Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-18
How Young Lions Are Tanned.

According to Herr daSehoeck, VIC
Snowman, the tanners of wild beasts
use no secret methods or magic spells.
In fact, they proceed very much as a
child would in tanning wild kitten.
If a lion is to be taught to ride on
horseback it is necessary to be very
patient at first, and take great deal
of time. If possible, it is best to begin
when he is young-less than year
old.
If he was born in captivity he is
already accustomed to see persons
outside his cage, but not inside. All
his instincts are still fierce.
When the tanner first opens the
cage door and steps inside the young
ster at once displays fear. tie will
probably jump at the trainer, snarllng
savagely, FOR that is his way of show
ing alarm. The only course that can
be pursued is to beat him off with a
light club the first lesson he learns
is that it is not safe for him to attack
man. Sometimes, in his excitement
and fear, he will make several attacks
one after the other. The trainer
merely beats him off, and in the end
the young lion retires snarhng to the
far corner of his cage.
The trainer does not follow him
but sits down quietly on box or a
chair inside the cage, paying no par
ticular attention to him. He sits
there for one or two hours, sometimes
three hours at a stretch. This is done
to accustom the lion to the presence
of a man in his cage, and to wear out
his natural fear and ferceness. This
first lesson is repeated on the follow
Ing day and is continued for a week
or perhaps a month.
Next, the trainer takes a piece OF
meat into the cage, and, waiting until
the lion is hungry, offers it on the
end of long stick, Very likely the
lion will not touch it at first, perhaps
not for many days or if he seizes 1t,
his manner will not be such as to IN
dictate thankfulness But by patience
and persistence he will be induced
by-and-by to come and take his food
from the stick, and eventually from
the trainers hand.
Not infrequently he will try to bite
the hand that offers the meat; and
generally speaking, it is deemed a
signal victory when young lion will
voluntarily approach and take his
food from his keepers hand Soon
after this he will allow the trainer to
stroke his head. Towards stranger
he may exhibit quite as much feroclty
as at first. The next step is to put a
chain round the young fellows neck
and lead him about the cage; and
most trainers deem it necessary to
bind a lion down to the bottom Of the
cage once or twice in order to instil
into his naturally intractable mind
the fact that human bonds are ire
sistible, and that chains cannot be
broken.
The various feats which go to make
up a modern performing lions educa'
ton are afterwards taken up one by
one and taught gradually. The only
"secrets" that Herr Hagenbeck knows
are endless patience and oft-repeated
lessons. Needless cruelty is always
avoided nevertheless, it is necessary
that lions, as well as tigers, leopards,
and most other wild beasts, should
hold their keepers in fear Gentleness
and kindness alone are not sufficient
these fierce animals must be made to
know that their trainer is absolutely
master.
1t should be added that there is
almost, or quite, as much difference
in young lions as in boys, Some are
much more docile and intelligent than
others. Some develop good and trust
worthy traits; others prove stolid,
and can never be fully trusted.