The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-08-02
NOT MUCH OF A TRICK.
Putting Ones Head in n Lions Mouth I.ess
Dangerous Than 1t Looks.

dangerous Than 1t Looks.
Thcod trick of putting ones head
In Hons mouth was very simple
feat compared with. what the lion
tanner of to-day has to do. An animal
trainer was recently asked what
constituted the greatest risk a
lion tanner entertained in his work. "If
you are old enough to remember" said
tho professor, ''the days when Van Am
perg and his confreres used to gointo
mons cage, make them leap over
each other and put their heads in the
mouths OF the lions you will remember
that the cages in which their beasts
were kept werel small ones, and that
the lion tanner rarely moved from a
certain spot, and this was just in front
of sliding door, behind which stood
an attendant ready to open it quickly
in case of emergency. ] have spent fif-
teen years of hard work and earnest
| study with lions. | think perhaps
| with modesty | may be permitted to
say that / have reached tthe stage
where ] might be quoted as an authori-
ty, and | tell you as fact that those
feats which years ago were considered
the very essence of daring as fact the
easiest thing that lion tanner has to do.
1t is no feat at all to put ones head in
lions mouth, and, while have never
done it but once in public, I'll just
show you how easily it can be done"
The trainer went into the cage with
five beasts, and, without particle OF
hesitation, grabbed lion, opened his
mouth, and put his head completely in
There, you sec how easy it is" he
explained, as he came out and smoothed
his hair, which the lions fangs had
slightly disturbed. And now l will
tell you how it is done. In the first
place, lion could not bite man when
his head is in his mouth. The only risk,
if risk there be, is when the head is
being put in or taken out. The danger
of lion tanning has increased, as it has
been improved, and the reason is very
apparent In those old days of which
speak all of these acts were per-
formed in very small cage, and
a man always faced his beasts
and had in his hand cudgel
and "A whip. In these days lion
thhitAo hit w tliol III III Il
ring where it is absolutely impossible
to keep ones face continually on the
beasts. Again, the animals, feeling
themselves in larger space, are more
likely to feel their power. and were
they so inclined could make a rush at
a trainer that it would be next to i'm
possible for him to withstand. ! have
seen in some recent publication the
statement that lions in a large space
are more docile than they are in the
closer confinement. OF course ] can
only talk from my fifteen years expert
ence, but this tells me most emphatic
ally that this statement is false.
"a man required but little training
to go into lions cage fifteen years
ago, whereas to-day he must spend
: years of time in not only perfect
! ing his lions but perfecting himself.
The study of wild beast must be
as carefully made as the study of hui
man being, and anyone who goes into
it will find the characteristics of the
lions as distinct as the characteristics
of humans. No two men were ever
alike, neither were ever two lions. II
is study requiring years of time, AND
no one who has not the characteristic
which embrace patience and enduranc,
should ever attempt to deal in an,
manner with savage beasts. Yes,
have been injured several times, but
can say truthfully that it was entirely
my own fault. In each instance | die
something's so absolutely unusual thai
tho lions. resented IL and went for mo
Boston Traveller.