Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-05
TASK OF A LION tanner.
GREAT PATIENCE AND IRON
NERVE NEEDED.
animals born la Captivity Are too
stupid and Training should BE Begun
al AN Early Age Amenabls to Fear
More Than Anything.

Lions which are to be trained for
performing in public must be taken
when young. About nine or ten
months Is the usual age, IS the
training can rarely be impaired
after they have begun 70 get their
second teeth Lions born in captiy-
ity are nearly or quite useless for
exhibition purposes. as they are
generally very stupid and lacking in
spirit. the result frequently OF in
breeding. The best lions come from
Nubia and Abyssinia The females
are much more clever and treacha-
bic, but the males present the more
imposing appearance, and are there
fore more sought after The natural
emotion which the beasts feel toward
man is fear. Consequently, the first
step in their education Is to teach
them that The human beings they
see have no intention OF hurting
them. This confidence being es-
tablishod by familiarity with the
trainer, they are taught 10 weat
collar with chain attached. This
Is often difficult matter to teach,
Tor the lions would kill themselves II
they were chained up. and must be
constantly watched until they have
become accustomed to the collar
Having established in some degree
Al least the entente cordiale, the
trainer begins with simple tricks.
teaching the beasts % sit on chair
or lie in u certain position For this
advance patience and gentlenest are
requisite; the animals rarely fail 10
show signs ii temper a. the re
HtrAint but the trainer gives them
no peace until they have realized
that 4 will be better for them 10 do
what is required II lion has be-
come TOO large and strong. the work
Is doubly ditiicult; for II he turns
out 10 be rogue, he efforts Of the
trainer may b. fruitless. On very
rare occasions lions whose training
began AZ the age OF two or three
years have been made into success
iu performers
Lions are very obstinate aud suiky
brates and their training j. gcner-
ally one Of fear. but they learn to
detect the difference between harsh
aud kindly words sign Of marked
progress Ia their education When
this Is learned. and the animal has
gained some idea o. obedience and is
thoroughly familiar with his trainer.
the real work begins The lions
special qualities are soon discerned
and lie is set TO learn that specially
for which his build and degree Of
glcycrncss III him For example, the
riding lion, when abonr six months
old. u put In cage next TO that
which contains his special horse. and
the two beasts soon grow acquainted
with each other They also have a
better opportunity, for the young
/ lion Is taken when hardly larger than
a cat and made accustomed TO the
Z horses back Once this j. learned,
7 the elaboration Of the performance Is
Z easier, but so much does the success
Of the trick depend on the accord ex.
/ lsting between lion and horse that it
I has been found possible only when
\ the same lion and the same horse are
always exhibited together In time
The lion grows too heavy for the
horse and this performance then
ceases 10 be in tho lions repertoire.
Although lions grow till they
reach the age OF q or years. what
may 10 termed their prime Of life Is
reached when they are , years old.
At this age. however. they arc not
\ set perfected in their training, but
/ still show many iufantlle traits and
seem TO lack the courage seen in the
older specimens
Experienced trainers rarely have
any difficulties with their charges.
for To watchlul man. accustomed TO
the ways Of the beasts. they rarely
| fail TO give a warning Of an impend-
ing outbreak. They are always OBJ
siinate and inclined to shirk their
work and are rather fitful intempcr.
| This is most noticeable when they
have been too well fed. for then they
object to being disturbed, and II
! forced to work are NASTY They
are more obedient in cool weather;
| Il Il found also that they are apt TO
sulk II called upon to perform too
often. The secret OF success in train
| inc Is care In tho dict aud general
condition Of the creatures.
The use OF the whip varies among
different trainers, The long lash Is
used when working at a distance;
some trainers also use prongs or
bars, The great requisite, however,
Is confidence Several trainers have
been killed because in moment of
danger they we're seized with tremb-
ling in their limbs and could not
save themselves: once down. with
no help at hand, their position was
ntterly hopeless. Others have lost
their lives from lack OF experience.
They have been men who did not
take up the work from liking OF 1t,
and SO were "half dead before they
entered the cage. In the harness
Ing OF the trio of lions TO a chariot
MIR. Darling. tho noted trainer,
frequently finds some difficulty. The
lions do not like the operation and
often get tangled up In the harness.