The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-12-04
LIONS IN HARNESS.



Before He WIN Slave
The very spirited illustration Of three
hons driven abreast by man standing
erect in Roman chariot IL familiar TO
most residents In London. It portrays
without the usual absurd exaggerAtion
Of mural ark an entertainment which
Is given daily at the French Exhibition
1t Earls Court
In the center OF the large circular
space which has been used during the
last few years Tor the display OF tire Inc
diana Of the Wild West the sports Of
the Roman Amphitheater. etc. Is erect
ed smaller circle. securely surrounded
with iron bars having at the back an
enclosed building containing denA
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 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 commencing, and
he still retained the feline charact eris-
tics to such an extent that any approach
to familiarity was met by . snaSi which
displayed the unshed milk teeth Of the
owner, looking as sharp and need c-libs
- those Of . puppy.
The training Of these young li.P1
rarely occupies less space Of time tina,
twelve months, and is chiefly accom-
piished by kindness Mr.. Darling, their
trainer, informed me that he regarded
force. as not being desirable. as itexcited
the animals to rebellion and was not
conducive to obed .ence. whereas,
trained under the system adopted,
each animal knows Its name and an
swers to It So successful are the meth
DDS employed by Mr. Darling, that ho
has never been bitten by tho animals
during the time he has had them in
hand.
In addition to the lions, the collection
includes two huge Bavarian boarhounds,
which take q 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 tho lions and one Of the
dogs; the former at the word OF COM
mand leaped up upon pedestals and ar
ranged themselves in pyramdal groups
While in. this position Mr.. Darling
placed the ends OF two scarfs in tho
mouths OF the lions, forming fesioons,
over and under which one OF the dogs
leaped; two Of the lions then stepped
npon plank, forming q seesaw, the
dog leapng on to the center and sway
ing It from sido to SIDE One Of tho
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 entered readily 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 tho
trainer, who mounted the chariot and
drove the trio around the circle.
The performance Is very distir ct from
lion tanners in general, who rute their
charges with rodsof iron and prod them
with points worse than tho sHngs OF
scorpions, utilizing the fear and terror
Of the animals as the superior power Of
man. Mr.. Darling, on tho 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 b.,rn 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 rema ms to be seen;
but at present they offer the most COM
plete specimens OF trained lions that 1t
has ever been the writer's fortune to wit
ness. London Field.