The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-09-12
TRAINING WILD BEASTS.
The Strange Effect of Colors on Some An
iInals.

The Strange Effect of Colors on Some An
iInals.
"Wild animals are much more pro-
nounced IN their likes and dislikes of
colors tkan men are, " said Edward
Darling, tie lion tanner, the other
day ITO get the best results from
animals when giving performances
You must surround them with the
Colors which are not obnoxious to
them. Now, take Mr.. Mehrmann, for
instance. He has two leopards in his
group of animals which no has train
ed that have to be kept chained con-
tinually while they are not perform
ing. The reason for this is that Loop
ard has an aversion for spots of any
kind. Mr.. Mehrmann has the misfor-
tune of possessing two dogs very
much spotted and whenever his
leopards get q good opportunity they
make for those dogs. Their lives
would not be worth much if it was
not for the vigilance of their master.
1t is strange too, for the other dogs,
which are of solid color, get along
splendidly with the animals They
play with them like kittens, but let
one of the spotted dogs como about,
and Immediately the leopards as
sumo warlike position. This aver
sion to spots seems to be general
through tho animal kingdom. The
only timo l have ever known a lion
to attack q dog was when a spotted
one was placed in his cage, and he
ever ceased until he had finished
I'm.
I'm training animals there are
many little points which are of great
Importance that would be overlooked
by the ordinary person. So trainer
must be observing. Once l had a
lion that utterly refused to sit upon
pedestal which was provided for
it. l beat the animal time and again
for refusing to get upon it, but with
no effect
Il was about to give the beast up
as one impossible to train-as an I'M
balanced animal mind-when one
day, by accident, the pedestals l had
been using We're misplaced, and |
could not find them. l had to substi-
tute others. Imagine my surprise
when my balky lion, when command
ed to mount to his place, obeyed with
out hesitation. | thought had con-
quered at last and felt much elated
The next day my own pedestals were
found, and when l ordered tho lion
to mount one he showed the same OBJ
stinacy. Nothing l could do would
mako him get up. He growled and
purred, showing the utmost displeas-
ure. | began to reason about the
matter and finally came to the con-
clusion that it was the color of the
pedestal that the animal objectedt
The pedestal was painted q brillia ,
red, while the other one I had U.s. !
on the day I was successful was
blue. l put my theory to practical
test and discovered was right. The
lion would do the trick without the
least protestation when l used the
blue pedestal, but would refuse to
even touch the red ono. had just
had lot of things, such as stands,
seesaws, wagons, ETC., made for my
performance, and as result of the
discovery of this lions peculiar aver
sion to red l had to have the entire
lot repainted blue. That lion up to
the time he died was the most clever
animal artist l ever had But no
amount Of training would make him
endure red of any shade. So you can
appreciate the numerous little neces-
sary points which an animal trainer
must look after. We meet with little
examples of this color mania in ami
mails every now and then, but the
instances have given you will suf-
fee to show how troublesome it
sometimes becomes. "-Pittsburg
Disnatch