The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-09-11
BILL ARP.
Lions in Harness.

The very spirited illustration of three
lions driven abreast by man standing
erect in Roman chariot is familiar to
most residents in London. 1t portrays,
without the usual absurd exaggeration Of
mural art, an entertainment which is
given daily at the French Exhibition at
Earl's court.
In the centre of a large circular space,
which has been used during the past few
years for the display ofthe Indians of the
Wild West, the sports Of the Roman
amphitheatre, etc, is erected 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 I found four young lions, the
oldest being about 8 years of age. These
constituted the trained troupe. and there
WAS also one younger scholar who had
just been added to the collection. The
education of this one was just commence
ing, and he still retained the feline char.
acteristics to such an extent that any
approach to familiarity was met by q
snarl which displayed the unshed milk
teeth of the owner, looking as sharp and
needle,like as those of 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
conductive to obedience, whereas trained
under the system adopted, each animal
knows Its name and answers to it. So
successful are the methods employed by
Mr., Darling that be has never been Bit
ten 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 il the
performance.
After this introduction to the perfor-
mers toook my seat with the audience
to witness the exhibition. Mr.. Darling
and his assistant entered the arena with
the lions aud one of the dogs the for
mer at the word of command laaped up
upon pedestals and arranged themselves
in pyramidal groups, While in this
position MIR. 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 plank forming a
seesaw, the dog leaping on to the centre
and swaying it from side to side. One
of the lions then mounted tricycle.,
working the pedals, moving the front
wheel with its fore feet, while the boar
hound was pushing behind. The chariot
was then brought forward; one lion en-
tered readily between the shafts and two
others took their places at either side,
one proving rather refractory, but after
sundry growls ne submitted to the stron-
ger will of the trainer, who mounted the
chariot and drove the trio round the
circle
The performance is very distinct from
that of the lion tanners in general, who
rule their charges with rods of iron, and
prod them with points worse than the
stings of scorpions, utilizing the fear and
terror of the animals at the superior
power of man. MIR. Darling, on the other
hand, is very familiar with the members
of this troupe. The manner in which
he took hold of the forelegs of one Of
the largest and pulled him down from
his pedestal when be was not sufficiently
quick in descending was amusing.
The lions are of African descent, but
like the majority Of the species now ir
menageries, have all been born in cap
tivity, and familiarized with man from
their birth. Whether they will retain
their docility as they advance toward
their full size remains to be seen but al
present they offer the most complete
specimens of trained lions that it ha'
ever been the writer's fortune to witness
from the London Field.