A DIFFICULT FEAT
For the reason that it is cruel and unsafe, I never now allow any firearms to be used, unless it is in a case of great urgency. I took this precaution after an incident in Chicago, when the cheek of a spectator was grazed by a shot fired by a trainer at one of his infuriated animals. The weapons that are used now are intelligence, pluck, vigilance, and patience. With these used in the proper way, very few animals in captivity, whether trained or not, will do those about them any harm.
CHAPTER X
AN ANIMAL SHOW AT NIGHT
To those who are the least timid or not accustomed to it, an animal show at night has a gruesome and somewhat terrifying aspect.
The general impression is, that when the trainer has made his final bow and the band has given a gentle suggestion to those departing by playing “Say ‘Au revoir,’ and not good-by,” everything is over and finished for the day.
But to the chief trainers, the day—or night—is only just beginning. For it is at night, when the majority of people are in bed and asleep, that the principal work of animal training begins. There are various reasons for this.
All carnivora are nocturnal animals, and although after many years in captivity they get into the habit of sleeping part of the night, they are generally more or less alert and wakeful. During the day they are lazy, sleepy, and somewhat stupid, but as night draws near they begin to be restless, and it has been found far less difficult to attract their attention in the night time than either in the early morning or during the day.
Also, there are no workers or loiterers round the place to take off their attention when being taught new tricks,—the least thing will attract an animal’s attention,—and there are also more time and opportunity for arranging the hoists, or cranes, with which some animals are taught to understand what is wanted of them. These are used chiefly for teaching elephants to stand on their hind legs, to lift up a fore leg and walk on the remaining three, or to lie down.