The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-22

Force, whether mental or physical, eX- cites the admiration of the ordinary mor- tai and when it is associated with peril to human life a love of which is an in heritance in modified degree from our ancestors whose sport is was to throw people to the lions, the fascination is ir- resistable. There is scarcely any occu- patton in which more force of will or more physical courage is required than in that of the trainer of wild animals and the process by which these terrors of the jungle are subjugated and made obedient to the will of man, while deeply interesting, is little understood by the general public.
 Mile. Dorine, the little French woman who has had marked success in training lions, tigers, leopards and many other species of ferocous animals, described her methods to the writer of this article. From early youth they had a charm for her and at the age of l3 she had left her parents and regularly embarked in the business Of all her pupils the jaguars, three splendid specimens of which she is exhibiting now are her favorites. on account of their beauty and superior in telligence.
 Surprising as the statement may seem Mile. Dorine and her jaguars are, one could scarcely say personal friends, but there Is as much love existing between her and her "cats," as she affectionately calls them, as exists between the prover- bia old maid and her favorite tabby.
 Cartouch. Guerre and Nellie were not born in captivity but have tasted the sweets of freedom in the jungles of Af- rica, and the education of Nellie, the i most intelligent of the three, was not commenced until she was four years old. That civilization and a theatrical life do not accord with her ideas is evidenced by the fact that she has never forgiven the man who captured her and through the four years that have elapsed since that time has never failed to show her special dislike whenever he has ap- preached.
 Mile. Dorine does not begin the educa- tion of her pupils when they are cubs. but waits until they are full grown. She makes their acquaintance by feeding them through the bars. Fear is the first instinct appealed to and after they have been partially cowed by liberal use of the whip and have lost respect for the power of their fangs by having a stick thrust into their mouths, she makes bold to enter and seat herself in one corner Of the cage-a small one being used for the purpose. The animal crouches in the far corner, each occupant of the cage being equally suspicious of the other and each equally anxious to keep at a safe dis tance. When the iaguar springs d chair 1 is held up to receive it and a vigorous application of the whip sends it to its corner again. This process is repeated
 until the animal becomes convinced of
 two things-its own impotence and the invulnerability of the trainer. When this
 has been accomplished the pupil is ready
 to learn the tricks" which it is to per
 form before it's audiences.
 The general impression prevails that i wild animals are made more ferocious by l the taste of blood, but Mademoiselle de-
 nies this. During performance in Cali | fornia last winter she was attacked by | Nellie. who tore gash in her side. from 1 which the blood ran down over her boot. | The ladies in the audience screamed and ran from the theatre as did most of the
 men, thinking she would inevitably he de- youred on the spot. But to the surprise of 1 those who had the hardihood to remain, | Nellie showed unmstakable signs of re- morse as soon as she realized what she
 had done by cringing on the floor and l licking the blood from her mistress boot.
 Mile. Dorine has no fear of the fate which is supposed to oNertake all tran- | CTS Of Wild aniinalS and the confidence which marks her every movement is more l from her belief in her own strength and watchfulness than from any faith in | them, though there is thorough under 1 standing between her and her spotted | pets and a rigid code of politeness. For | if Mademoiselle fails to say good morn- | ing to them in her best French style, she is reminded of her omission by se- rics of growls. which continue until she mas made due apologies.
 Nellie had very thrilling experience