The sun., 1895-01-06

Mr.. James a. Bailey says 1t Is Not So Dnn-
gerous Is Commonly Believed.


"Since the exhibition OF trainad animals has
been added to the programme of the Barnum d
Bailey Show" said Mr.. James A. Bailey recent
ly. :" have been frequently asked as to the de-
gree of danger attendant upon such perform
ances. IL is the general belief all over the world
that man who goes into den of wild carniv
orous beasts takes his life In his hands. and that
each time he does SO and escapes unharmed he
has won by n lucky chance. Some persons be-
lieve that II the trainer who handles the ami
mails in their acts were to turn his back upon
them for a single instant they would leap upon
and devour him. Others again believe that the
lions and tigers only await an opportunity for
concerted action to destroy their keeper, while
there still others who declare that it is only
through the power OF the human eye that the
beasts are held in subiection. To all of these
opinions and beliefs. and as final answer to all
questions on the subject, wish to state here
and now that there is no danger whatever to
any person entering "A cage Of wild beasts. Such
statement, however VIII scarce DO believed
without some further explanation and proof.
1T is fact that many men have been
mairned. and some killed, by lions and tigers
in menaGeries and geological gardens through
ont the world, but In every case. venture to
say, the causes leading 10 such accidents and
or too severe punishment Is the most frequent
cause. Nearly all animals, no matter how small
and insisnidcant, d N ,. win turn air AND ana night wasn
make desperate and determined fight IL so
placed that 1t cannot escape from what II be-
| lieyes Is q dangerous enemy. Just so with the
larger cat animals; and nearly all of the
accidents that have occurred have been brought
lost I icrnpor n have pursued to extremes an animal
that did not do what II was ordered or which
n@r OF s ds have o,
TO realize this and accidents are OF rare occur
renee; and maintain that any man or woman,
an entire stranger to the animals. can 90 in with
| them. and in perfect safety.
"A ease in point comes 10 my mind a few
| man TO work n tho nonagere, aud one OF tho
| first tasS assigned him vas cleaning the lions
working through the bars as customary, he took
brCpm, opened the iron door went In The cage.
and began TO sv eep, the iioor. When \ lion got
| IN his way lie would punch H. with The broom
and toll II in German To go AWAY, and Il did so
| The man repeated mis- experience every day and
statement That in both tic handling and
training, OF these anmas there u no
| OF a domestic animal The snarling and growl-
| ing of the beasts Is no moro indicative ot de-
sire TO CLAW and d"vour ih%p ia rNpr,s,ea III ne
OF SLEEK tabby whan It's tnl lS strppcd upon.
The big brgtes may groMl an Gr@n.h tl,o about
band all that, but contend, ana eAperltRre mas
taught me TINT my belief IS GnrrSs1 60 TS tia' IL IS
| only through u desire to escape irpul thv man
rather than 10 attack him; -.....,.-....
"lt takes time a4d patience, more than any.
Ghs bs troibIpl nD NJ tG ~ hel md EVER trainec
| has a method of his own. would further cS-
| plain that trained aLiWpls W,li not perform the
tricks taught them until Tie CuU - given them,
| Even trained horses. which ARE supposed TO hayu
great inteligenCe will only go through their
psrfOrmanCes when the rngmRslGr supplies tho
| cue, whatever il may be, SOmciiihts IL Is a
motion OF the whip. at others n step backward
| or forward, when instantly the animal will
| respond. Now all that is necessary Tor anyone
| TO put through their performances any Kind 0f
| trained animal or number Of ihvm, is Tor hInl
| 10 know when To ulye tie pr"pt. IGr.
II do not bOlieYt the animals know one trainer
| from another, unless ono has hren with them
| for very lonE lime, for when some of my
| trainers have been taken Elck, hrei discharged.
| or for other causes have lelt my service, tho
| trained animal part Oi m slo" has not been
| Interrupted, but Eas Gnuo ol Iust The same, a
| new man having been substituted; and u is safe
10 say that the animals never knew the difference
between the men. | have changed the men as
| often as five times in SEASON, and ono man has
put the beasts through their tricks quite
as well another. Any person who
| will enter the arena feaTlessly and confidently,
can take the trainers whip and make tho AMI
mails perform as well as a person who has
handled them for months provided always he
knows what tricks the beasts are required 10 do,
and can supply the cues.
4" am aware that this statement may appear
| to most people extraordinary, because II is at
variance with their preconcelyed notions con-
oerning the brutal nature OF all wild beasts; but
am hrm In my belief and have no hesitation In
| making h public