New-York tribune., 1921-06-12

~ WAS the lure of the circus-the tug that
every boy feels when a show comes to
town--that started me on my career as
collector of wild animals.
use the word collector rather than hunter.
because hunting gives the idea of killing and,
ia my business, a dead animal is no animal at
all In fact, the mere hunting of the animal
was simply the beginning of my work, and the
task of capturing them uninjured was far
more thrilling than standing at distance and
pulling q trigger. And then, when animals
wsrs safely in the net or stockade, came the
lob of taking them back through the jungle
TO the port where they could be sold.
/. was often of continuous perform
asce until I stood on the dock and saw the
boats steam away with the cages aboard. And
wasn't too sure of the success of my expedi-
ton even then, because the animals had
yshked from the jungle might die before they
reached their destination.
/ was nearly seventeen when the circus
came to Binghamton, N Y. where was liv-
ing with my parents. That day joined some
other boys in playing hockey from school, and
we earned our passes by carrying water for
the animals. That night, when the circus left
town, slowed away in a wagon
The next morning, in Elnira, showed up
at the menagerie bright and early In Buffalo
was told to see the boss-the head property
man-and / went, trembling for fear he was
going to send me back home Instead, he told
me that I might have the JOB of property
boy, which would give me s25 month, my
meals and place to sleep-if could find one.
Since those early days in the circus I've
been around the world many times, and I've
seen all sorts of men, living and working in
all sorts of conditions, but I've never found
harder life than that of property-boy, unless,
perhaps, it's that of Malay prisoner. Some
times wonder how stood it and why liked
it. But / did stand it and, what is more,
loved it so much that / persuaded the boss to
keep me on when we went into winter quarters.
My greatest interest was in the animals, es-
pecally the elephants. In my spare moments
they were mighty few and far between-I
talked with the keepers and learned from them
many things about the care of animals
My desire to learn all there was to know
about animals was the main reason why Gull
tivated the acquaintance and friendship of
Gaylord. He expert animal-man-
probably the best informed in the business
and had been P. T. Barnum's confidential
agent for years. 1t was Gaylord who nego
tiated with the Siamese officials for one Of the
famous white elephants OF Siam.
During many long voyages l spent much
time with him, listening to his stories OF ex
periences with animals. l had many questions
to ask and Gaylord, whose fund of informa-
ton was inexhaustible, always answered them
and told me more besides.
few days after we arrived at Singapore
he said: "Do you want to come with me while
buy some animals?" Naturally, jumped at
the chance We went to the house Of Mahom-
med Ariff, the Malay dealer who held mo-
nopoly on the animal trade He was squatted
irs the center of his courtyard, surrounded by
cages containing the animals brought in from
the jungle by his native agents. He was
wicked old devil and man had only to glance
at him to be convinced of the fact.
He greeted US cordially, for he had done
tu. many times with Gaylord, and we sat
dcwn with him to talk animals. His religion
was ito do all Europeans" but he could not
help being honest with US. If any man knew
the value of animals, it was Gaylord, and old
Mahommed Arif was well aware of the fact.
That day we bought tiger, several monkeys
and pair of leopards.
Several times during our stay in Singapore
went to see Mahommed Ariff. He spoke
little English, and he was usually willing to
talk with me- hoping, perhaps that we would
tuy more animals. From him learned some
thing of the work of collecting as it done
on the Malay Archipelago, although had no
idea, at that time, of entering the business.
But when by hard work and careful saving
had managed to accumulate more than $4,000.