The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-22
LIONS FOR MOVING PICTURES
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
"HoSE who go to the movies" to
l be thrilled are likely to be COM
L pletely satiated with a film
which the yitagraph Company of Amer
lea is to get out this spring. The pic
lures are entitled Daniel in the Lions
Dem" and the scenario was written by
| the Rev. Dr. Madison c. Peters
When Daniel, who in this particular
case is to be Charles Kent, throws de-
fiance into the kingiy face of Belshaz-
Ear, the son of Nabonidus, and walks
away between the guards to the den.
he will be walking into the real thing
| in lions. There will be three full
Igrown ones waiting for him. Further
more, there will be two equally fullr
grown tigers licking their chops and
piercing the gloom with cat eyes.
What is going to prevent these per-
fectly ful-grown animals from leaping
upon Daniel Charles Kent and tearing
|him into a large number of pieces?
Simply some very expert training of
the kind that Paul Bourgeois, the young
Frenchman who owns the animals, is
giving them daily, almost hourly, at
the plant of the vitagraph company at
Sheepshead Bay.
The first dress rehearsal solely for
the den performances was held yester-
day at the plant. NJ. Bourgeois, wear
ing a military uniform of bright col
ors, to which the beasts must get ac-
customed, entered the huge cage which
the Vitagraph people have erected for
him in the center of the performing
room. The young trainer (only "a years
old he is), whose hands, neck and back
are covered with little and big white
scars, had in one hand rawhide wrip,
in the other a ladder" consisting OF
five rungs held together by cross
pieces, and in his pockets a couple OF
revolvers loaded with blank cartridges.
Mr.. Bourgeois explained that he was
about to introduce the star den per-
formers to each other for the first time.
A little black door at the back of the
cage opened and out rushed Lulu,
400 pound lioness. She stopped mo-
ment to get her bearings and then with
a snarl sprang for NJ Bourgeois. She
was met with the ladder, while the
trainer leaped aside.
Now she will be all right" NJ. Bour-l
geois said reassuringly. You can let
Sadie in now"
Whereupon Sadie, a 450-poupder,
|sprang into the cage. The two cats
shifted each other and began to snarl
SO that NJ. Bourgeois was moved to
speak almost sharply to them. He sue
ceeded with few quiet words in get
ting the two into opposite corners and
then announced that it was time for
Nero.
The trainer took UP his stand near
the little black door grasping his re-
Ivolver At word from him the door
was raised. First there was tre-
mendous roar then the gloom was
lighted with the glare of two green
eyes. Finally there was quick dash
and out into the open came Nero, his
tawny skin covered 500 pounds all a
CULVER
He paid no attention at first to Lulu
and Sadie but fixed his eyes on NJ.
Bourgeois who was saying: "Well, well,
Nero, how are you today? You're look
ling fine"
Nero crouched at one end of the
cage, his tail swishing from side to
side, and then with a roar that rat
tied the glass in the roof he lunged
way across the cage at NJ. Bourgeois.
What he got was a fash from the re-
volver full in the face, and his teeth
crunched upon rung of the ladder.
He retreated snarling toward cor
ner where Lulu was watching. Lulu
raised a huge paw and gave him cun
that staggered him for a moment. As
his mouth opened in roar of resent
ment the spectators noticed that one
great tooth was nearly severed from
!his jaw. Sadie took no part in the
proceedings, for she was nursing a