236 
EVERYBODY'S MAGAZINE 
to illustrate their conduct. This, because 
no animal that was ever born is like unto 
any other animal as to his mental make-up. 
Bach one must be taken as a separate iden- 
tity and considered as such. The trainer 
studies each one of his pupils with utmost 
care; gets to know his ideas concerning 
things and his manner 
of expressing the same, 
and moulds his plan of 
treatment accordingly, 
from what he learns, 
along the lines of least 
resistance. Each ani- 
mal, of course, follows 
certain broad character- 
istics of his race and 
kind. Thus, if a tiger 
once consents to do his 
duty, he makes a brilliant 
performer, but he is ap 
to be longer in yield- 
ing to discipline than 
a lion or a leopard. 
Also, he is far less 
trustworthy than ei- 
ther of the latter ; and 
when aroused is ut- 
terly fearless of any 
weapons the trainer 
can employ. He gives 
no warning of his in- 
tentions, and never 
forgets a grudge. A 
certain vein of obsti- 
nacy in his nature, an 
inexorable determina- 
tion of purpose, makes 
him harder to handle ; 
and once this vindic- 
tive stubbornness is 
awakened, it is all but 
impossible to over- 
come. And yet here 
again comes in the 
personal equation. A 
tiger, finding nothing 
to displease him, may 
comport himself alto- 
gether admirably, per- 
better 
any of 
haps 
than 
the lions with 
whom he 
works, taking 
an obvious 
pride in his oc- 
cupation, and winning for himself golden 
opinions. But let something happen that 
he does not approve, and that same tiger 
will instantly revert to the first principles 
of his nature ; and — often while apparently 
as tractable as ever — awaits a favorable 
moment for revenge. Many trainers will 
not admit that a tiger is more dif- 
ficult to deal with than a lion ; but, 
as a matter of fact, there are com- 
paratively fewer to be seen. 
All performing animals are liable 
to more or less severe attacks of 
stage fright, especially upon " first 
nights." A lion may cover him- 
self with glory at rehearsals, so 
that he is a joy and a delight to his 
trainer's heart, and yet go all 
to pieces at the rise of the cur- 
tain. And a badly rattled lion 
can ruin an entire performance 
all by himself, and is not a 
9j* i*a^_ pleasant 
customer to 
handle. It 
is for this 
reason, 
therefore, 
that dogs are often brought into 
the performing cages, their prime 
object being to help the lions out 
of trouble. And the abject de- 
pendence the great cats place on 
their canine friends is sometimes 
absurd. It is a quaint and curious 
sight to watch a small, stocky bull 
helping a lion who has lost his cue 
through his paces, ex- 
ceedingly important, 
very full of business, 
complaisantly con- 
scious of the respon- 
sibility of his posi- 
tion; while the lion 
flounders helplessly 
and looks frankly wor- 
ried and full of care. 
And speaking of 
dogs, the following episode occurred when 
an outfit, since scattered and merged into 
various other shows, was in New York. 
There was a big tight-rope walker, a 
most affectionate and confiding lion, named 
Wallace. He weighed close on eight hun- 
dred pounds, and was possessed of an im- 
mense and solemn dignity. Also there was 
a bull terrier, very young, with a vast idea 
HIS IDEAS CONCERNING THINGS. 
