The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-01-01
THE TRICK LIONS.
An Interview With Mr.. Darling, the Lion
Tanner.

The lion tanner is a highly intelli-
! gent young man, who. born in the
| United States, went to Germany in his
| youth. In Hamburg he associated
with leading firm. the Jamrach, of
| Germany, and so, having animals in
his charge, became familiar with hand
ling them. Travelling for the busi-
ness, he made frequent visits to Africa
and Asia. collecting animals. In a
commercial sense, considering lions
and tigers as cattle to be bought and
sold, he became thoroughly acquainted
with their ways and instincts Ger
tainly it was the only school where
| such quiet mastery over savage ami
mails could be acquired.
1T is very long business said
Mr.. Darling; ''all my animals have
been two years in training. Why, it
takes all of two months to make a lion
sit in chair, and stay there | can.
not vaunt general intelligence in lions
it is rather individual. | have had
some fine young lions, superb in BODY.
that had no brains. Not wicked or
cross but simply stupid. 1t was a
tendency to forget tomorrow all thai
had been acquired for months before.
But | can't always tell. Leo is nv
best pupil. He never was ugly. but
once l gave him up and sent him off,
he was so dull; then took him tc
school again; and l know no lion sec.
ond to him now in Intelligence and
docillty. This is the point A lior
doesn't want to do things. He lust
doesn't tn Nnu- L,
him. Punish him, and you make him
your enemy; afraid of you, and he
gets worse, not better. | coax him
and talk to him in English, for Eng.
llsh is the best language for command.
Inc seesaw aud the velocipede are
difficult tricks. Not one lion in a
thousand can be taught to keep his
balance. They mostly tumbed off.
Perhaps in that performance their
highest intelligence is called into plav.
The vclocipedc requires a careful lion
and have just the right one. 1t is
nice work to get the exact pose and to
keep 1T; but wha. gave me the most
trouble Is the chariot performance. A
hon must have had an original con-
tempt for that kind of business. YoL
see | ann busy Harvesting up one lion
while the others are perfectly free
1he art has been to make the rest of
them come up of their own accord.
For months | had one lion tearing
round alone. and the rest scattered
about. Now they all come up to time.
They don t want to, but they must. 1t
Is patience, kindness, making them
not afraid of me-for am not afraid
of them-that has done the business.
l have rehearsals all the time, for the
animals must be constantly at work so
as not to forget. The whclps are COM
ing on fast; one. | think, shows great
Intelligence. | feed them eight pounds
of beef day for the big ones and six
Tor the smaller ones. and they take
their supper after the performances
You cannot reward your lions for
good behavior. like YOU would
horse with lump of sugar or car
Yot?n
No; they despisc sugar, but love
beef tea. But if they behave very
well. give them during the perform
ance little tidbit of meat and Nero
would think | was not doing the right
thing with him if he didn't get his NOR
sci. My whips indicate the positions
for the animals. You could not hurt a
lion, who has a tough hide, with IA
lash. but whip acts as protection.
You might belabor a lion with a bio
stick. and he would not feel it. But he
does not fancy a stick. the point of
which, like a spear, is held in his direc-
ton; so If one threatened me, could
keep him off. An act | had to give up
was where lion rose aud put his fore
paws on my shoulders. The claws are
very sharp. and any display of endear-
ment would cut through my coat. and
wound my shoulders, aud a new coat
every night was too expensive. All |
the lions are fond of me, and we re- |
sDect one another.-HGrpeg's Heek{u.