Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-04-20
In the Menageric.

SAVING W 'lS circus 400
"htn new attendant, disreccTdiny the
warnings of old-timers. becomes care
less while working abou, the cages.
Here's new animal trainer" the vet
Grams will remark, as the. watch the
fresh helper petting a tiger or a Ieoc-
ard. They know that il is only a mat
ter OF few days until the "cat" will
lash out with IFS claws unsheathed and
rip the arm OF the newcomer. They
also know that nothing will teach this
type OF attendant the alert carefu.ncss
necessary in handling wild beasts bu,
an ugly scratching. They can only
nope that the mans hurts will be
slight He must have a lesson. He
must realize that all animals are dan
gerous at all times, even if some arc
more so than others.
one often hears il contemptuouslv
remarked that such and such a beast
in an act is ''iust a NANCY, toothless
old lion," but often that NANCY, tooth
less old lion, because of its age, is
more dangerous than its mates in their
prime. The old lion is testy, and no
matter what its years, il carries a wal
lop that will break the back of n horse
a wallop backed by ripping claws.
Some of the worlds foremost trainers,
working with the same beasts in acts
year after year, have paid for the slight
carelessness that familiarity with and
ahection for their jungle pets have in
sidiously brought about At an unex-
pected diversion-the overturnine of a
pedestal, for instance-the animals
have leaped upon their mentor, but
with the element of complete surprise
absent, for no real wild animal expert
Is caught completely unaware by a
beasts leap. The trainer knows one
saving fact-the animal must set itself
to spring.
Not long ago Louis Roth, one Of
Americas front-rank trainers, was re-
hearsing troupe Of eight Royal Bengal
tigers in the steel-bound circus arena
The beasts were sulky, snarling, split
ing as they resisted the forcing with
whip and bar carried BY the trainer
Time and again Roth had driven the an
finals to their seats on a semi-circle
Of pedestals, only to have them leap
to the ground as he turned away. The
real battle of wills had attracted a large
number of the circus folk to the vi
cinity of the arena. They stood watch
ing anxiously, for they realized that
Roth was in trouble, and that he must
conquer or lose control of the finest
group Of Bengal tigers in the land. or
all those present, Louis was by far the
least perturbed. He had to win. He
knew it, and he forced the issue with
the tigers with relentless purpose.
Again he drove them to their seats, fir
ing blanks in his revolver, as "Prince,"
the largest of the group, struck at
him blindly, viciously. When to the
circus people, gazing breathlessly on,
il seemed that "Prince" was in the
very act of springing on his trainer,
Roth calmly turned his back and swung
his swapping whiplash at the other
cats. When he finished his work with
the animals, Roth was asked how he
dared turn his back on "Prince" ale
was bluffing" exclaimed the trainer.
81 could tell by his eyes and his mus
Giles that he wasn't set to spring. When
tiger springs he must get set; he
must contract his muscles, measure the
distance, switch his tail, as though it
were a rudder. The cat does all this
in second, but good trainer knows,
and has time to disconcert the beast
with rod, whip or gun fire."
Charles Barry, a leading American
trainer, made his debut in wild-an-
imal arena with a troupe of perform
ing bears. Because of the herceness
of one of them-a huge cinnamon
several trainers had failed in present
ing the act. Barry, who had shown es-
pecial aptitude as an aid and who had
marked success with domestic ami
mails, was prevailed upon by the man.
ager to put the bears through their
PAGES in the center arena. 1t was in
Roseburg, Ore, that Barry, clad in a
blue-and-gold suit and patent-leather
boots, made his bow from the circle
of bears. Everything went splendidly
until Barry attempted to make the big
bruin stand on his head. He gave
the animal the cue for the trick. but