The Washington times., 1907-09-01
TRAINER DEFENDS
NATURE FAKERS "
Hunter, He Says, Goes Out
to Stay, Not to Study
Animals.


ture faker" has appeared IN the person
of Walter W. Gentry, of the firm Of
Gentry Bros. famous shows. who has
been for over twenty-one years, like his
felloW-partneVs, a breeder, trainer. and
educator Of animlas without an inter
mission of a single day within that pc
Rod.
Wnen the September number of
monthly publication containing an arti-
Gle written under the title of Nature
Takers" was shown Mr. Gentry last
week, he said:
1t would III become me to enter into
a controversy with anybody, as 1 have
always avoided mixing into politics or
putting into any movement where de-
bate or argument becomes a factor. but
/ must say, after reading what 1 have,
that II appears to me an abolute cruelty
10 take away from our little children
the many delightful stories Of the do
ings of animals wnich may or may not
be fictitious.
Writer Forget Two Things
The author OF this articles on Nature
Fakers' seems to have forgotten two
things.
First, the Old-time saying. That
truth is stranger than felton, and. sec
ond, the fact that Scripture itself con-
tains some Of the most remarkable
stories Of the doings OF animals which
far excel in their extraordinary features
the productions Of AesOp or the writings
Of even the yellOwest Of nature journal
ist I can freely relate my own and my
brothers experience and observation Of
the hundreds of animals which We have
now. and at one time or another bred.
raised, and trained. AS I said before
truth Is stranger than fiction, and ]
will merely tell YOU one or two instances.
Il have no hesitation, however, after
my long experience and personal hourly
contact with animals, in stating en-
phatically that there are many dumb
brutes whose quaint doings and strange
actions far exceed IN inlprobabflity any
thing which the so-called nature
takers have ever produced in print II
is not behind a gun or rife or riding
the bucking broncho that man can pos
sibly become a student of natural his
tory. Men under those circumstances
are bent solely on the destruction OF
life or cruelty torturing their quarry.
Blue Monkey Well Trained.
IT will give you an instance" con-
tinued Mr. Gentry. "of the cuteness and
docilItv which may be developed in a
savage animal by kindness, patience,
and persevering instructions. I have in
nv show young blue-faced mandril'
a species of ape which Is noted for its
ferOcity. He IS called Blue, being
named after the color Of his couRten-
ance. and is now about five years old,
and close on to as many feet in height.
That animal has been trained TO ride
a bicycle. and also does a number OF
other remarkable tricks.
This animal is. If one can apply the
term to a monkey, extremely taciturn.
From the time he was baby. he never
PLAYED or interfered with any other
monkeys in our menagerie. but always
amused himself alone in Just as much
solitude as we sometimes see in child
who prefers to play or study apart from
other children.
.Ar our monkeys. while the perform
ance is going on. sit on a bench in the
dressing tent waiting their turns 70 do
their act. just as human performers do
behind the scenes in a theater. Blue
has his regular seat at one end Of this
be7eh. and next TO him is a young
Chacma. ape known IN the show by the
name of Jake
Appeals to His Keeper.
-.Jake is a savage animal About SIX
weeks ago one night Jake attacked old
Bhe and viciously getting ono of the
naandriTs fingers. which are as long as
mine, into his mouth. tore it open from
end to end, sinking his teeth to the bonel
Strange as II may seem. Blue did not
ofTer 20 retaliate, but quietly eyed his
assailant with a look which was as full
Of contempt and hatred IS could be de-
picted upon human countenance.
blue looked at his injured finger, from
which the blood was streaming. turned
e around. hung it down, held it up. and
kSsns suffering pain IS TIE poor brute