PERFORMING ANIMALS—A REPLY TO LORD LONSDALE •
[To. the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sta,Lord Lonsdale's efforts to show that performing animals are not trained by cruel methods is unconvincing. I am sure that his convictions are honest, and everyone will admire the frank way in which he expresses them ; nevertheless I ant sure that he is wrong. For example, Lord Lonsdale says he knows what tricks are taught by kindness and what tricks are taught otherwise. Thus he admits that some performing animals are trained by cruelty. Yet, in a later paragraph in his letter, Lord Lonsdale says that he has " made enquiries as to the trainers and others." Surely this was unnecessary if Lord Lonsdale's knowledge of trainers methods was sound !
To compare the training of cart-horses, harness horses and others with the training of performing animals is futile. There is a vast difference between teaching a horse, once and for all, to do the work which is natural to hint to do and training a horse to do a lot of useless, irritating, silly tricks which need repeated rehearsals, and making the horse perform those tricks at fixed times every day. When Lord Lonsdale writes in this strain he forgets that, in any ease, his remarks cannot possibly apply t the training of lions, tigers, &c. But it is always the tricks of lions and other dangerous animals which form the star attraction of a circus.
Lord Lonsdale brings eats into his argument and asserts that they are " the most cruel of beasts with their prey." I do not see what this has to do with the subject in hand, but I am convinced in my own mind that it cat plays with a mouse for the same reason that it plays with a piece of paper —simply because it wants something to play with. The eat does not know that it is cruel.
The simple little tricks performed by Lord Lonsdale's ponies are vastly different from the very intricate and difficult tricks which the unthinking public want to see.
Lord Lonsdale asserts that the methods of a lion tamer are those usually employed when one is teaching a puppy. 'Well, I am sorry for any puppy taught by a lion tamer's methods. Here is a plain description of what a visitor to a circus saw recently :
"We saw, on entering, a collection of polar bears being driven, by the threatening of the trainer's whip, to run into the ring. and there to jump on to pedestals, jump oil them again, &c., at the trainer's bidding, and evidently much against their will. Again the polar bears were driven off, and in their places lions were mado to undergo the same useless and pitiful indignities. The little faces beside me were not happy, and one little boy whisperingly Isquired whether 'that naughty lion ' was being really hit. As one would soonest), the poor wild beasts who could not lie expected to understand what they were meant to do, and unald only obey From abject fear, were almost in open revolt, and the naughty lion ' became so refractory that the trainer (5 intimidator) found *See also telegram from Mr. Amery to Governor of Kenya. January 30th, 1925, Cmd. 2464. it necessary to fin. a blank eartridge at it. the animal crouching down, paralyessl and dazed with fear. It was imrribie sight." In the face of SUCII CVidelIVP ran Lord Lonsdale say that it is "all done by kindness " ? Why does the trainer of performing animals always have a Whip at a public performance? Is it merely for ornament or is it there to remind the animals of what they ean expeet from the whip if they fail to do their wretehed show ?
Lord Lonsdale asks. " 1Vhat about traitinm retrieve, for shooting purposes ? " and he goes out to sugg.....t that some sheep dogs are trained by cruelty. All this is I leside the point, and, in any ease, two or three wrongs .thl not make one " right.'' Most retrievers and sharp ch,gs iitherit their talents and are easily taught to do the work man require.: them to do.
The last part of I.ord 1mm:dale's letter, in which he refers to the " cruelty of nature," the killing of seals, and rabbit trapping, has nothing to do with the subject in 111110. The so-called " enmity of nature " is a debatable point, but, in any ease, man, having II brain superior to that of any other animal, should not have to come down to I lie level of an animal when he tries to just if something he wants to do.
Lord Lonsdale says, in the last paragraph but one of his letter, that he knows there are cruel trainers abroad. and in the next paragraph that he excepts the circuses of Italy, Spain and Sweden. He would seem to be contradieti ll g himself, and he " gives the game away " completely in his last sentence : "i in no way hold any brief for local and travelling menageries, for I fear I dislike them owing to their continual movements and enclosed cages." But where do any circus lions live, if not in enclosed cages ? and how do they get about the world Until by." cont. al movena•nts —I am, Sir, &e., E. G. l'Autuolvti:. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 105 Jerniya Street, Loudon, S.W.1.
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