Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-18

An elderly lady, with face in which
abode an expression of hopeless sorrow, en-
tered the establishment of taxidermist on
North Eight b street, Philadelphia. She
dld not seem to see the stuffed owls,
benign eyes besmed upon her from the
window. she psid no attention to the large
four flgered monkey, wso was IN lie
famous as a ball-player in circus, and IN
death occupies the highest place in the fne
window collection. Even the loon did not
catch her eye, and. the splendid bird OF
Paradise, whose uail yearly fills the large
glass shade in which be stands, bore no
comfort to her troubled spirit. Approach
ing the counter she lal6 small package
tenderly down and required: ''Do YOU
stuff pet birds here ~
Certainly. madam, responded the tax
idermist. ''Here, . said she, lis my poor,
d. ar. pretty Colby, who died some days
ago; can you stuff him just as he Isl"
Without waiting for a reply the lady
carefully unrolled the paper and produced
a most dilapidated robin. His tail was like
a tale that is told-gone forever. Most of
his feathers had followed their rear guard
and those which remained looked as if they
had been washed In mucIlage and dried in
cracker dust. Too considerste to destroy
the lady's only remaining hope he PROM
ised to do the best he could with her pet
and after many more lamentations she re-
luctantly departed.
Time passed, the bird was finished and
the lady who had more than once inquired
about him came to the establishment The
bird had been patched up to some ext mt,
so that his appearance. though still wretch
ed, was somewhat improved. ''Dear
Bobby. cannot take you home to- day,
viii you ever sing 10 me again Where
do YOU keep him ~ .'Here in the case,
madam" '.Have youany rats which might
destroy my poor darling?" The lady on
being told that rats were unknown about
the store was pacitied for a time but soon
an awful suspicion flashed across her
mind
.'Do you keep a private wstchman {"
she asked. brea.hlessiv. No, madam. F"
Have you no scret ms over your windows Z.
Upon being inform ed that none of these
precautihns were considered necessary, the
lady became indignant. "Why," SAID she,
''some one might steal Bobby. | wonder
he has not been taken before. My pet, l
cannot leave you here. Come, and | will
take you home with me-" So sayiug, she
took up the bird, which, as a taxidermist
says, was hide0us enough TO frighten any
burglar away from the premises, and de-
parted.
john Krider, a taXldermist OF over
thirty years experience, has touching
letter from an elderly maiden lady, who
must have quite a collection of stuffed
pets. the nole relates how, bewildered
with sorrow for her dead dog, which was
being stuffed at Mr.. krlder's, she started
for Second and Walnut. Too much alb
sorted in her grief TO regard such trivial
matters as hoisa-cars or street signs, she
sirryed TO Second ami Pine, and boarding
a car to go up to Walnut street did not
swake from her deep abandonment of woe
until she had arrived in West PhIladelphia
MIR. krider says that this lady is only one
of a class who seem to regard parrots, cats,
canary birds and dogs with an affection
bordering on idoIatrv.
George B. Irwin, a taxIdermist, ,said that
he is at present engaged to stuff a pet cat
which is not dead yet. People bring their
dead dogs, cats and parrots, relate with
choking voices how the animals were the
play fellows OF their children and tell Won
derful stories of the falthfulness and sag
acIty of the deceased Strange as it may
appear, payment In advance is required
even in such heart rendering cases, as when
such payment is not demanded it occasion
ally happens that the lapse of couple of
weeks quenches the flame of sor-ow and
the ''dear animals" are never reclaimed.
.'Peop.e display strange taste. said Mr..
Galbraith, ''Soine become infatuated over
alligators, and | have even stuffed a pet
ant eater" In the window of this gentle
mans establishment stands fine stuffed
loon. Sone time since two street gamins
Paused at the door and examined the bird,
whose general appearance are rather
remarkable. The tact tha. nature has ap.
parently badly balanced the bird so i'm.
pressed one of the embryo naturallsts that
he exclaimed "Bill, Iii be darned if thai
bird ain't standing on lis hind legsl"
Upon being asked whether there was any
possibility of injury from careless handling
of the stuffed pets, Mr.. Galbralth replied
that when animals are properly stuffed
there is not the slightest danger in hand
ling them, IS the arsenic is used entirely
beneath the skin. Sometimes, when rough.
ly prepared by these who are really ignor.
ant of the art, the arsenic is daubed upon
the surface and such specimens are highly
dangerous, especially to children. Great
care on the part of taxidermist is necessary
to prevent the blood-poisoning from ami
mails which have been dead for little time
and accidents from this cause are not un-
common. The business is really an ART
and requires true artistic talent. Too
many who engage in it are without the
GIFT, and. as Mr.. Irwin said, ''hav;ng
taken their first lessons in siufflng a duck.
theygive every bird which comes under
their hands the general pose and style Of
that gr.ceful fowl