CAT MAKES £100 A WEEK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

CAT MAKES £IOO A WEEK.

EDUCATED HORSE EARNS £6O A NIGHT. While trained animals are not- always pets, a certain amount of potting is ne.-ess.ivy to bring out any animal's skill. Aq a rule, animals are trained for money-making purposes, and few people realise the large sums earned each year by genuine novelties in the performing-animal line. For instance, tho original boxing kangaroo, until it met with an rntin.elv death, made its ma«ter over €3.00') richer in return for its two vears' exhibitions of pugilistic: skill. Tt is, of course, the original inventor of an annua l novelty "turn" who reap* tho golden harvest. When, for example. Captain Woodward proved that it was possible to tra'n a troupe of seals and soa-bons to dance, sing, smoke, play np'sir-il in-trnments and perform all sorts ef strange and funny tri'ks. he struck a roltl-mine. Managers vied with one another for "dates." and bid against each other as regard* salaries. But. when similar troupes were trained end sought engagement* the novelty worn off. an dtho inevitable result ensued.

Even more moivy await -d the genius who some years ago con-rived the idea of tra'uing :i troupe cf performing liens. He was a Frenchman, named De-pard, who for a hint; time prior to hi-; luckv venture had eked out a precarious living as a tea "be:- of languages n Soho. After live or six years of fleaexhihitirn. however, he retired with a fortune. Some ingenious statistician reckoned that each of Despard's fleas earned for it - master more than a m'dI'on times it, weight in gold.

It- is i!;e same with nearly all animal •' -tniv.." l.eoni Clarke, who lir-1 taught .i <at to a-eeid in a balloon ana coiii'"> down by means of a parachute, u-ed t:> ?vi kou on making nearly £IOO a week can cf the show. Elephants have ahvav; earned good salaries, (•eorgo I.oi hart, the owner and trainer oi t!i:> best »'I;• j>!i:ii:t troupe on the road at i lie pre-:1 1 iime, oik e -1111 d that In- c!e;'l:ant - eiri'.ed him an average of !;<jn a week pee. Hi t. of cour-e. it co-t- a. con-i l< ruble amount to keep tie in. I'll' litNl tdif a id hot e. cxhib ted by a. man named" Hank-, brought his ou ner no !<■-. than {.'CO a liti'.ht.