LIONS IN THE BARN

By the author of Zeke and the Fisher-Cat (1953, p.183) here is another smoothly written animal story that describes the relationship between man and his cats in captivity. Young Clay Baldwin, who lives on a farm in Connecticut in the days before circuses had regular wintering quarters, is delighted when Joe Dobbin, a trainer brings his menagerie in for the cold months. Clay learns a lot about the cats from Joe, a careful man, especially the rigid set of rules that must be followed with them. Then as Clay gains some practical experience himself with Chaka, a friendly lion cub, he also has a precarious but fortunate experience with the cub that teaches him once and for all that the creatures will always be wild. Drawings are by Kurt Wiese.