The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-03-17
TASK oE A LION tanner.
Rasisncc and Iron Ner~e Needed to subdus
the Fierce Brutes.

tue ieTCe AbEuteSs
Lions which are to be trained for
performing in public must be taken
when young. About nine or ten
months is the usual age, as the train.
ing can rarely be impaired after they
have begun to get their second teeth.
Lions born in captivity are nearly or
quite useless for exhibition purposes.
as they are generally very stupid and
lacking in spirit, the result frequently
of inbreeding. The best lions come
from Nubia and Abyssinia. The fe.
males are much more clever and teach
able, 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 sec
have no intention of hurting them.
This confidence being established by
familiarity with the trainer, they are
taught to wear a collar with n chain
attached. This is often difficult mat.
ter to teach, for the lions would kill
themselves If they were chained up,
and must be constantly watched until
they have become accustomed to the
collar. Having established in some
degree at least the entente cordiale,
the trainer begins with simple tricks,
teaching the beasts to sit on chair or
lie in a certain position. For this adj
vance patience and gentleness are
requisites; the animals rarely fail to
show signs of temper at the restraint,
but the trainer gives them no peace
until they have realized that it will be
better for them to do what is required.
If lion has become too large and
strong. the work is doubly difficult;
for If he turns out to be rogue, the
efforts of the trainer may be fruitless.
On very rare occasions lions whose
training began at the age of two or
three years have been made into sue.
cessful performers.
Lions are very obstinate. and sully
brutes and their training is generally
one of fear, but they learn to detect the
difference between harsh and kindly
words-a sign of marked progress in
their education. When this is learned,
and the animal has gained some idea
of obedience and is thoroughly IA
miliar with his trainer, the real work
begins. The lions special qualities
are soon discerned and he is set to
learn that speciality for which his
build and degree of cleverness fits him.
For example, the riding lion, when
about six months old, Is put in a cage
next to that which contains his special
horse, and the two beasts soon grow
acquainted with each other. They
also have better opportunity, for the
young lion is taken when hardly larger
than a cat and made accustomed to the
horses back. Once this is learned
j the elaboration of the performance is
easier, but so much does the success o1
the trick depend on the accord exist
ing between lion and horse that it has
been found possible only when the
same lion and the same horse are al
ways exhibited together. In time TIL,
lion grows too heavy for the horse ant
this performance then ceases to be il
the lions repertoire.
Although lions grow until they reacl
the age OF SIN or seven years, wha
may be termed their prime of life il
reached when they are three years old
At this age. however, they are not ye
perfected in their training, but still
show many infantile traits and seen
to lack the courage seen in the olde
specimens. Almost all the fights witt
lions are with the old ones, but
writer recalls the case of an anima
which, when only eighteen month
old, attacked man in the hippodro1n
at Paris.
| Experienced trainers rarely have an,
difficulties with their charges. for to
watchful man, accustomed to the way
of the BEASTS, they rarely fail to give
warning of an impending outbreak
They are always obstinate and in
clined to shirll their work and ar
rather fitful in temper. This is mos
noticeable when they have been to-
we'll fed, for then they object to bein,
disturbed, and if forced to work ar
NASTY" They are more obedient il
cool weather; it is found also that the
are apt to sulll if called upon to pei
form too often. The secret of success
in training is care in the diet and gen
eral condition of the crca lures. N. y
Post.