The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-23
The Wild Beast Party.

News from Bridgeport the chief winter
rendezvous OF the troops OF wild beasts
which In summer stroll over the country In
Barnun or Forepaugh caravans. tells us
that tho lion and tiger men are hard at
work training their animals to perform
together on the same unprecedented scale OF
numbers, and In the wonderful variety OF
combination. with which the HAGENBEcK
show has lately startled Chicago and will
soon amaze Now York.
The shade OF the departed Shah-in-
Shah Of the lion world. the first King
OF kings, VAN AMBURGH. the original
hero OF the cages still familiar to the
travelling circus. must haunt in envious
wonder the broad arenas where great
companies Of savage beasts are marshalled
under the tanners Of the present day.
These fascinating exhibitions have grown
like most other things In size and impress
siveness. SAM PATCH never demonstrated
more surprisingly than they how "some
things can be done as we'll as Others" A
locker on. with memory covering sin
gle generation. might think himself sud
denly transported to the regions OF the
devil. or imagine that the terrible rangers OF
the Jungle and desert performing in his
presence were but the enchanted shapes OF
the dogs and goats which used to astonish
us with these same tricks years ago.
When. instead Of harmless house dog roll
ing along on a revolving globe. we see the
veritable king OF beasts. de ture II not de
facto. the tiger. executing the same feat.
enraged but still submissive. we imagine
that our next step must be into the golden
age. To sit by while q dozen great
carnivorous cats move and poso In
tricks and tableaux. directed by a quiet
and weaponless man. and then. after
their acts are over. break into play as
though they were alone with nature makes
one thrill with the fancy that the ever
coveted gift OF invisibility has led him into
the inner wilds Of savage existence. There
Is no means OF estimating the effect OF the
wild animal performances In the times OF
the Roman gladiators; but we can say that
even the CORY spectacle OF a bull fight fails
to produce 30 barbarically sensational a
spectacle as is seen in these modern as
semblages OF wild beasts.
A word Is to be said to the managers OF
BARSUM's on tho strength OF the report
that their most important cageful intended
for next summers business. Is to be made
up Ol IulAIuio VI ulueTouL cat species
with tho domestic and gentle sheep and
goats and zebus. The famous old
"happy family" Of monkeys. birds. and
house-tabbies was very entertaining. but
similar groupings OF ill-mated or instinc-
lively inimical creatures are not at all
good when one element Is composed OF
lions and tigers. There is SURPRISING gran
deur of effect from massing these latter
animals on a floor big enough to give to
them seeming freedom. which forbids the
eccentric intrusion Of the like OF goats and
sheep. The lion working with the lamb
is perhaps the supreme elimination OF
harmony. but 1t Is not art. and 1t is not
to be commended as feature OF sights
30 magnificent as those under considera-
ton. Notwithstanding the homogeneous
and splendid band OF lions which we hear
OF as being trained together at Bridge
port, the biggest company OF the fierce
ones should not be marred by the purely
sentimental companionshlp OF creatures
which are their natural prey. and which,
while not exalting themselves. give an air
OF pettlness to the glorious savages. These
modern wild beast exhibitions are about
the finest shows on earth.