New-York tribune., 1909-02-14
Training Domestic Animals

Nost people viii laugh II they are told that rt9s
are intelligent animals and the idea that pigs are
rsuraily clean and dainty seems even more ridicu-
lous. "As stupid as pig" is common saying,
sud to be called "a pig is the very worst sort of
!nsult for II means that you greedy, that you
s.nply loathe being the least bit clean Oh it is
horri6! Now this ts most unjust to pigs. People
xso have studied pigs sad given them a chance TO
sbow what is n them Say that pigs filthy be
cause farmers keep them in such filthy pens. They
can't help themselves
There is a young woman in New York who loves
res and keeps IN the parlor OF her Harlem
fat They must behave well the jantor would
object: everybody knows how strict janitors are.
TIE mistress OF these pigs says that they keep
themselves clean as cats and eat delicately
1s horses do. They very fond Of their mistress
and al her bidding viii perform many clever tricks
She SAYS that they learn tricks quite easily as
fox terriers DO.
Another set OF pigs. trained by & professional
trainer learned 10 jump over one another. TO leap
through rings lie down, get up walk and stand
rt the word OF command-aN this with a celerity
ruite astonishing in such clumsy pets The trainer
SAYS that they are very quick in cOmpTehending
what he wants. and that they seem take positive
pleasure in performing the tricks Then when they
have done their stunts well Il is fun 10 see them
beg for the reward they know they are TO get.
Generally II Is a cake or banana. or something
Ike that
If the Little Men and Little Women were asked
70 rane tbs most intelligent Of all the animals.
GENE would say the horse" and some the dog
probably some Little Women would say cats
But Frank Bostock, the great animal trainer, de-
clEres that horses STUPID: that their memories
short; that their reasoning powers very
poor and that their affection for the kindest
nssIer can't be depended on to last any time at
all Mr. Bostock had talk once with Ernest
Moler, rich Frenchman. who has q private cir
Gus. and he made NJ Molier, who loves horses.
quite angry by saying all this NJ. Molier defended
his fsVoTites a-dently, but Mr.. Bostock insisted
that elephants, camels and donkeys all
Intelligent than horses, and related many expert
s1ces Of his own TO prove it Other trainers say
that horses less intelligent than dogs. cats
pigs
NJ. Bsketone. who lives IN London and trains
snimsls says nicer things about horses II is true.
he begins d declaring that horses give points
Il stub5ornness and obstinacy TO the worst tenn
peTed donkey that ever brayed defiance" But he
RAYS that generally speaking, well bred horse Is
very obedient, understanding quickly and soon get
ting 10 Ike his work If he doesn't" says Mr..
Bsketone. I'VE leav~ him alone for time. It's
use trying to force AZ animal TO dance or jump in
ring i he objects. He may forget his objections
ttief a couple Of months or SO, and turn out a
Eood performer The training of circus horse be-
gins when he is young colt usually, and lasts
Twelve months at least Even when the twelve
months are up and the horse is accomplished
enough 10 perform IN public he has TO keep on
practising every day
The first thing the horse is taught is to walk
t-oand the ring gracefully You know the pretty
step CT the circus horse-how K throws out its
front legs and brings its feet down gently. 1t
seems simple but II isn't easy. after all Some
uaes Il is necessary tie piece Of rope to each
O TIC zorelegs. ana give the rope a gentle pull
then the horse lifts its leg Very soon the pupil
szrns TO step quite naturally. The first train
hg is given without music. and when the band IS
Introduced II confuses the horse little But the
laer carries d small whip, and keeps lightly
laching the horse the leg II is to lift. and il
soa learns 10 step the music. To teach horse
e Ealtz is more difficult but some horses are
1ks children who dance before they can speak
tone horses have a natural inclination TO sway
ns way and that TO the music, and so il isn't
aerd 10 teach them 10 90 around In circles
bols. as you might imagine. are not very amen
tae % training. but an American trainer, Mr..
sanin has accomplished wonders with a big bull
as calls King Bin. One Of King BilFs acts is to
Ssna with al four feet a box six inches wide
q eight inches in length. Bulls aren't exactly
eateepes in the matter OF agility. and that IS no
tnsl feat for Kinc BIZ. He will sit down on
az launches like dog. too he VIII. when told,
az down his side and let his master use him
aof couch: and he viii stand upon tub with
rs trainer standing on him. one foot on his head
end one upon his back He viii rest his head
-pon the ground while AI-. Sunlin stands on his
-zeo Between the bulls horns. and-greatest feat
' ' Ai-he Will fire of a revolver. The revolver is
ssoeo On standing post. and King Bill stands
~ s-e has fore feet tub and fires off the weapon
1 MS mouth. And he never jumps at all. Cat
< sFe slow &c learn things, but they seldom Ior-
81 what they do learn Goats. on the contrary, |
= - euic< TO iearn but they aren't to be depended
.1On ie remember. II isn't strange that very few