The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-08
Fleas In Florida,

A RECENT correspondent of the Balti-
more Sun, writing from Jacksonville,
says: "One of the most prolific crops
that the sands of Florida develop at GER
tain seasons is the playful flea. He is
merry little nomad, and wanders around
on warm days in reckless, dissipatcd
sort of way. He is gregarious In his
tastes. One no sooner begins his gym
nastcs on your legs than whole regi-
ment marches up, dcploy into line and
begin skirmishing over your body in
manner that is very rerplexing. They
arc very Independent and liberal, biting
all alike, without regard for color, race,
or previous condition, etc. When cap
tured early in life and properly educated
they become very docile and almost as
intelligent as are the trained fleas' in
London, which are dressed and armed
and mounted on horseback, like Chris
tians, every horse being flea, bridled
and saddled, and at the command of
their owner they go through number OF
movements with regularity that is
truly wonderful. In the uncivilized
state, however, the flea is a very uncer-
tain 'critter,' and very agile. To catch
him is like playing at thimble-rig.' Now
you see him, now you don't. You slap
your hands down violently, and with
great precision, on some tender portion
of your body where the little rascal is
pleasantly grazing, and are ready, like
the victim of 'thimblc rig to bet -
you can name the hand he is under. You
carefully remove it, finger by finger. and
discover, instead of little red rascal, a
big red mark met the other day popu-
lar young man from your city, who resides
ON Park street, on big flea hunt. He is
quite sportsman, and came here for
sport; he thinks he has had it, having
been in close pursuit of a flea ever since
he came. The morning 1 met him he
was sitting up in bed. AS entered the
room he signed me to lie quiet. If a
snake had been his bed-fellow he would
scarcely have moved more cautiously or
removed the covers more stealthily. He
saw him; his hand was poised for few
seconds in mid air, as smile of mali
cious satisfaction passed over his coun-
tenance, then down it came like
sledge-hammer, smack went the report,
away skipped the flea, "merrily singing
his chic-a-dee-dee." 1t has often been
said that women have more tact and
skill and perseverance than men in over
coming the little difficulties of life.
They surely make an admirable display
Of the qualities in the manner in which
they deal with these little red wretches.
A lady told me of a system she adopted
when in Italy, and which experience has
proved to her to be the only successful
way of dealing with them. ] give it TO
you for the benefit of such of your read
ers as may be attacked when either trav.
cling abroad or in many parts Of this
nn rnfr To ~,
clock your door, close your blinds
spread q large blanket on the floor, take
your position in the middle of it, with
basin of water beside you, then remove
each article of dress, one piece at a
time, turn it inside out, and shake it
carefully over the blanket. The little
wretches will drop on and become en-
tangled in the nap of the blanket, when
they can easily be caught and consigned
with appropriate rites to watery grave
in the BASIN"