Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-06
TRAINED OSTRICH
USED AS MOUNT
CHORUS GIRL RIDES ABOUT ON
MONSTER BIRD
UNRULY FELLOW TAKES A HIGH
FENCE
PIucky Young Woman Relates Her
Experiences in Breaking the
Big Fowls to the
Saddle

Has it ever occurred TO you, ladles,
who are in the habit Of decorating
yourselves with ostrich plumes, feather
boas, or carrying feather fans, or to
YOU. gentlemen, who pay for them, to
what extent the creators of these
fneries can be enjoyed as domestic
nets. or that a new fad is likely to be
the rage before very many moons?
That this is within the possibility of
the near future was developed one day
last week at the Los Angeles ostrich
farm when Miss Florence Leslie made
her daily trip to the place to continue
her training of the giant birds which
have been leased by the Askin-Singer
Theatrical company for their forth
coming production of THE Girl Ques-
tion" at Wallack's theater, New York
This young lady has been surprising
herself as well as various others by her
dexterity and courage in conquering
and handling these birds, which feat,
at one time, seemed only very remote
possibility. The fact that Miss Leslie
had the greatest confidence in her
ability to master the birds, owing to a
more than limited experience in bust
ing bronchos" and handling other than
parlor pets, had not little to do with
her success, which was not expected in
such a short time. Her first few days
at the farm were all delightful ex-
periences, so much so, in fact, that In
stead of the two hours daily which she
had agreed to spend in the training
she found she was losing all idea OF
time and was devoting four or five
hours each afternoon to what she is
pleased to call her ''feathermobile."
Roosevelt" Admiral Dewey"
Fighting Bob" big Bill" Harry
w" all became fast friends of this
daring equestrienne and she, in turn,
became greatly attached to them
"Hobson," however, who had been given
the same amount of attention under
the improvised saddle, did not display
the same intelligence as his brother
actors, and was due to go through his
PAGES
Saddles Ostrich
Miss Leslie arrived at the farm about
/ o'clock, and after attiring herself in
her riding clothes, as was her custom,
gave her pets their dinner, which con-
sists principally of whole corn. This
done, she had the birds saddled and
bridled, and, one at a time, had them
do their stunt for ten minutes, eX-
cepting "Hobson," to whom she IN
tended to devote most of her afternoon.
They were all letter perfect and
their mistress was naturally hlghly
pleased with neI Clldl sos
Then came "HobSon's" turn. WhlIe
he was being equipped with his trap
pings it was noticed that he was not IN
as pleasant a frame of mind as usual.
Under ordinary circumstances MISS
Leslie would have had some misgiVings
over this, but after her many ana
varied experiences with the birds she
hadn't the slightest doubt as to her
ability to overcome this unusual mood.
AS soon as Miss Leslie had gained
her seat on his back she noticed that
''Hobson' tried to peck her. but as sne
was dressed for the occasion she pald
no attention. After various unsuccess-
ful attempts to unseat his rider, the
bird adopted other tactics. He was
made to walk around the inclosure
several times, and on reaching the
north end of the place turned squarely
around and made a dash for the SIX
foot fence, directly opposite. The rest
is best told in Miss Leslle's own Woras;
"You want an account OF my aWIul
experience?" she repeated in answer to
a query. "For most people it would, |
presume. be an awful experience, but
for me it was just a reminder or sew
eral months L spent on a ranch IN
North Dakota, during when time
green bronchos and other bronchos
and other animals about the place were
ALWAYS doing something that was not
according to program. I should rather
call it q thrilling experience, as the
sensation was most delightful. or
course I appreciate the fact that there
was, to quite an extent, an element OF
danger but now that it is all over
have forgotten about that and remem-
ber only what was to me a pleasant
incident.
Just the minute the bird executed
his right about movement L knew he
was determined to do something not in
our contract, and prepared myself ac-
cordingly. Situation followed situation
so quickly that it doesn't seem real
when I tell it, but if you insist I'll do
my best.
Jumps Over Fence
when I saw the bird was making
straight for the fence 1 knew that
would have one more try at keeping
nv seat over a. hurdle, and as L eX-
pected was outside the fence the same
moment that "Hobson" landed on terra
firma. A small matter of a siX-foot
fence was nothing to this bird, and he
took it as beautifully as ever any
Jumping horse could have done. The
sensation can only be equaled, l should
saw, by a ride in an airship at sixty
miles an hour, although 1 understand
'sIJobson" makes but half that time.
''Well his birdship lost no time after
getting over the fence, but kept his
gait across fields and onto the boule-
yard. After his hurdle of the fence
and his run to the boulevard probably
a half mile, I knew that 1 was secure,
hut if I did not call halt his birdship
would probably land me in Pasadena
or somewhere in the foothills. My
ranch exnerience once more came to
NV rescue. and I realized the impossi-
bilitv of his continuing If his breathing
onnaratus were impaired. So with my
Two hands around his elongated neck
7 SLOWLY squeezed until slackening in
his gait was apparent. l then knew
that 7 was still boss of the situation,
and once more let him go.
"After we Travelled probably four and
a half or five miles and l was still safe
7 realized that the people at the farm
might worry about u.s. SO again
hroupht nv hands into use around his
neck and stopped him. then turned
him about. and though I was sorely
tempted on the return to establish a
record for ostrich riding l satisfied my
self with an easy gait back to Hob
son's' home. and he took it, docile as
lamb. When 1 got back to the farm
they were all mighty glad to see me,
as after my flying start the keepers
hannened to remember how many
fences 'Hobson' had kicked to tooth
picks, etc.
$50, If you are looking for a new
diversion Just go to the ostrich farm, |
pick out a likely looking bird, mount |
him, make sure of your seat, turn MIN
loose and I'll warrant you will ex-
perience sensations that you never |
dreamed of. But, be sure of your seat"
$S-
If you have any kind of work to OFFER to
anv Kind OF a worker, your want ad will find /