The Nevada journal., 1859-01-21
EDUCATED FLEAs A Washincton

CoiiC C"P"u0Ht VI me CHtOH gives tHc
following deeply interesting account of
| lot of educated feas. About &c years
ago Scotchman whose name we do
not now remember, tanned few feas to
work in harness and perform antics for
the amusement ofpublic crowds. Since
that time we know of no feas minister
ing to the comforts OF pleasures of man
till the advent of Bartoleiti:
Signor Bartolctti is now exhibiting his
industrious and educated fcas at 599
Broadway. The we'll ascertained fact
that a pulga will draw two hundred
thousand times its own weight, suggests
the question Observation-Disclosures being
an extensive fea-producing country
the active little williams" might not be
proftably employed in the gold diggins.
The fact that they must have blood, and
nothing else for making food, settles that
question in the negative, besides their
gold chains would cost so much. Well,
the Professors exhibition is certainly
amusing and wonderful. Imagine some
thirty or forty full grown feas, chaine
by silverand gold collars to all sorts of
contrivances, drawing little steamboats,,
carts, drays, omnibuses, railroad trains
and plows; turning windmills and work
ing at treadmilis Instead of whip the
Professor uses small pair of nippers, at
the clipping noise of which the little in
sects commence their various occupa-
tions. The sly little rouge who works
the .readmill dare not stop while his
masters eye is upon i'm, but the mo-
ment he turns his back ceases but re-
sumes at the well known "clip" of the
pincers. Two of the feas chained oppo-
site each other, at the word of command,
cross and brandish silver cords longer
than themselves. Rotary swings, flying
horses, merry gorounds, &c, are set in
operation by flea power. another scene
represents an Italian landscape with
an open air musical and ballet perform
ance. The flea orchestra is seated in a
little balcony, the leader waving his ba-
tan a Ia Musard. while, on a platform
beneath, party indulge in kind of
waltz or polka. The manner of chain
ing or colaring the heasis shown through
microscope glasses, which magnify five
hundred times. Perhaps some Of your
readers. with the idea of getting up a
flea company, might wish to hear the
Professors method of instruction for his
little flea college, which is stationed at
one of his counters. The first thing the
Professor does is to catch the flea and
imprison it in small box, with two glass
windows through which, the little priso-
ner tries in vain to escape. He is tax
en- ont dali y to be fed, by being placed
on the Professors hand, glass case or
tumbler being placed over him to pre-
vent his fight. In the fourth or tif.sihi
week the iiea gives up struggling, and
resigns himself to imprisonment. He is
taken out upon a little wire, left upon
miniature wharf, by miniature river
For some four or five weeks he remains
obstinately torpid, exhibiting vitality
only when feeding time comes at the
end of this period he is attached to a lit
tie vessel or car, and, by an occasional
twinge from the pincers, and untirirg
efforts of the Professor is taught the
way he should go and becomes hence
forth well ordered and industrious flea.
Prof. Bartoletti commenced his expert |
ments some ten years ago, and has ex-
hibited his little pets before Queen
Victoria, Louis Nopolean and other
European potentates. The average du-
ration Of a working fea's life is two
years, though he has one Patriarch who
has attained the venerable age of two
years AID nine months remark bic |
instance of longevity in a apuIga Every
night the flea operatives are released
from their harness IAN operation which
requires great care) and fed by being
allowed TO gorge themselves with blood
from the Professors naked arm AL |
though these performers are so minute
as to require some of their fcats to be
witnessed through the magnifer, yet the |
Professor, to encourage the nervous,
puts the following gratifying intelli-
gence at the bottom of his programme:
''Visitors may be assured that the ami
malsarc well secured. so at no danger
OF an attack need be apprehended.'
TAXING MINING CLAIMs.-The SUI
preme Court, on Tuesday of last week,
decided against the validity of taxing
capital invested in mining claims
Sheriff Boring has already refunded
large amount of taxes on such invest
mcnts, paid under protest. Though
great proportion of such taxes have
never been paid, the counties have been
snatched of good share of their sup
posed revenues by the decision. Min
ers generally are emin emily satisfied.
The CENTENARY BURNS ANNIvER-
sARY.-Next Teusday night, the 25th
Al IL