| Show THE ANIMAL BARO BAROMETER METER AND THE ETERNAL FEMININE By Dy Frances Metcalfe ClI SA SAM 1 spends a lan large e amount U of or mon money to forecast the weather twenty tour hours In all advance vance und and the farmers and seafaring folk tolk watch the bulletins no more moro eo eagerly erl than do llo the owners of oC the man many showy how whose harvest hane l time 1 I k the brief Bummer Hummer summer sum Hum mer 5 season Son at Cone Coney Island Inland Bad Dad weather If u it comes on the thel l or last day of or the week or a legal Ical holiday means a lo loss of hundreds hun hun- x of ot dollars to them thorn for Cor If Ir th the ekies ore are the holidaymaker holiday holiday- makers maker seek their pleasures nearer nealer home and ami there are arc Cew fewer l' l people to toIve toj j give Ive up their dimes and quarters under under un un- un- un der ller the wheedling of ot the barkers Most o of the showy show people look Jook anxiously I at al the sky Iky before re retiring retiring re- re tiring for or the nl night ht but bul there Is I one pr of f them them who finds an absolutely re reP reliable reliable re- re P liable forecast within the walls of or his own building Perhaps the signs and portents could nol not bo ho translated b by bythe bythe the washer clerk but the Y C k a a h hr r f mr mIMS m IMS I ug ono one of tie the great beasts t jumped for Jar tier her tor tar of the trained animal exhibition at ut Dreamland has bits beet been all of oC his life the companion of or his charges charge and has hns learned learnell to recognize the meaning of unusual behavior or the shade of chan change e In their voices voices' which Indicates indicates indi Indi- cates an approaching dot m. m There was wan not a cloud to be he seen en and e cl every tar star In the heavens was trying try try- r f ing lug to lo rival the brilliant electric lights on the tha great tower as UM ho he sat al nt the theart art cafe table tahle in III front of or the Ar Arena Aiena na with r the Stranger and th the Pre s Agent after after af af- ter the nights night's performance was over but hut he an at exclamation of dl ap- ap t as us a smothered half roar came from Crom the Iho throat of oC one of or the y lions In the building J tomorrow he wild said as the grumbling roar spread from cu cage e lo to cage about tile the great semi Ills companions bin Smiled I led Incredulously us as the they looked at al the tho cloudless sky sly but buthe L he lie repeated his prediction when lher the r k J Stranger Strange c rend reull Fair and warmer to tomorrow to- to I. I morrow morrow from flom one of or the evening papers I know all nil about aboul the high and low pressure areas Ke he sold as ah ho glanced at al the chat chart A man manin manin in III th the show business has to study everything which ma may Influence th the th but bul the Iho behavior o of my myC C animals Is a u better belter bi for 01 local t. t conditions than nil any whIch t JIG tho Weather Bureau owns In spite of th i le nN F ek Bk th flea u uJ n ft w we JJ 11 M. M Ji h Vc v c hai baU tt the itc t four twenty tour hours for Cor those these lions have havethe havethe havethe the inherited knowledge e of ot hundreds I of oC generations of oC Jungle bred bred ance ancestors whose food supply depended lar largely I upon the weather conditions Do the other animals possess the i name Rame barometric accomplishments asked l the Stranger s skeptically and the tho Proprietor lau laughed hll as he Invited In him to come In Inside ane and Judge for tOI him him- I self The Arena was always alwa's an uncanny un un- ca canny III I place at nl night ht for tor in tin the dim light only the glowing C eyes S of or the animals could be distinguished lIn In lit the cages and the snarls and growls which carne camo from flom behind th the gratings conjured conjured con con- up uJ visions of what whal might happen hap hap- pen lIon If one of the animals wore were loose and crouching on the seats seals of oC the auditorium au au- auditorium or In the galleries wailing waiting I aU-I for a meal of human flesh bul but tonight II It was W worse than usual for Cor the unwonted unwonted unwonted un un- wonted l' l restlessness of oC the animals was apparent even to lo the untrained senses of or the Stranger The rhe orn in captivity retain the habits of oC their relatives of the Iho Jungle and arc are more alert at nl night ht than In inthe tho the daytime but hut following a hard days day's work In the exhibition cn cage e th they usually settle down for 01 a 0 few tew hours sleep after aCter receiving their evening al allowance al- al lowance lo of or meal meat Although It il was long past their resting lime time nol not an tin oyo 00 was elo closed ed and hundreds of pairs of or bright spots spols were visible in the tf darkness as the the- beasts paced uneasily from rom ene end to lo end and of their narrow dens The elephants whose arduous duties s sIn in tho the ring and on the tho ballyhoo brought such le leg weariness that they were usually glad to b be shackled for Cor forthe f. f tho the night were swaying their hu huge e bodies from rein side sille to side and straining at tho the stout chains which fastened them and the tho shrill trumpeting of oC Tom the largest one was echoed echoe and repeated repealed by his companions Roger and Alice The roaring of ot the lions and the snarling of ot the tigers was mocked by the the- hideous laugh laus-h of the hyenas honas and the discord of the thc strange noises was so disagreeable that the Stranger was relieved ed when they left leftt t t i tho rho Arena and returned lo to the comparative com com- paraU o quiet of the white topped r. r table Jt it will wiil bo ho a seve EC a storm said the thc theL i I t V L' L t r-t 1 0 f n Ii 11 i fu f r rI H I I rI 1 J thin Ihn NI S lc then I Is n II great groat reut e In ruing ln III a It for fat the lie top lop lout of or if Unit 1 It theft hero Mi Ilse 1 Proprietor as 08 the waiter waller look took their o orders r Any Impending change chung makes malte t them uneasy but when every o animal In the Is s in the state stale of or excitement which you noticed tonight you OU can be he assured that it means a acry avery avery very cry decided disturbance II It is a 0 thing which animal trainers are aro over o watchful watchful watch watch- ful about for most of tho the training ladone la ls done at night und and It Is Is' not safe to fo work vork with them when they are ue In iii that frame l o of mind But you ou give your OUI advertised per performances cr- cr Ju just t the tho same ante said the Press Agent a different matter answered answer answer- ed the Proprietor When the Arena Arona Is hi lighted up and filled with people the attention of oC the animals Is 19 distracted distracted distracted dis dis- an and the they forget their nervousness nervousness nervous nCr ness but a n rehearsal at night is a lonesome preceding nt at best jest and as 1 the trainer devotes oles his attention to toa toa toa I a animal anh at a time tl It Jea leaves 8 the tho others tree to think up mischief or to give gh way tray t 16 to their unreasoning fear tear I 1 had that borne borno In upon me In Ina Ina a way I skull shall never Jor forget et a few tew years lU ago when whet I wan aM a younger hand at al th the business I knew 0 good deal about handling animals but not nol as aJ notch about in men as I have learned since and ancl I r used to forget that thai gri Kiting ng an r. H dr was not no noli the ame thing as seeing that It was executed There was a trainer named Barton in my tty employ who did a pretty f fair fh h act net with a group of six lJ lions Irons nl but he was wasa a brutal sort bt be a chap and punished punish punish- ed his hits animals so severely that they w vent nt l their performance on the jump io fio to lo get gel out of or the rite exhibition exhibition ex- ex cage caJe where blows were more plentiful than kind words word His Isis act was a n winner all right for 01 he lae was absolutely Ccarl B and ana th the animals put pui up a blurt bluff of or snarling and snapping snapping snap snap- ping whit which h m mado dell It exciting but bul I disliked ni ii ii iio so o ie r much uch that 1 I was glad to lo farm farni I Illin n out for tut a ten len weeks weeks' engagement nt on un the vaudeville circuit lie w wasn't nt A looking bad ln chap chuI and ami when he came back bucl from hl his tour he brought with him one une of the must most women I 1 have hu over seen een tic Mic was an 1 Egyptian who had been I trou ht lo tu this thin country with a troupe of ut of dancers forgone of gt the big I tion lion and he met mel her and married her herI I In ht the thel theme when they were performing l I Iame amo me theatre Of or course I J had absy- absy lute no use han an an I. I Egyptian p Ian dancer with Ill m my how ho 1 I mude the marriage marriage mar mar- a ab to get gel nd rid of oC Barton but bul he ho was leaching caching her to lo do his act acl with the Site ie so Ia so beautiful 1 that thai I realized cd that she she would be bc a aI I great drawing card cald if Jr she developed de Into Inlo a good trainer so 1 I con consented and and a contract with him for 01 another year ear tI 11 r It when 1 I slur saw the rehearsal l. l for or it Il was owes painfully pain pain- painfully tUII fully c l pt that she went Into Inlo tho the cage cuge anI only b because ause she hc was more afraid of or her husband than than she site she was of oC the dons clops and I didn't blame blam her hl ter for while 1 l might Interfere to pr present pmt Ill treat I ment of the lions which were my lay property I had no authority to lo pre I The did ret lect her from flom hl his cruelty They most of I tho the thor at nl night andI anilI and anil I trul trusted to the ltd Ce fear lr which had Instilled in the lions to lo I keep cp lh Lucia m from attacking her for Cor he always alwo's stood at at atthe the bars and the they would woul 1 cower down at al lh sound of his voice Ice You know It Is ne never nel l' l safe for fOI two people people people peo peo- to bo be In the cage with wilh a group of or animals al at the same lime s they J J stand back to back and keep keel In one place for If the they are moving nio about aboul an animal may run Into one while endeavoring en endeavoring en- en lo to escape from the other and even cven the Iho blow from froma it lions lion's tall tail might I knock a man from his hits his feet feel and then there would bo be trouble Poor POOl little Leolla Leotta ui ed u cl to lo go Into Inlo the co cage c and tl try liy to keep the tell tale tremble out of her hel voice when s she shega he ga gave gac c hp hr commands but but- she could nov gif J ln to lo 11 lu ui I. I 1 l v IP 10 li 1 for or- or orn n a a sI i II or of of ui from Parton out of the corner of ol hei her CO eye I mail madr it a H point to lo see that there there- was a aoi a trays nays plenty of or assistance near In ease case of or accidents and mill gave Button Barton strict orders order's to keep her out of or the cage case when the animals animals' were wele under tinder the weather oc of weather fear It Il was difficult t for forme me me to Instruct or 01 warn Leotta for fyr she understood English el very little but bul I helped her all I could and gave sav hei hel husband lo to understand under under- stand that I I. I would w not nol allow any ill ill- treatment A fIn f t tIn i In In spite o all my precautions I Iwas Iwas Iwas was 8 wa a uneasy when bho sho was In Inthe n the tho ca cage a and when I had hall to be bo away from the show In she was constantly In my mind I had to lo go to lo the Iho wharf one afternoon to superintend the unloading un- un unloading un un- loading of ot a new lot lol of ot animals which had been sent our English quarters luar- luar tel's and ami owing to lo delays al at the Iho customhouse customhouse customhouse cus cus- tom-house tom it Il was late laic al nt night before beCore I could start back huck for rol the show Perhaps Per Per- haps Imps I had hadvab ab some of or the weather weather wea- wea ther wisdom of the he animals from flom lon long association with them but at al any rate rale I was un uneasy at al the delays delay and as I whizzed along alonA In 11 the trolley I congratulated congratulated con con- myself on my foresight In having warned Barton as us the thc thunderheads thunder thunder- heads were wro gathering and I knew the animals woud have ha the juts ps and bo unsafe to work wont with But Bul my heart healt sank as I drew near the building and saw that thal H 14 was brilliantly lighted up for that thai could only mean one ono thing at that thai time lime of nl hl Lt ht-Lt hl olta must be re- re h al ln The The trainers miners usually have but bul one small cluster of lights bul but I hind had ordered the electrician lo to lurn turn on all the switches hes w she was in ht the cage cuge aS I thought she would be bo less frightened and the animals more mOle tractable In the th full rull light My guess was wan right Barton Barlon In disobedience of or orders ordel's had hind made her hergo hergo hero go o into th the lie eager cage and he hc had hall taken advantage of r my m absence to break our iron-clad iron rule which forbids a trainer to drink 1 I 56 saw w the v Whole thole hole situation as S soon a as 1 I entered the building and andI I would have ha given the whole show to hove have the little woman safely on the right hl side tilde of tho theban The animals In the lions Hons were raising a worse wone row than thon the they did tonight and antI the lions In group lOUI had hud for forgotten olten their tent fear of the trainer In their greater fear of the approaching storm They were ugly ant and ana Barton who ho was more than sc half K ver stood al ot the bars shouting abuse at his his his' wife and the lions Irons and Jeering at her hel evident terror I saw that thai tho the other trainers and keepers appreciated tho rho danger for Cor they were gathered s around holding Iron bars Roman candles and pistols but bul the they had sense enough to lo know that lint any interference which would draw hits hiM attention from lom the Ule cage would precipitate the an and none nom of them could make moke Leotta appreciate ap- ap the Iho danger of or her position I 1 went went- up to lo him quietly and nd told him that thai 1 I thought ho ha hau hotter botler call all the rehearsal off ocr for COl the night Intending to 10 square accounts with him himas as soon as all Leotta Leolla was safely out of ot the cage but the thC drink was in his brain and he turned on mo me and cursed cursed cursed curs curs- ed me ma Leotta gave s a scream am of terror ter tor- as QS the bruto brute turned his back on tho rho cage caJe and as 1 If f by plats plan every ono one of or the six great grea beasts Jumped for or her Barton Darton knew that thai the game ame was up and In fn his drunken rage ho he attack attack- attacked ed me and It kept m my hands full to lo manage him but the iho others othel'S rushed for Cor the cage coge and while Bonavita and Stevenson Ste beat beal ofT off tho lions with tho the help of oC the keepers on tho lie outside who were firing pistols pistol arid and Roman candles and using through the bars bals Bobby Dobby Mack picked up Leotta Leot- Leot ta la and c carried hor her outside Of Ot course that ended L Lentos Lento's OllAs OllA's career Co In the the- show business and auel finished Barion's Harton employment em tm with me The poor tittle things thing's beauty was gone for Cor a lions lion's claws clans make deep cuts and ancl It was many a day doy before heror she was waN able to leave the hospital You cap can sec see that I have reason to be confident of the accuracy of ot the pr predictions of or m my weather bureau for Cor If there had hacI been no thunderstorm brewing I might have developed de a sensational lion act t I |
