The Portland daily press., 1896-08-22
ADoe THAT PLAYS THE PIANO.
Remarkable Instance of the Trained An
imal.
(From the New York Times.)

(Er0m the NEW 4OrK lines.
A jolly-faced. rotund Franco-Germau
stood on the roof of Roster & Bial's mu
sic hall, back of the stage, the other
night, was gathered sbont him was as
Strange collection of animals as mas
even been taught to amuse the public.
He was Jean Clermont, once a circus
rider, and now one of thu most famous
animal trainers in the world. He wore
costume strange to this country. he
Says 1t is that of q clown in his native
land. The ordinary native of this region
would describe it as a jumper and bloom
er of blue overall cloth and cap CT
white cloth in shape resem bling nothing
in the world so much as a salt bag.
ClerInont rested one hand affectipnste-
ly on the long, ferocious snout OF wild
boar from the forests of the princess OF
Hesse- Darmstadt. He leaned Mt ease
against donkey that, with lowered
head, blinked lazily in the glare of the
colorsd lights. At his feet was tiny
and at the same time keeping watch
full eye on four roosters that seemed
about to declare q war with two on each
side. Two dogs, with open jaws and
tongues extended, lay against the guard
rail Of the roof, drinking in the breezss,
and diminutive pig, putting on the
airs of animals of more nobility than he,
strutted up and down, paying not the
least attention to the other members of
his happy family, and not even deigning
to grunt according to the manner of his
kind.
"No," said Clermont, laughing in his
hearty way, In answer to question of
a reporter for the New York Times. ~
don't think there is any hope that will
ever succeed in getting any Of my ami
mails to talk. l am thinking Of teaching
my boar to write, and perhaps he'll he
an apt scholar. but at any rate I've sue
decided in educating dog to play pi-
ano, and that means a great deal of
work.
The trainer stopped and patted the
head of his tiny pupil, who climbed on
his knee, and would not be satisfied nm
til he had found for 1t in his pocket a
lump of sugar.
just then the stage bell rang. and 1t
was time for Clermont and his animals
to entertain the great crowd on the roof
garden. The boar, the dog and the roost-
ers are the only members. Of the strange
company which are on the bill at pres
ent There is not room on the stage for
all, but the performance will be COM
plete when the regular season in the
music hall down stats begins August II.
The animals seem almost to read the
mind of their master. The boar sits on
a small pump, lies down, stands on his
head, on his hind legs, rolls, and goes
between the legs Of Clermont at COM
mand. He seems as docile as kitten.
"Crowi calls Clermont to the BOOSTERS.
alacrity sufficient TO convince one that
day break was at hand, and go vigorously
that If chandeliers ware nun erous in the
vicinity of Thirty-fourth street. respon-
eiYe chorus would be started that might
change the life-current of the hens of
But it is in the dog that the perfection
of animal training has been reached, and
at his act the public marvels. Clermont
puts it into an element that puzzles and
causes one to wonder whether it is intel
ligenoe or habit of training that moves
the beast to act.
A plano that has eight broad keys is
brought on the stage, and this dog is
placed on stool with his front paws
resting below the keyboard. Clermont
stands facing the canine player with up
lifted baton.
"Nowi" he cries, and down comes a
paw on key, and then the dog goes
stea Oily on pressing out the notes of ia
miliar airs. Now and then he falters,
starts to strike a key, seems to know
that he is about to make an error, catches
himself and looks up knowingly at his
master. Is then that Clermont in
creasss the mystery. He Ia not much of
a singer, but he manages to intone the
proper note, and the dog promptly re-
sumes his solo. In the singing by the
master the suggestion for the pupil? Does
the dog recognize the vocal note and find
the key to fit itf The public wonders.
C1ermont will not tell. 1t may be a
clever trick, that hesitation by the ami
IN al, but the whole performance is Ger
tainly marvellous.