Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1911 — SEA LION ACTORS [ARTICLE]

SEA LION ACTORS

Captain Kent’s original conception, the- wonderful group of comedy-playing, music-making and deft-juggling seals, exhibited by the Gollmar Brothers and performed by their trainer, present without doubt the most unique display of animal training ever attempted. A casual glance at a number of these curiously formed creatures as they lie basking in the sun-shine on some rocky wave-washed cliff, which lifts its apex above the surrounding ocean, or perhaps as in the distant Arctics, as they lie in wait for food on the frigid shore-line of huge floating mountains of ice, would lead the onlooker to think them the least tractable of animals. Nature has apparently not provided them with symmetrical limbs, with which to move upon land, nor has she endowed them with the advantages possessed by many sea-living creatures, yet this seemingly almost helpless beast is one of the most capable of the lower animals as is most surprisingly shown by the marvelously exact difficult feats of juggling,- balancing and catching, accomplished by the members of Captain Knet’s troupe, while their conception of comedy is plainly shown by the many funny situations presented in their hu-man-like exhibitions, in which they exact actual comedy plaj r s. That they enjoy music is beyond question. Captain Kent has among his troupe a number of seals who actually approach a melody in their songs, while their performance on musical instruments, though not rivaling a Maestro in a musical sense, still show them to be interested in producing a sound. Captain Kent is the originator of this special class of trained animal acts. While on a cruise in the seas far north, a number of years ago, Captain Kent was ice-bound for a number of months off the northeast coast of Greenland, and here, far away from the civilized world, home and friends, during the long sunless days of an Arctic winter, the first troupe of performing seals was perfected. With a score of these furry-coated pets as his only companions, save his ship’s company of hardy sailors, he was given an opportunity to study their natures and possibilities, of which he has taken full advantage in perfecting them An their astonishing performances. While it is* true that others have since attempted to imitate his accomplishments, though with less than indifferent success, he is the originator, and so far the only really successful trainer of seals for exhibitional purposes, and his act stands today alone, the most unique trained animal show the world has ever seen. Throughout the old world, where Captain Kent Ijas heretofore exhibited his company of Oceanic Actors, they have met with the most emphatic success. t These Sea Lion Actors and musicians come as a special feature with the Gollmar Brothers Circus which exhibits here today.