National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-27
FLIES AS HOT WEATHER DIET.
TELEGRAPH MANS INITIATED APPETITE
APPKAsED--A RASH oTFEB.

APPEAsED--A BASH OFFER.
81 don't see anything about flies that
should prejudice people against 'em,
said Tom Maddox, an employe of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, in
the Corcoran building, ut lunch time on
Saturday, rs a group formed about were
brushing away the winged creatures
swarming over their lunches.
After this speech Tom applied himself
more vigorously to the medley of sand
witches and pie which lay before him.
No one said anything, but Tom could
see that he had struck an original idea,
and he continued to enlarge ON and
elncidate the subject. "Smack' went
the palm of his hand ON his cheek rs a
fly was vending its way from his Dun
drearies TO his mustaohe, where choice
bits of edibles chung. The fly was
paralyzed, and was soon between the
forefnger and thumb of the philosopher.
ready for inspection. Look at him"
said he, there's his wings and legs and
body, that's all there is to the little fell
low, and yet you fellows are everlastingly
complaining about the flies. It's preju-
Another fly then lit on Toms nose and
began dancing jig, whereupon the hand
was again brought into requisition as a
fly trap, aud q slap captured the insect
half alive.
Look at him kicking and buzzing his
wings. Why, sum him up and he is only
a little bird after all. You fellows eat
chicken, don't your Why amt flies us
good as chicken2 There's not much diff
ference, except they are smaller, and I'd
make wager they are ten hundred times
as tender as the spring chickens that are
served up at the average boarding house.
Bless my soul |" and he glanced ut the
faces of his auditors defantly. "If you
give me a dollar I'll eat ten Of en-"
"Taken," chimed in half dozen
voices. hat was passed around, and in
two minutes $1.07 had been subscribed.
Tom counted the money and was undis-
mayed. "Catch the flies,' he said.
Smack, bang, slap" sounded all over
the office.
The result was ten flies. Some dead,
some half dead, and some kicking with a
full amount of vigor. They were de-
posted in the hand of the fly eater, who
had eaten his lunch, and on that account
didn't feel as keen relish for the in
sects as if they had been served up
sooner, but, however, his confidence in
their edible qualities was 80 great that IL
made no difference. He bundled the
group of flies in the palm Of his hand,
80 they could be counted, and yet the
live ones not escape, and all were sat
isied that the experiment was bona fde
Here goes" and his hand went to his
mouth and the flies went in. He had to
keep his lips close shut 80 that none
might escape, and by dexterous wrig-
Cling of his tongue managed to keep
them from crawling down his throat.
He chewed, and smile of blissful salts
faction played on his features, akin to
the expression the summer girl wears in
an ice cream saloon. The crowd thought
to see an instant splitting and hawking,
but no one who looked at that face could
keep his mouth from watering, and they
oil felt rs if they had paid a man to eat
chicken pie. The man who timed the
affair said il took one minute and sixteen
seconds to get those ten flies chewed up,
and then few swallows of water washed
down the repast.
As an extra precaution they made him
keep his mouth closed for five minutes,
and the money was declared fairly won
and paid over.
people are prejudiced against flies"
were Toms first words on opening his
mouth. "I'll eat all the les you bring
me for 10 cents apiece and he looked
around unfinchingly
9" "A fool and his money are soon
parted" murmured one of the group
who had subscribed to the first expert
ment, and he jingled % cents in his pants
pocket.
Tom afterward offered to eat the office
cat for SO, but only $6.16 was found
among the crowd. If his courage is still
good on payday he may be taken up. e.
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