176 WILD NEIGHBORS chap. 



One of the greatest modern trainers of perform- 

 ing horses is the Frenchman Loyal. He makes no 

 secret of his methods, which have often been pub- 

 Hshed — latest in that curious and entertaining 

 book by Le Roux and Gamier, "Acrobats and 

 Mountebanks." 



The horse, in the opinion of this experienced 

 man, is one of the dullest animals created ; it has 

 but one faculty — memory. It must be forced to 

 learn its tricks, which are imprinted on its mem- 

 ory by the whip if it resist, and by presents of 

 carrots if it obey. These are associated in its 

 mind with certain words or gestures, and it goes 

 through the list from fear of punishment on one 

 hand, and in hope of reward on the other. This 

 is certainly different behavior from the lively in- 

 terest taken by horses in racing, fox-hunting and 

 cattle-herding, the active obedience and self-dis- 

 cipline of war chargers or of the steeds used by 

 firemen ; but in these and similar instances the 

 animal, naturally gregarious and accustomed to 

 compete with his fellows, is doing what seems 

 natural to him, and his exertions have an object 

 and result that he can comprehend. The feats of 

 the circus, on the contrary, depend for their popu- 

 larity largely in forcing the animal to do what is 

 contrary to his nature, such as strutting about on 

 his hind legs, poising himself on pedestals where 

 there is scarcely room for his feet, lying down to 

 be tramped upon by his master or mistress, balanc- 



