Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-12
EDUCATED ANIMALS.
A Russian Professor Prefers Lead
Ing Animals to Children.

a Russian Professor Prefers Lead
Ing Animals to Children.
Sig. Domino, biograpber OF clowns,
bareback riders and rcuspeople, has
written curious lot OF "reminiscences
OF the Russian Duroff, the most fam
Gus trainer OF trick animals in the
present generation.
Duroff was originally an instructor
IN Latin and modern languages in a
Russian high school. He practiced
then his powers over domestic ami
mals-frst OF all his dog-and de-
cided that the docllity OF dogs, eats
and geese was far greater than the
docility of school children. He has
never altered his Judgment in this re-
spect. He quit teaching boys, there
fore, 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.
After talking a few minutes Duroff
said:
"And now you must excuse me for
an hour, as have class to instruct
at this time"
"But surely you haven't gone back
to teaching?" exclaimed Domino.
mo, no; you don't understand. 1
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 a lead
chest and set it down in the middle of
the ring, lifted the cover a little, and
then began chirping, thrilling and whist
ling on little lead flute. A mouse
stuck its head through the crack UNI
der the covers tumbled out, and
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 around the bottoms OF his
trousers. More rats and mice fol-
lowed till some thirty were scratching
and sauealing at Duroff's feet The
clown stepped a few yards back
ward and his little flock followed.
He fed them cake and retreated
again. They followed and he re-
warded them as before. Thus he
led them round the ring several times.
When three orfour of them fell behind
the procession to play or fight he at
tracted their attention by tossing
sand at them. Finally he invited
them to come up, and in an instant
they were on his shoulders; in his coat
pockets and racing up and down his
head. He caught three rats by the
tail, swung them round and then let
them shoot off INTO space The in
slant they struck they were up again.
They ran back to Duroff. climbing to
his shoulders, and got the same treat
ment again. After an hour of this the
flute was laid aside and the rats and
mice were packed away for the day.
Duroff was the first man to train q
pig to grunt accompaniments to
songs, dance round a ring, and lump
and waltz to orders. He had then 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 Du-
rolf whether or not he ever tired of his
new occupation and wished to return
to instructing boys as he had at once
done in the Russian High School Du-
rolf did not catch Domino's exact
words, and answered:
Instruct children? Instruct ami
malsg These are two processes which
can hardly be compared. The difficult
les vary so-there is no comparison"
"Iou misunderstood me-" explain
ed Domino. 81 acknowledge that
your work now is much more diff
cult"
More difficult? More difficult?n
shouted Duroff You must be crazy.
Why, it is easier, indescribably easier.
would rather teach ten pigs than
single child. would rather teach FIVE
geese than a boy. A pig or goose
never iorgets, is never impudent, is
never noisy. But child With it you
never know where or how to begin,
and when you stop-bumps!-all is
forgotten.