Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-11-19
LIONS IN HARNE SIS.
Long Training Needed by the Desert King
Before He VIII Slave.

Long Training Needed by til G Desert King
Before He VIII Slave.
The very spirited illustration of three
lions driven abreast by man standing
erect in Roman chariot is familiar to
most residents in London. It pcrtrays,
without the usual absurd exaggeration
of mural art, an entertainment which
is given daily at the French Exhibition
at Earl's Court.
In the center of the large circular
space which has been used during the
last few years for the display of the In
dams of the Wild West, the sports Of
the Roman Am hitheater, ETC., is erect
ed smaller circle, securely surrounded
with iron bars, having at the back an
enclosed building containing dens.
The 'open sesame" of my host passed
us into the private recesses of this
prison house, in which [ found four
young lions, the oldest being about
three years of age These cons tuted
the trained troupe, and there was also
one younger scholar who had just been
added to the collection. Tue education
Of this one was just commencing, and
he still retained the feline characters-
tics to such an extent that any approach
to familiarity was met by snarl which
displayed the unshed milk teeth of the
owner, looking as sharp and neede-like
as those of a puppy.
The training of these young lions
rarely occupies less space of time than
twelve months, and is chiefly accom-
plished by kindness. Mr.. Darling, their
trainer, informed me that he regarded
force as not being desirable, as it excited
the animals to rebellion and was not
conducive to obed' ence, whereas,
trained under the system adopted,
each animal knows it's name and an
swers to it. So successful are the meth
DDS employed by Mr.. Darling, that he
has never been bitten by the animals
during the time he has had them in
hand.
In addition to the lions, the collection
includes two huge Bavarian boarhounds
which take very prominent part in the
performance.
After this introduction to the per-
formers ! took my seat with the audi
ence to witness the exhibition. Mr..
Darling and his ASSISTANT entered the
arena with the lions and one of the
dogs; the former at the word of COM
mand leaped up upon pedestals and ar
ranged themselves in pyramidal groups.
While in this posi- ton Mr.. Darling
placed the ends of two scarfs in the
mouths Of the lions, forming festoons,
over and under which one Of the dogs
leaped; two of the lions then stepped
upon a plank, forming seesaw. the
dog leaping on to the center and sway
ing it from side to side One of the
lions then mounted tricycle., working
the pedals, moving the front wheel
with it's fore feet while the boar
hound was pushing behind. The
chariot was then brought forward;
one lion entered reasily between the
shafts and two others took their places
at either side, one proving rather re-
fractory, but after sundry growls, he
submitted to the stronger will of the
trainer. who mounted the chariot and
drove the trio around the circle.
The performance is very distinct from
lion tanners in general, who rule their
charges with rods of iron and prod them
with points worse than the stings of
OCO1 pAOhS, W IiZiI1S tuC IOdI dAo GOIIOE
of the animals as the superior power of
man. Mr.. Darling, on the other hand,
is very familiar with the members OF
his troupe. The manner in which he
took hold of the forelegs of one of the
largest and pulled him down from his
pedestal, when he was not sufficiently
quick in descending, was amusing.
The lions are of African descent but,
like the majority of the species now
in menageries have all been born in
capt witty and familiarized with man
from their birth. Whether they will re-
tain their docility as they advance to-
ward their full size remains to be seen;
but at present they offer the most COM
plete specimens of trained lions that it
has ever been the writer's fortune to wit
ness.-London Field.