The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
SHE TAMEs LIONS.
This Rich Young Woman Does I
for Fun.

/ Tor Fun.
| 1t is not often that the tanning and
training of ferocious beasts is adopted as
a pastime. Least of all does 1t seem likely
that such an occupation would appeal tC
a woman as means of diversion. Yet enc
OF the most successful lion tanners in Ger
many is Miss Cora Beniot, OF Leipzig. who
adopted this unique occupation as source
| Of entertainment rather than OF income.
| Miss Benoit is handsome young woman
| OF twenty-five or thereabouts. She Is oil
| German English extraction, and being the
| daughter of well-to-do parents, she was
| carefully and thoroughly educated. Her
| parents died while she was in her early
| teens, and after their deaths she resided in
;he family OF one Of b. fathers frisnds
the director Of the Leipzig geological
| gardens.
In this situation she had many opportu-
mites to study the animals In the Leipzig
| collection which is a very large one Be
| ing young woman of independent mind as
well as ample means. she at length took
I the notion she would like to try her hand
| at training pair OF young lions which had
| Just arrived at the ZOO. At first her friends
refused to take the project seriously.
When they were convinced that she was IN
earnest they tried by every possible means
to dissuade her. pointing out the difficulty
and danger of such an undertaking which
requires the strength and nerve OF the
bravest men to be carried out successfully.
Fraulein Benoit was convinced, however.
that she had as much courage as any man
and moreover that she understood the ma
ture OF lions as well as most persons
She succeeded in having her own way
and was permitted to take charge of the
died by any person.
II cannot say truthfully that I was in
the least nervous when entered the lions
cage for the first time said Miss Benoit
in relating her experience. Il had studied
the habits and natures of such animals and
had seen the metohds of other trainers. /
had theories Of my own on the subject also
and / knew that the one thing necessary
was TO gain and keep the mastery from
the start. In this I found that my sex
aided rather than hindered me.
"The lions had never been handled at
all except to the extent necessary in feed
ing and transporting them, which was. of
course. an advantage. No woman had been
near them. When | entered the cage they
retreated to the opposite corner and
crouched there in fear and trembling.
found that this was due to the rustling OF
my long skirts which seemed to inspire
in them a sort OF fascinated fear. My task
was therefore to reassure and not to COW
them. From the first treated them with
kindness. seldom using force or even the
display Of force except TO the extent of in
spring them with a wholesome respect. I
have found this plan to succeed admirably
and with the right material to begin with
IL is possible TO train lions to do almost
anything.
Il have noticed that the sight and sound
OF my skirts have had the same effect on
other lions that IL did in this first pair. 1
think that the reason is this Lions that
are captured in a wild state do not see or
come into contact with women until long
after they have come into captivity. There
fore woman is new and unknown be-
ing 20 them and. like all animals. they are
timid in the presence of anything that is
/ have never found it advisa-
Bile 10 adopt the costume of most profess
sional women lion tanners, preferring the
ordinary attire and finding that it answers
even better than the other. The animals
always manifest a great interest in my
gowns. They like to sniff about them and
have torn them sometimes in trying 10 in
spect them with their claws. But l dis
courage such familiarity.
Il have never had an accident or an in
jury from the lions beyond lew scratches
On my arms and legs. inflicted usually by
accident. never anything serious. That Is
because | am always careful. l take my
lime in teaching my subjects. and always |
znow them thoroughly before l attempt 70 |
make them perform any tricks.
The best subjects for lion tanner are
those that are captured when they are !
young. Animals that are born in captivity 1
are never SO satisfactory. As a rule they 1
have been spoiled by petting and have
been handled by too many different per-
sons. They are sluggish, unreliable. and
ieceitful. and are likely to turn on one at
he most unexpected moment. OF course
here are great differences also between
Individual persons. Some are much more
Intelligent and much more honest than
others. The best lions for training pur-
ooses come from east Africa. They are /
more intelligent and can be handled much /
better than the Asiatic lions.
Il enjoy my work, That is why | took
t up To succeed In it requires hard work
md careful study, and above all. infinite
patience But in the nature of things