The Lamar register., 1894-03-31
TASK OF A LION tanner.
oHIAT PATIENCE AND IRON
NERVE NEEDED.
s. Born In captivity Are ,oo
p" and Training should he Begun
Early Arc--AmenabIe tn E..r
More Than Anything. " car

,,o..L 'Nt nine or ten
months is the usual age, as the
training can rarely be impaired
after they have begun TO get their
second teeth. Lions born in cantiv-
NY are nearly or quite useless for
eAhibition purposes. as thew are
generally very stupid and lacking in
spirit. the result frequently of in
breeding. The best lions come from
Nuoia and Abyssinia The females
are much more clever and treacha-
pie but the males present the more
imposing appearance. and are there
lore 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-
taolished By familiarity with the
trainer. they are taught to wea.. a
collar with a 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
AZ 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
advance patience and genileness are
requisite; the animals rarely fail to
show signs Of temper at the re-
straint. but the trainer gives them
no peace until they have realized
that II will be better for them to do
what Is required. II lion has be-
come too large and strong. the work
Is doubly difficult; for If he turns
out to be n rogue, he 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 success
full performers.
Lions are very obstinate and sulky
brutes and their training Is gener-
ally 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
familiar with his trainer,
the real work begins The lions
special qualities are soon discerned
and he is sot to learn that speciality
for which his build and degree OF
IT him For example. the
n - y.
Old. Is put in u cage next to that
which contains his special horse. and
tho two beasts soon grow acquainted
with each other. They also have a
better opportunity. for the young
lion Is taken when hardly larger than
Q cat and made accustomed to the
horses back. Once this Is learned.
the elaboration OF the performance is
easier. but so much does the success
OF the trick depend on the accord ex-
isting between lion and horse that IL
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 TO be in the lions repertoire.
Although lions grow till they
reach the age of 8 or Z years, what
may be termed their prime OF life is
when they are years old
At this age. however, they are not
yet perfected in their training. but
sill show many infsntile traits and
seem to lack the courage seen in the
older specimens
Experienced trainers rarely have
any difficulties with their charges,
for TO a watchful man. accustomed to
the WAYS OF the beasts, they rarely
i, :, ,. . ,,-,.,.F,,.- NJ an inuend-