The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-10-22
THEIR RECORD AS PETS.
WILD BEASTS tanned FOR Do
MESTic USES.
Polar Bear Cubs Not Likely Lot for
neutrality-suspicious. Farms In Al
giers-rho Indian Cheetah
An Amiabie Beast

Lieutenant Becker OF the Austrian
polar expedition tells story OF a
sailor who tried to tame two young
white bears not much bigger than
lapdoga and got SO fond OF them that
he even took them to bed in cold
weather. till one night his comrades
were awakened by loud shrieks aud
the complaint that one OF his pets had
bitten two OF his toes OF. An Esqui-
mau pilot In commenting on the ac-
cident remarked that the little brutes
can never DO trusted after they have
grown stout enough to bite through a
mans clothes.
But with that single exception
specimens OF every kind OF carnivor-
Gus mammals have been tanned suf-
iciently to recognize the authority of
their master and TO be- domesticated.
II not handled with IMMUNITY.
Seleucus Nicator. the king OF Syria
used to drive four. In hand team OF
tame tigers. and the Nabob OF Dude
had pet she tiger that often was
taken along on his journeys and had
been taught to mount an elephant
without making use OF her formid-
able claws
Lions have frequently been tanned
by showmcn. and sometimes even for
military purposes During the reign
OF the Emperor Trajan. a Roman
general on an expedition against a
revolted province on the north shore
OF the Adriatic tried the plan OF
soaring the natives with brigade OF
trained lions but found that in war.
faro the ignorance OF plucky barbar-
ians Is not always a disadvantage
"They mistook them for large dogs"
says tho historian. land knocked
their brains out"
About ninety per cent OF the wild
animals used for the beast fights OF
Circus Maximus came from Northern
Africa and the Algerian coast towns
are still the favorite rendezvous OF in
international pet dealera On the
steamer wharf OF Algiers strangers
are besieged by the native beast ped
dlers extolling In broken French the
merits Of their tame baboons jackals,
monkeys and young lions In the
outskirts OF the Cabash. or hill suburb
there are regular beast farms where
lions and leopards by dozens OF pairs
are kept for breeding purposes.
But the most tamable of all the big
cats Is the East Indian cheetah. or
hunting leopard a creature which in
its habits and appearance. seems to
form curious connecting link be-
tween the cats and dogs Its legs are
longer than those OF tiger it has
true canine teeth thick and Deep
rooted like those OF a hound. and It's
claws are rather blunt on account OF
being less perfectly retractable than
those OF a common cat The dog cat
rs some nnturalists have proposed to
call the cheetah. gets SO tame that 1t
can be trusted 20 pass tho night under
its masters bed. and will play for
hours with aggressive and troublesome
puppies without losing its good humor
But out IN the fields its semi feline in.
stincts are apt to revive at the most
unexpected moments 1t will Hy at
domestic animals or bristle up with
IN ominous growl at sight OF a run.
ming boy. and on bunting excursions
1t Is by far the safest plan to keep its
cycS CoNCrcu VII tucro - u Cndnc0 10
get glimpse OF legitimate game.
Il once brought up young Chez
tab with some greyhound pups" says
an English officer who passed several
years in garrison town in Northern
Hindostan. Even when nearly full
grown 1t would play with my dog
some OF which did not much relish its
bounding at them and was always
sportive and frolic,ome. 1t got much
attached TO me, and ct once recog-
nized its name Billy. and would fol-
low me like dog every now and
then sitting down for few seconds
and then racing after me again. 1t
was very fond OF being noticed. and
used to purr just like cat In the
garden 1t used to climb on any high
object-the stump OF a tree. a stack
OF hay-and from this elevated perch
look all around for some moving OBJ
ject As It grew up Il took first to
attacking sheep and after had cured
1t OF tina. habit 1t would attack donkeys
and get we'll kicked by them. and
when only half grown 1t few one day
at big tame nylghau "a species OF
antelope) and mnuled its legs BADLY
before it could be pulled on"