The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-07-10
T6s Aas end lpellaeQcec
BEL AIR MD. JULY 10 1908.
TRAINING A LION.
Daring Performance That Had a
Yer, Simple ExtIanation.

Daring Performance Tint Had
Very SiErpsc cx rIanntion.
Not long ago lion tanner who was
exhibiting in q German circus in Hol-
land attracted immensa crowds at ev-
cry performance by doing what seemed
to be tie most daring of acts in the
lions cage. lie would climb into the
cage with great pieces of meat and
throw it to the roaring beasts. The
moment they had lcaped upon 1t he
would spring among them and put his
foot on it, The animals would growi
furiously, and then, just as the specta-
tors were all waiting hreathlcsSly, eN.
p?cting that the beasts would tear him
to pieces. they would shrink back,
cowed. After be had repeated this eX-
citing act for many days an English
man made n wager with him for Il big
sum of money that he would not dare
TO do it after the lions had been starved
for three days. The trainer considered
for q moment and then accepted the
wager, making only the condition that
he be allowed to have three weeks of
preparation.
At the end of three weeks the trainer
announced that he was ready, and the
process of starving the lions began.
The Englishmun kept guards posted
around the cage day and night to make
certain that not morsel of food should
be given to the animals. At the eXpira-
ton of the three days all Amsterdam
rushed to the circus. The lions were
maddened with hunger, rs any one
could see and hear. for they roared
continually. and their attempts to
break through the bars showed how
angry they had become. In the height
Of the uproar the trainer entered the
cage with an immense piece Of beef in
his arms. He tossed it on the floor of
the cage. raised his whip and, 10, not
one lion dared TO approach it. Tile
mighty brutcs lay crouchcd. roaring
and growing so hard that their great
frames shook. and each kept his ter
rife yellow eyes fixed hun%rily on the
meat. hut not one of them stirred.
The trainer stopped, lifted the beef
and tossed it TO them again. and i'll 4
moment the lions were i'll great
tawny ball. rending and snnrlin% ana
tearing, with blood from til" mangled
beef squirting all over the cage. The
Englishman paid his bet and then tried
to find out how the lion tanner had ac-
quired such wonderful control over his
beasts. At first the man would not
tell, but at last he consented 10 en-
plain it. During the three weeks pc
Rod Of preparation he had always
starved the lions from the very begin
ming Then. Oh the fourth day, he
would enter the cage with a piece of
beef which had been soaked in kero-
seize oil. The lions would no sooner
pounce upon it than they would shrink
away. sickened by the stencil. Then
he would throw them Il fresh and good
piece of beef. which they would devour
in a moment. The lions soon became
SO accustomed 10 expecting that the first
piece of beef that was thrown to them
WAS not good that nj the end Of three
days they would not even move from
their corners when the trainer threw it
On the floor of the cage. They would
not try to eat anything except the sec
ond piece. So the daring trick had Il
very simple explanation. washington
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