The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-06-25

VARIOUS men nave Mtltttu tattoh>
things regarding the alligator. but we
are not bound 10 believe any of them.
lie Il classed ~ reptile. but we can
nut him i'm any other class wethi1k best.
this being a free country. lie IS NJ
the present time the largest 81 his spe-
cies' and in the enjoyment Of perfect
health. His relatives. as far as heard
from. are also well. thank You.
For hundreds II years the wise men
Of the world vainly tried 10 ind ont
what aliigators were made for. Some
supposed they were a parlor ornament
on legs: others commended that their
mission was to tow sawlogs up AMI
down: and many persons firmly believed
that the reptile had ma other aim In life
than to gel hold Of the juicy heel OF a
runaway darkey.
We shall divide the alligator into sew
eral sections. in order 10 study his DIFF
ferent points. The head comes first
IL Is one part head and two parts mouth.
this chap being the only living thing
that can open his mouth - far a. ne
wants to. and then have lots Of spare
mouth left. The jaws are built on the
sawmill principle. While one i work
ing. the other is resting and getting
ready for a soft snap No one ever
experimcntcd 10 see just how strong an
alligator was..in his jaws. but when they
have been seen 10 crunch the end on "A
saw-log. and bend \ crow-bar double.
o may take il for granted that a small
BOYS shoulter-blsdes wouldn't stop
their teeth vers long. Their teeth are
numerous. and made on honor. They
not only use them to pick up tender in
fsn.s lost overheard. but 10 haui prosy
old spotted COWS OF the river bank and
nut them beyond further pain and sor-
row. When an alligator gets a fair hold
Of YOU there j. only one thing TO do
cali for The police
In the head are the eyes, They could
not grow in a better place % please the
reptile They are 50 set that ne can
see before and behind him. and here -
no DANGER Of their getting blackcd IN 4
free Tight. IL the eyes . up more
rom there wuulln Int be 20 mnch mouths
therefore. tn eyes are no larger than
those of a dog
The legs II an alligator are short and
stout. ii not being supposed that he
would ever part cipate in a waking
match. He nses them with equal fncil-
i,v On land or waier. and hut very f. =
cork-lews have ever been = = IA Use
anon. them. Ii might have been Just
as vel had these reptiles been built 81
the principle Of the camel OF the II
rsffe. but w must not complain Of Ma
lures WAYS.
The BODY and tail are covered with AZ
extra root to protect the alligator from
hailstones and brick bats. and its NJ
use 10 shoot beans ri h m from the TOT
II a high hank. IL has been aSserie
that ! bullet cannot penetrate thu
thick kin. bat II ycu ever ret slrht q
enc X the gentry pop your bullets a
! him from anv point u the compass. u
| They don't XII him they wilrcertainil
! cause sorrowfnl thoughts. and perhap
! lead 10 q re solution 10 reform ihs
! tail il firmly fastened 70 the body. anf
. i besh ornamental and u-aiui. Th'
law may not tie far distant when ~
shall ! ak down 10 the placid " tiers A
eveninw-fime 70 gaze on a race % bob
tailed ~alligaiors. but just n presen
: they have los of use for these pieces Q
: personal property. IL i n i that the
: can knock a mar emil over end with on
sweep 81 lie tail. bur they are seldom
! mean enough 10 do IL
Allicafors eat most everything whicl
, cones in their way and make no com
: plants. No landiady would have m
q Least trouble with them. They Tx
(, each Others society. but prefer % pa
= in any spare time they have in the CON
: PAM ri such men as they can lay hol
2 u. Their habits are very regular the
\ conduct all that can BE- expected. an
z, they stick I 0 business till the pond drle
M. A. a general rule If you are up
:. tree and the alligator i in a pond he
: not inclined 70 NEEDLE with Your affair,
= but YOU can rouse his curiosity and h
belligerent disposition very quickly y
q dropping down and trying % use hit
r a. 4 ferry boat He no doubt get
! along Just as well rs II he had been
. clam or an oyster. and don / you pi
> faith in any historian whotries 70 max
d you believe that the reptile signs 4
q any change beyond that If dict.-D
frnsf Errn nrp4