The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
A TALK WITH A LION tanner.
Herr seems Methods and Some Ac-
cidents He Has Had.

(From the London Clo5e.)
Stalking lion trainer for the purpose
of an interview is no easy matter. The
modesty of the lion tanner is almost pro-
verbal Have not the artistic wags OF
American and our own country illustrated
this from time to time in many a witty
sketch-the main motive being in one pic
ture the heroic demeanor of the terroriZer
of the king of beasts in the lions cage.
and as comic contrast his crestfallen
demeanor in the privacy Of his own par
ticular domestic circle This does not
apply, however, to Herr Seeth. who is
man in every sense. both in the physical
and mental meaning of the word. Our
wholesale trainer of lions, very mascu-
line man of feet l IL inches in height,
and some seventeen stone-odd in weight.
at first entirely declined to be interview
ed And in this condition of mind II an
of Herr Seeth's stamp is very difficult to
deal with. However, with the help of the
press representative of the hippodrome,
ran him literally speaking to earth by the
devious passages that run under this mag
Efficient building and discovered perhaps
the greatest lion tanner that ever existed
in the privacy of his dressing room.
He was reclining in his chair in the easy
manner of an athlete. His greeting was OF
the CHEEKY type. What do you want me
L
birth certificate with me-" And the great
Herr regarded me in quizzical fashion from
under his eyelids and thoroughly enjoyed
nv discontinue Il know what you are
going to ask me. Well. my age is thirty
six. and was born in the village 81 Kohl
mar, in the Province of Holstein. and l
have Just three minutes to dress myself
in
lone fact / should like to know MUIR
a. fact i,ar pf
that we have ever seen turn his back on
lion"
The massive frame of Herr Seeth shook
with merriment. "Ah. my friend, the
secret is to find out on which animal you
can turn your back with safety. l do not
show my back TO every one of my twenty
one lions When my animals growl and
paw at me. do they mean it? Sometimes
they do" remarked Herr Seeth. enigmati-
cally, land sometimes they don't When
ever they do drop their paws on me. you
will notice that l never move. They are
the big cats Of the feline species. and their
habits are almost identical. You try to
move quickly, and at once they uncover
their claws. And scratch from lion is
no light matter.
Il carry two whips? There is good
reason for this. One hand is always dis
engaged and the whip is used in per-
suasive manner. / assure you that per-
suason enters more into the business OF
lion tanning than force. / have not the
slightest fear of one Of my animals. l
have my accidents. but my injuries are
generally given in playful spirit. All
my lions are from Abyssinia. and mostly
are presents from the Emperor Menelek,
with when am an especial favorite. On
account of my skill in dealing with lions
I, a6 NJ gold
equivalent to your knight of the Garter,
and is only presented to the most re-
doubtable of his warriors, and has to be
returned. to him at their death.
Lion hunting is my favorite sport.
Some few years ago during the visit of
Mr.. Harrington, the British representa-
tive, | went out in company with cou-
pie of gentlemen on a lion hunt. but for
three days we did not even catch sight |
of one. Abyssinia will always be nur-
sery, owing to their being regarded as al