New-York tribune., 1906-12-22

e. n. Is.
trations from photographs Crown svo, pp. a22
Moffat. Yard & Co
The author OF this book declares that the pop
ular belief that the eye of man exercises subtle
influence wild animals sis OF the greatest
fallacies that ever existed. It is the brain and
will power which control wild animals and it
has nothing to do with the eye. except that the
eyes add expression TO the face" She cites in
proof the fact that some Of the best tricks that
are done by animals are executed when the
trainer is not looking at them. And while it is
true that the trainer risks his life' every time
he turns his back on the fercer animals. this is
not because he has withdrawn the magnetic
power OF the human eye" from them. but be-
cause ''the animal is treacherous and knows by
instinct that when a mans back is turned he is
more defenceess" The people of the animal
shows really far more interesting than the
creatures who submit TO their orders. Miss Vel
vim has many anecdotes to tell of them and OF
the incidents Of their daily life. Her first in
PRODUCTION behind the scenes is sufficiently char
acteristic to quote The show was in winter
quarters, and the wife OF one of the trainers had
invited the visitor to tea in tiny room. where
trunk did duty for a table. while the kettle
boiled merriy over an alcohol lamp on an up
turned barrel in the corner.
was so interested in watching the proceedings
that had only vaguely noticed a smiling near by
urch in of the SIDE of th roem Wbeb Mas saGe6
me- aI. looked look. at my hostess inquiringly.
the lid OF the kettle and lifting out the eggs
-bd But-oGt +-6 can ne get in?, asked nervously
eggs before answering and 70 put the kettle lid on
50, II g guess Tess not" not she said. indirerepty. He did
he soon got sent back again. He knows there is a
Stranger IN here right enough. That's what makes
MN so restless. Animals are that artful. YOU
wouldn't believe. How much sugar do you like?'
Trainers have many superstitions. One is that
II IS unlucky ever to go back for anything that
they have forgotten. The author once saw a
man go through entire performance with
only one boot on. He had been called suddenly
while dressing, and nothing could have induced
him TO return for his other boot Unwittingiy
his action greatly heightened the effect Of his
act, since the audience concluded that the boot
had been torn off by one of the animals An
other superstition is that trainers of animals
can exert a similar controlling influence over
other people. Miss Velvin's investigations do
not bear out this belief. She cites the instance
Of a Well known trainer whose influence and
dominance over wild beasts are more than Won
derful, but who has no authority whatever in
his home His wife rules him royalty he is
timid with the servants and as for his children,
he is as wax in their hands" But perhaps the
most extraordinary product of a wild animal
show was the deeply religious trainer whom the
author found one morning looking very miser-
able and depressed. He told me-" she writes
that "he had had a great disappointment On
my expressing my sympathy. he said: Well 7
have found out something you will scarcely be-
heve. The press agent published something in
the papers yesterday about my animals which
was not true"