The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-27
LIONS IN HARNESS.
Long Training Nacdod iiy the Desert King
Before IIo VIII slave.


Long Training Naoiod isy the Desert King
Before IIo VIII Slnvc.
The very spirited illustration Of three
lions driven abreast by n man standing
erect in n Roman chariot is familiar to
most residents i'll London. 1t portrays,
without tho usual absurd eXaggeration
OF mural art an entertainments which
is given daily at the French Exhibition
at Earls Court.
In tho centor of the large circular
space which has been used during the
last few years for tho display OF tho In
dams of the Wild West tho sports Of
the Roman Amphitheater, otc., is erect.
ed smaller circle, securely surrounded
with iron bars, having at tho back an
enclosed building containing dens.
The 'opcn sesame" of my host passed
us into tho private rocesses Of this
prison house, in which I found four
young lions. tho oldest being about
three years of ago. These constituted
tho trained troupe, and thoro was also
ono younger scholar who had just boon
added to the collection. Tho education
OF this ono WAS just commencing, and
no still retained tho feline charac tcris-
tics to such an extent that any approach
to familiarity was met by Il snarl which
displayed the unshed milk tooth of tho
owner looking as sharp and needle-liko
as those of puppy.
The training of these young lions
rarely occupies less space of timo than
twelve months, and is chiefly accom-
plished by kindness. Mr. Darling, their
trainer, informed mo that he regarded
force as not being desirable. as it excited
the animals to rebellion and was not
conducive to obedience, whereas,
trained under the system adopted,
each animal knows it's name and an
swcrs to it. SO successful are tho meth
DDS employed by Mr.. Darling, that no
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 tho
performance.
After this Introduction to the per-
formers l took my seat with the audi
encc to witness tho exhibition. Mr..
Darling and his assistant entered tho
arena with tho lions and ono of tho
dogs; the former at tho word Of com
mand lcaped up upon pcdestals and ar
ranged themselves in pyramidal groups.
While in this position Mr.. Darling
placed the ends of two scarfs in tho
mouths Of tho lions. forming festoons,
over and under which ono of the dogs
lcaped; two Of the lions then stepped
upon plank, forming secsaw, the
dog leaping on to tho center and sway
ing it from side to SIDE. Ono of tho
lions then mounted Il tricycle., working
the pedals, moving the front wheel
with its fore feet, while the boar
hound was pushing bchind. The
chariot was then brought forward:
one lion entered readily between tho
shafts and two others took their places
at either side, one proving rather re-
fractory, but, after sundry growls, he
submitted to tho stronger will of tho
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
scorpions, utilizing tho fear and terror
OF the animals as the superior power Of
man. Mr.. Darling. on tho other hand,
Is very familiar with tho members of
his troupe. The manner in which ho
took hold of the forelegs of one of tho
largest and pulled him down from his;
pedestal, when he was not sufficiently
quick i'll descending was amusing.
The lions arc Of African descent, but,
like the majority OF the species now
in mcnagcr.es, have all boon born in
captivity. and familiarzed with man
from their birth Whether they will re-
tain their docility as they advance to-
ward thcirfull size remains to bo seen;
but at present they offer tho most COM
plete specimens OF trained lions that it
has ever been tho writer's fortune to wit
ness. London Field
PPOEE GcIOMaI DnoErno