The morning call., 1891-07-12
DUR0FF, THE ANIMAL-TRAINER.
Man Who Preferred to Teach Five
Geese Rather Than One Boy.

Man who Preferred to Teach Five
Geese Rather Than One Boy.
Signor Domino, biographer of clowns,
bareback riders and circus people gener-
ally. has written curious lot of reminis-
eences of the Russian. Duroff, the most
famous trainer of triek-animals in the pres
ent generation.
DuroH was originally an instructor in
Latin and modern languages in a Russian
high school. He practic ed then his powers
over domestic animals-first of all, his dog
and decided that the doeility of dogs, cats
and geese was far greater than the docility
of school children. He has never altered
his Judgment in this respect He quit teach
ing boys, therefore, and joined an itinerant
circus to the scandalizing of his former col
leagues.
Domino met him one morning IN the
empty ring of the Circus Schumann. Afte r
talking few minutes Duroff said:
And now you must excuse me for an
hour as l have class to instruct at this
time"
But surely you haven't gone back to
teaching :? exclaimed Domino.
No, no; yon don't understand | have
Just begun teaching. in fact. The recitation
in question is by my rats and mice"
Domino got permission to listen to the
recitation. Duroff fetched lead chest and
set it down in the middle OF the ring. lifted
the cover and then began chirping, trilling
and whistling on little lead flute. A
mouse stuck its head through the crack
under the cover, tumbled out ami trotted
gayly over to Duroff's feet. Another mouSe
followed, and then a big rat plunged out
into the ring 1t marched gravely up to
Duroff and scrambled round the buttons
of his trousers. More rats and mice
followed. till some thirty were scratching
and Squealing at Duroffs feet The clown
stepped few yards backward, and his lit
tie flock followed. he fed them cake and
ietreated again. They followed, and ne
rewarded them as before. Thus he led
them round the ring several times. When
| three or four of them fell behind the pro-
cession to play or fight he attracted their
attention by tossing sand at them. Finally
he invited them to come up, and in an in
slant they were on his shoulders, in his
coat-pocketS, and racing up and down the
back Of his head. He Caught three rats by
the tail, swung them round, and then let
them shoot of into space. The instant they
struck they were up again. They ran back
to DurUff, climbed TO his shoulders and got
the same treatment again. After an hour
OF this the flute was laid aside, and the rats
and mice were packed away for the day.
DurOn was the first man to train a pig to
grunt Accomplishments to songs, dance
round ring, and jump and waltz 10 orders.
lie had then taught rooster to crow at
command, and had Instructed successfully a
goose in The business of fetching and carry
ing. Domino, after discussing these
triumphs OF training. asked Durofi whether
or not he ever tired of his new occupation
and wished to return to instructing boys, as
he had once done in the Russian high
school. Duroff did not catch DoInipo's
exact words, and answered.
Instruct children? Instruct animals I?
These are two processes which can hardly
be compared. The difficulties vary So
there is no comparison"
Y tlisnniarstonJ
Domino. I" acknowledge that your work
now is much more difficult"
More difficult? More difficult?" shouted
DurOf Iou must te crazy. Why, it Is
easier indescribabiy easier. | would rather
teach ten pigs than single Child. l would
rather teach Ave geese than a boy. A pig
or Il goose never Targets, is never impudeHt,
IS never noisy."-N Y. Sun.