nts still persists.

"And now, you are happy that I am approaching the end of the chapter,
and I am happy to say a final word in behalf of my favorites among the
circus folks, the animal trainers. To me, these patient, hard workers
are the cream of the crop. Whenever I had time to spare I was a
visitor in their schools. We marvel that we can communicate by
telephone and radio, but animal trainers not only make themselves
understood, but they must first teach their subjects the language in
which they speak. At these training schools I've seen horses, dogs,
elephants, seals, and birds told in pantomime what certain words mean;
they are then told to execute the exact meaning of the word. Those who
teach young humans have an easy task as compared with these patient
teachers of dumb, but brainy brutes.

"Animal trainers are born with the 'gift.' None, so far as I know,
would shine in educational circles and none are dilettanti in the arts
and sciences, yet they have that mysterious 'it' of influence and
command. I've seen a great herd of elephants move in unison at a
whispered word, and a dog will venture to death's door if a little,
old ragged master bids him to do so. A queer relationship this! It has
always fascinated me.

"But, I want you to understand, my admiration for the game does not
extend to the cat family. I always turn my back and walk away when I
see Beatty walk into a cage of tigers, leopards, lions, or cougars. I
admire his pluck but condemn his judgment. I cannot join the general
public in admiring the sinuous majesty of the cats. I was always glad
to hear the final slam of the gate and to wonder if the latch caught
as Clyde backed out.

"But with the rest of the trainees I am in good standing. I love to
ramble around in the menagerie and hear the big talk of the gang in
charge. Elephants like children and midgets. Old Mom always had a
friendly greeting for me and knew in which pocket I had parked the
peanuts. Seals know a lot more than they let on. However, they are a
jealous set. They sulk and pout, worse than humans, if one act wins
more applause than another.

"As a sort of a summary of my happy hours spent with animal trainers,
I offer the opinion that dogs, because of their centuries of contact
with man, are the most faithful creatures of the animal kingdom; that
horses are the most useful, for this great western empire would still
be a desert or a roaring wilderness had it not been for the horse