The record-union., 1891-11-21
TRAINING ANIMALS.
More Satisfactory Than the Training
of Children.

of Children.
Signor Domino, biographer of clowns,
bareback riders and circus people gener-
ally, has written a curious lot of renlinis-
cences of the Russian, Duroff, the most
famous trainer of trick animals in the
present generation.
Duroff was originally am Instructor in
Latin and modern languages in a Russian
high school. He practiced then his pow
ers over domestic animals-first of all his
dog-and declared that the docility of
dogs, cats and geese are far greater than
the docility of school children. He has
never altered his judgment in this re-
spect. He quit teaching boys, therefore,
and Joined an itinerant circus, to the
scandaliZing of his former colleagues.
Domino met him one morning in the
empty ring of the Circus Schumann. At
ter 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
teachingp' exclaimed Domino.
''No, no; you don't understand. have
just begun teaching, in fact. The recita-
ton in question is by 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 a little and then began
lead dute. mouse stuck its head
through the crack under the cover, tum-
bled out and trotted gayly to Duroff,s
feet. Another mouse followed and then
big rat plunged out into the ring. 1t
marched gravely up to Durotf and scram-
bled round the bottom of his trousers
More rats and mice followed till some
thirty were scratching and squealinp at
DurotfS feet. The clown stepped a few
yards backward and his little flock fol-
lowed. BE fed them cake and retreated
again. They followed, and he rewarded
them as before, Thus he led them around
the ring several times. When three or
four of them fell behind the procession to
play or fight he attracted their attention
by tossing sand at them. Finally he in
vited them to come up, and in an instant
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 off into space The in
stant they struck they were up again.
They ran back to Duroff. 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.
DuroH was the first man to train pig
to grunt accompaniments to songs. dance
round a ring and jump and waltz to
OruerS. ne mao GDen also Taught a rooster
to crow at command, and had instructed
successfully a goose in the business of
fetching and carrying. Domino, after
discussing these triumphs of training,
asked Duroff whether or not he ever tired
of his new occupation and wished to re-
turn to instructing boys as he had done
once in Russian high school. Duroff
did not catch Domino's exact words, and
answered.:
Instruct children? Instruct animals :?
These are two processes which can
hardly be compared. The difficulties
vary so-there is no comparison"
You misunderstood me-" explained
Domino. Il acknowledge that your
work now is more difficult,
"More difficult? More difffcult?v
shouted Durof. .You must be crazy,
Why, 1t is easier-indescriba
easier. 1 would rather teach ten
pigs than a single child. I would
rather teach five geese than a boy.
A pig or a goose never forgets, is never
impudent, is never noisy. But child |!
With it you never know where or how to
begin, and when you stop-bumpsl all
forgotten"