The Opelousas courier., 1890-06-14

linen comes teacnlng HLM w JUMP
through a hoop. This is done in the
same way, first with a hoop of ample di-
mansions, through which he walks, then
skips, then leaps. At last the size
of the hoop is gradually reduced until
II suits the trainers ideas of what is Just
tight.
This is about as far as it is necessary to
&C with the private teaching of the ami
NAL. He is next given for q companion
an old performing lion, and they are
taught IN concert TO perform together.
Example is greater than precept, and it
is no time before more animals are added,
until at last there may be half a dozen in
the cage at once. Mr.. Conklin goes into
the CAGE with seven Of them, but he is
the only man in the world who has ever
done this.
The Joint feats are few in number, and
| the genius of the trainer appears IN ms
| fertility of combination. He teaches the
| lions to lump over one another; to group
| themselves in different e%volutions; to
| sham death and come to life again; all
at the word of command. Then ne Is
ready to give public exhibitions ana
to put his pupils through their PAGES IN
view of the admirlng crowds mat ilne
the streets on the day Of the great circus
narade, or throng the seats afternoon ana
evening when thousands of spectators are
beneath the vast tent.
With all their docllity when with thelE
trainers, the fierce beasts are not tanned,
however, in the sense that horses are
tanned. Woe be it to the unfortunate
stranger who goes near enough to the
csoe to be within reach of those terrible
paws, armed with sharp, curved scimltar,
like claws. He may lose his life, n
NAV only lose an arm, but there IS little
chance of his getting away unscathed.
Even the tauer-the fearless man who
nuts himself in the power of his Ielent'
less charges day after day-never dares
to enter the cage without that light whip
Should he do so his life would not be wortf
a moments purchase.
OF course there are instances OF 1ndlyid.
ual lions which were so tame that neil
keepers could approach them empty
handed, but they are very rare.
This method of tanning and training Is
never varied. No attempt is ever mad'
to train the licss when infants, even wher
born in captivity. They are general.
allowed to wait until three years old be
fore they receive their first lessons and
sometimes it Is even later before they ar
taken in hand. The animals have never
been domesticated. Even the cubs born
IN menageries are as fierce when they
grow up as if they had been captured IL
the wilds of Africa. The only difference
is that they know tkair attendants from
the time that their eyes are first onenee
and they are more easily tanned.
The intimacy that grows between ami
NAL and trainer is remarkable. II a hoi
has d toothache, which is not at all a rar'
occurrence, he lets his trainer know
and he it is who extracts the Offending
member. If one of those terrible claw
troubles him, the lion begs his keepe
for assistance. When the pain is relieved
or the disturbance removed, the ANNA
shows his gratitude in every way posi-
Bile to him.
On their side the keepers become S
strongly attached to their charges tina
they are deeply affected by their troubles
William Werner, one of the best know
trainers in the country, had a sick hyen
which would lay his head on his should
and moan. Mr.. Werner would stroke il
talk to it, aud if the moaning becam
too strong he gave way to tears.
They are a strange lot the lion tanners
Being SO closely associated with thei
pets they gradually lose the greater pal
Of their human connection, and almo'
forget their names. There are two {
them with Barnum's show who have bee
known for many years as Slim Jim an
Ricketty Jack. While these names al
known from the Atlantic to the Pacific
scarcely a man of their comrades know
their real names.
The sketch herewith represents Il
lion tanner, Darling, in the midst OF n
pupils at a performance at the MOVIES
Cirque, in the Faubourg st. Honore,
Paris. Mr.. Darling is a good iookln'
fair American, who carries only a WI
for effect, his voice alone suficlng
command the tawny children of the dc
ert, who, in company with a big Dams
hound, go through various perforf
ances.-Nep York journal.