside the
calico hangings ut the Curtained doorway
and walked to the horses side. She was a
girl, with big bunch of yellow hair on
the top of her head n pretty pink and
white face and blue flannel blOomer cos
tune cut high in the neck, ample as to
skirt and ending in a pair of Turkish
trousers gathered in at The ankles.
Il amt a-going to do no knee work to-
dav." she said stOutly, when Mr.. Marks
had swung her light figure to seat on the
md. She at once lifted herself from 4
sitting posture to her feet and proceeded to
clasp q snap-buckle into IN iron ring
which was sewed TO the belt about her
waist. The snap-buckle was ut the end OF
II rope dangling from gibbet-ike arm
above.
"All right" remarked Mr.. Marks, lone,
two, three, and away you 60"
lie cracked the long whip in his hand
with q report like pistol shot, and winked
mt the writer out of the tail of his eye.
"Now you will see some fun, " he whis'
pered. The first few rounds of the ring
ought always to be taken by the beginner
on her knees. 1t is quite rs secure a posi-
ton as sitting, and it is almost indispensa-
bic in catching the horses gait; but
mademOiSelle knows better than do, and
although she has only taken three lessons
YOU have heard her propose to give up
knee-work altOgether-ah, | thought so. "
For the first halI.do2en yards madam
oiselle went bravely on. Her slppered
feet kept their hold on the pad, and
although her body swayed dangerously
with every move Of her gently Looping
horse, she braCed herself by bearing upon
the bride, and seemed determined TO vim
dictate her Judgment in abandoning knee
work" at this early stage of the game. But
with every yard the swaying grew more
pronounced and her balance more preca-
rious, until suddenly with shrek she
tell. A fall Of some five feet while in an
erect position on the back Of moving
} horse, might easily be fatal, especially
! when the horses feet are shod with iron
and the laller alights in his path.
, But medemOselle did not fall far. The
rope dangling from the gibbed arm held
her suspended from the middle in the air,
J like captive frog, kicking with arms and
legs and making some vigorous remarks
with her tongue until the horse had COM
! pleted the rings circuit and once more
placed his back beneath her for her sup
port
Now, you see," mildly began the
trainer, as he helped her again to the
I stand.
mo, don't see, ;" she snapped. IL can
ride this horse without no more knee
work, and I'm a-going to do it.
: Which she proceeded to do, but clinging
! to the work with a grit and pertinacity
5 which excited Mr.. Marks unqualified adj
: miration.
r LET her keep on and she can command
t $50 a week when the next season opens, y
| he said, from $50 to SO is the average
weekly stipend for rider Of from two to five
years experience, and as it requires winter
practice, when, of course, no salary is paid,
the work is worth the money. All young
riders begin by riding on their knees.
When they can 90 around the ring conf
IDENTIFY in this position, they must rise