The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-04

tered the restless menagerie whore Dourotf
lives with his wife and charming baby.
You can imagine nothing with 80 much
character in q fow square yards rs Dourotf's
home, unless 1t II his den at the Ihoater
Folies Bergeres.
This vivacious little man ia a S%lavonian.
When at home-his home consisting of one
room in a large houSs-he generally lies
stretched out in bed, reading soms book on
training animals and continually passing
from theory to practice. Ii is in bad that
he gets acquainted with the newcomers.
and cultivstes the good will of the whole
troupe.
Douroff is in bed then-one has to get ae-
custerned to thia way of living! All about
are cages filed with rats, boxes in which
to move them long distances. the trunks of
the strollinR family, and the "properties,''
from a train of ears down to baskets and
little houses daubed with paint-yes. all
the paraphernalia needed by the trainer to
keep his leRions we'll in practice. On the
nantel- piece a gray cat sits, and points its
ears toward it's master in a comical way; a
beautiful black eat with long hair has
chosen for Its resting place the box in front
of the bed and seems clothed with paternal
authority over all the rata that run l~eisurely
about the room.
To return to the bed. Douron. leaning
ON his elbow. il making his pupils work; at
his side his little girl, searsely three years
old, cafelessly submits herself to the ro-
dents that pass over her pretty and ami
mated little face and among her hair, and
dispute about the biscuit crumbs Oh her
lips. A large black and white hound took
the place of a down cover for Dourotf's
feet.
The most important clement in Dourof'e
training is Rentlenesa. When he speaks to
ing tones. He does not touch them, his
hand is used emily to direct and encourage
them. There is reward at the end of
every attempt. a grain of corn. a bit OF
bread, or some dainty.
The widest rat is tanned in a few hours.
Very soon also-yery soon or naver-Dsu.
rolf will have taught him the most varied
exercises. to dance around on his fist, te
look smart, and to obey him. Rata that
cannot be trained are kept to swell tMt
number On the stage.
Rats have very decided characters. Thet.
are some that Douroff has uevsr bsen able
to keep shut up. They will not abide
cage. They must roam about ths house
They are FREQ poets, sons OF the starr,
night. wishing to live without restraint an.
at their own sweet will. 1t IL often aIaon.
these that DonroH finds his best subjects
fine artists, graceful and ekillful perform,
eGs.
Some rats live in families, or groups o
thirty or forty, and cannot endure to b
mixed with others. A special cage is giyei
to each such group aud they never max
a mistake Eacn pne returns to his owl
home.
There are bad raI that pass their tim
Rossipina or pickering: theae ars aent t
prison! There are lnynlids; for them
little onRe anawers as an inhrmary, m
they recelvs good care. A milk treatmen
awakens the gratitude of the patient.
While Dourotf il initiating me into thes
little mysteries, Il hospital vt ~tiercelv gnar
at his master as he passes. "Ah!' "a,
Doulotf to me-, The wants a little rubbin
with glyoerine; tLsre!'' And the traine
rubbed the little beast, whose expression
of satisfaction were cost amusing.
Douroff's den at the theatre is on IL
same plan as his room at home. RIA
fond Of their liberty are always runni1
freely about or playing on the table; IL
cats, their strange companions, arc alwa,
there too.
To form any idea of the trainers patiel
art, it is necessary to have assisted at Il re
ular stage rehearsal with d company of tn
kind. Dourof makes all his troupe take
journey in a train of oars ran by nachii
cry. This sight astonished me.
On the floor of the stage he places a O.
cniar road of more than twenty yards
circumference, with tunnels, a station,
s%emaphore or signal apparatus, and
train of several cars fastened to q LOGON