Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-03-20
TRAINED BY CRUELTY
Animals, as a Rule, Taught Tricks
Through Torture.
KINDNESS IS NOT A FACTOR.
The Result Of the Methods Employed,
Says an English Writer, 10 the Tri-
umph OF Brute Over q Brute by
Patient and Persistent Cruelty

one should never make n damnIug
statement unless he Is prepared IN
prove 1t up to the hilt And so I am
cor'ronted ut the outset with an al
most insurmountable difficulty-to the
iayman who would accurately inform
himself OF the methods OF animal train
ing there is opposed bulwark OF con-
ceaiment grim and silent as the great
wall or China" writes w. Rainton
Clarke in the Manchester Chronicle.
The glib assurance that 1T Is all
done by kindness has become a by
word. No true lover OF an animal be-
lieves IL, nor could any reasonin. crea-
ture, lacking that particular affection.
II he will carefully examine such facts
as are obvious.
Granted there are animals OF ex-
treme intelligence and ductability.
Granted there are men and women OF
extraordinary influence over birds aid
beasts. The best these twain can
achieve in combination does not pro-
duce an effective stage show. nor can
one-hundredth part of the entertain
ment provided by the trainer be
ascribed to his abnormal ability or TO
the especially acute intelligence OF his
pupil. 1t is more probably the tri.
umph OF Il brute over brute by pa
tent and persistent cruelty.
The public judges 10y what il sees
on the stage and remarks in admira-
ton and approval that there was no
sign OF whip An animal exhibitor
who was nvowedly cruel would be
pretty low down in the ranks of show
men. / own particularly ferocious
looking bulldog who goes crazy WIKI
delight at the sight Of n whip. 1t has
been his pet toy for years and means
the beginning Of romp On the other
hand, movement OF the trainers fin.
ger almost imperceptible TO the audi.
dence may suggest TO the powerful
imagination OF the animal fiendish tor.
ture. II may recall the hot irons, the
agonizing Utilization of nerve
"Such appeals to the memory are. in
truth. the stock I'm trade of the animal
trainer. What the wretched creature
has gone through during months of
daily preparation can never be known.
for the work Is carried out In secrecy
oaA0 c~lNAhNAOh. lnCit II
person present. and the brute cannot
speak. That is the most hldeous factor
OF tho case.
There Is no concealment of the fact
that the training is apt to be hard and
painful, and n blow Is not uncommon
from the most humane and patient
trainer. angered. II may he. 10y stupidi-
~ and INSTRUMENTATION. IL IL Is so
with the boy. what must ii be with
the brute?
There is no possession so hideous
as that OF the triumph, even momen-
tarily, Of cruelty. Touch child, a
horse or n dog with whip and there
Is hideous sense OF satisfaction. even
when the cause is righteous. The Joy
or infiicting pain IS possible TO the best
OF US and grows by what II feeds OH.
Imagine the situation between n
coarse vulgarian and helpless brute
and you get the process OF animal
training
Il have never known n disinterested
member OF the circus community pre-
tend that the education OF any animal
was pleasant TO the animal, and 1 have
known them TO speak with horror OF
the methods OF some trainers.
lit is not very long since an athlete
snatched the whip from we'll known
dog trainer on the stage of London
variety theater and soundly thrashed
him amid the plaudits Of the company.
Another distinguished professor is
blacklisted by one Of the largest syn
dicates for undisguised cruelty (off the
STAGE to his large and various family.
Two OF our best known managers alb
solutely refuse TO deal with animal
turns and make no concealment OF
their reasons. And the editor. now de-
ceased, OF an important professional
paper, for years refused To attend any
place OF entertainment where dogs or
birds. or indeed any dumb creature
save conventional circus horses. APP
peared.
"All these men knew what they were
about. Most of the other performers
In music hall fight keep shy OF the
animal trainers. The stage hands speak
with horror of what they see.
THE mortality among performing
animals is perfectly awful. Ever so
many are hopelessly injured in the
process of e3-cation. and ever so many
succumh 10 tbs dreadful life of nightly
performances.
whenever i case OF cruelty by a
performer comes before the courts one
is amazed hy The ineptitude and fulfil
ity of the evidence.
THE public is of course the main
culprit. 1t wants the shows, and man
ayers provide them. though they must
be conscious of the truth OF ali / have
written. They even assist in the I'M
for the stabling and menag-
erie accommodations of some OF our
largest establishments are insanitary
and inadequate in the extreme.
81 finish as | begin. The cruelty of
animal trimming is almost impossible OF
proof. Much OF II should be obvious.
and so much OF my indictment as Is
not to be proved by the obvious is not,
l solemnly affirm. based on a desire (.
be sensational or on idle gossip but Cd
the dependable assurances OF men ar
women who dare not submit TO public
citation"