Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-23
some Epcts about FIens.

Passing up Broadway, near Bleeker street, our
| attention was arrested by transparency, upon
! which were depicted number Of strange objects,
J in resemblance and size not unlike rats, engaged
! in fierce warfare with swords and again pulling
railway cars, and ogain tripping upon the light
fantastic toe Curiosity prOmping as, mount
! ed the stairs and we're shown into q small
square room, illuminated by gas, the windows be-
ing carrfully closed and draped with black in
to exclude the daylight At of tae 70 IN
stands a counter, and upon this counter are dis
played about dozen lite toys-at Least, such they
appear at first sight to be-rtpreseBting small
villages Winduills, lands ,apes, Sc These the
habilations aud the spheres of duty Of society Of
sixty small heas.
Professor BartOletti, the great flea proprietor,
presdes at this counter, and explains the various
flea feats exhibited. He first hands 70 the visitor
g small microscope, seen through which, a minute
flea becomes as large as coehrOach TIE insect is
fastened by 8 silver cord around his neck, like
his brethren in this exhibition, and spends his
unhappy existence in Wriggling sbout. Every
night he is released, ian operation which requires
great care,) and fed. The embarrassing and feed
ing the members Ct this chronological troupe oc-
cupies some five hours, and as much time is occu-
pied the following morning in preparing the men,
bers of the company for active service.
After satisfying the eye with the microscope, the
Professor proceeded to exhibit the fests of the Ress
He holds pair Of pneers, with the mere clicking
of which the insect is as familirr q, q horse with
the swapping of a whip. There is flea who
turns a windmill by walking over little cylinder
and he dsres not stop while his msser is him.
Another flea draws railroad train of two hundred
thousand times its own weight: another of aquatic
tendencies serves al the motor of a steamboat,
another propels wheelbarrOw With his head; and
at pleasant rural retreat find number Of in
dustrious heas ready at the given click 20 set in
motion rotary swings and carousels The b. lliger-
ent well as the industrious prOpensities Of the
performers are forgotten and the miniature
representation of the camp at Staten Island are
couple of these insects IN thicke, (the pines must
be at least quarter Of an inch high engaged in
fierce duel, bravely brandishing with their fore
paws silver swords considerably longer than them
selves Sometimes the honorable pair will become
needlessly alarmed suspend hostiities, and endeavS
to take refuge in flight, thus confirming the
Scriptural assertion, "the wicked flea when no man
pursueth;' but they are unable to go very far, and
at the sound Of the warning pineers click they rush
with renewed vigor 10 the direfu combat.
Another scene represents an Italian landscape,
with an open air musical and ballet performance.
The flea orchestra is seated in little balcony, the
leader waving his baton /" q Ia Julien" while,
platform beneath, the chronological devotees of
Terpischore indulge in the inspiring waltz or ex>
hilarsting polka. This gay and festive scsde
recently the locale of fearful catastrophe.
smoking visitor eareessly permitted his segar 10 fall
directly upon the plat orm, upsettng the musicians
and burying the unfortunate dancers aud players
completely as ne Ponpeians were destroyed By the
lava from VesuVius. Even a sedate elderly flea,
who was quietly reading o newspaper upon seat
near by, aud one dOEager lady feas, who
we're plscidy admring the dancers, were involved in
the same dread ruin.
At one end of Che counter stands the Academy
where these gifted creatures received their educa~
IiOn-tbe very Alma mater Of headJm. 1t may
gTa ify those Of our readers who intend to under
lake the training Of these delightful insecs, to
have syllabus Of the mode of instruction pursued
by Pref. Barlolett Of Flea College
Toe rst thing the Professor does Is to catch hses
and to nprson it in small box with two glass
windows. Lhrugh which the little prisoner tries to
escape He is taken out daily to be fed, by being
placed upon the Professors hand, glass case
tumber inverted over him TO prevent his fight. In
the fourth fifth week the fel gives up struggling
and resigns himself to Imprisonment. He is then
taken out, fastened to little wire, and left upon
miniature wharf, by miniature river. For some
four five weeks he remains obstinately torpid,
only exhibiting vitality when feeling time comes
at the end Of this period he is attached to little
vessel or car and by occasional WiDge ith the
pincers, and the untring Efforts Of the Professor,
is soon taught the way he Ould g, and becomes
thence forward well ordered and industrious flea
Professor BarOletti commenced his experiments
some years since, aud has exhibited his little pets
before Queen Victoria, Louis Napoleon, and other
European potentates. The average duration Of life
OF the insects is two years, though here is one
patriarch who has attained the venerable age Of
two years and nine months-certainly remarkable
instance Of longevity in flea. Il will be remem
bered that the insects all very minute and their
feats are all Witnessed through a magnifying glass
To encourage the nervous, the Professors circular
contains the following gratifying item of informs
tion: "Visitors may be assured that the animals
are well secured, so that no danger of an attack
may be apprehended"