The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-16
Then comes teaching him to Jump

Iueu CoueS tedSuluS AllH W Juup
through hoop. This is done in the
same way first with hoop of ample di-
mensions, through which he walks, then
skips, then leaps. At last the size
of the hoop is gradually reduced until
it suits the trainers ideas of what is just
1lgnt.
This is about as far as it is necessary to
go with the private teaching of the ami
NAL. He is next given for 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 dozen in
the cage at once. Mr. Conkiin 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 his
fertility of combination. He teaches the
lions to jump over one another; to group
themselves in different evolutions; to
sham death and come to life again; all
at the word of command. Then he is
ready to give public exhibitions and
to put his pupils through their PAGES in
view of the admirlng crowds that line
the streets on the day of the great circus
parade, or throng the seats afternoon and
evening when thousands of spectators are
beneath the vast tent.
With all their docllity when with their
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
cage to be within reach of those terrible
paws, armed with sharp, curved scimitar-
like claws. He may lose his life, and
may only lose an arm, but there is little
chance of his getting away unscathed.
Even the tamer-the fearless man who
puts himself in the power of his relent-
less charges day after day-never dares
to enter the cage without that light whip.
Should he do so his life would not be worth
a moments purchase.
Of course there are instances of individ-
ual lions which were so tame that their
keepers could approach them empty
handed, but they are very rare.
This method of tanning and training is
never varied. No attempt is ever made
to train the lions when infants, even when
born in captivity. They are generally
allowed to wait until three years old be-
fore they receive their first lessons and
sometimes it IS even later before they are
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 in
the wilds of Africa. The only difference
is that they know their attendants from
the time that their eyes are first opened
and they are more easily tanned.
The intimacy that grows between ami
NAL and trainer is remarkable. If lion
has toothache, which is not at all rare
occurrence, he lets his trainer know it
and he it is who extracts the offending
member. If one of those terrible claws
troubles him, the lion begs his keeper
for assistance. When the pain is relieved
or the disturbance removed, the animal
shows his gratitude in every way posi-
BILE to him.
On their side the keepers become so
strongly attached to their charges that
they are deeply affected by their troubles.
William Werner, one of the best known
trainers in the country, had sick hyena
which would lay his head on his shoulder
and moan. Mr.. Werner would stroke it,
talk to it, and if the moaning became
too strong he gave way to tears.
They are a strange lot the lion tanners.
Being so closely associated with their
pets they gradually lose the greater part
of their human connection, and almost
forget their names. There are two of |
them with Barnum's show who have been |
known for man, years as Slim Jim and
Ricketty Jack. While these names are
known from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
scarcely a man of their comrades knows
their real names.
The sketch herewith represents the
lion tanner, Darling, in the midst of his
pupils at q performance at the Nouveau
Cirque, in the Faubourg St. Honore, in
Paris. Mr.. Darling is good looking,
fair American, who carries only WHIP
for effect, his voice alone suficing to
command the tawny children of the des-
ert, who, in company with big Danish
hound, 60 through various perform