Connecticut western news., 1886-09-29
PECULIAR PETS.
Queer Fancies of Some People
 in the Metropolis.

in the Metropolis.
 Huge Dogs, Little White Mice and Ali
 gators Owned by Young Ladies.
 A New York letter in the Hartford Courant says: In a walk through Tenth street not long ago I witnessed novel sight which attracted the attention of more than one passer-by. A handsome | white hound whose sleek coat was so we'll cared for that it shone like silver, walked dignifedly on the sidewalk, while on his back was perched a cock atoo of white plumage, with head and wings tipped withred and yellow. Near by stood handsome man, dressed in good taste, little dudish, perhaps, who evidently took great pleasure in watch l ing his two pets, so strangely mated. The gentleman was Mir. William Chase, the celebrated artist, whose studio is in the building devoted to artists on Tenth street. In this building was also the still un- occupied studio of poor Frank Silva, who died last spring, prominent as fine marine painter and brave soldier dur | ing our civil war. His wife now teaches painting, and is, I believe, doing fairly well. Every Sunday Mir. Chase is seen on Fifth avenue with his handsome white | dog, whose silver collar is decorated with | large white satin bow. Week days yellow or red ribbons are worn, but the white bow always worn the first day of the week seems to make the dog carry his head in different way, just as if he wished to look more like communicant. He serves as quite an advertisement for his famous master, everyone asking to whom the handsome animal belongs, for while the name of William Chase is familiar to everyone, he himself is not.
 MT. James Barton Key, who has left the stage and is now stock broker, has huge mastiff, beside which a Shetland pony would appear decidedly diminutive. Master and dog apparently entertain the | greatest affection for each other. The latter would certainly prove formidable foe to any one who might attack MT. | Key. It is not unusual to see lady trudging along one of the principal thoroughfares leading by chain g dog almost as large as herself. The small dogis quite out of style just now. It seems somewhat ludicrous to see the chains which secure CD these immense | animals to dainty hand, for if the dog were so disposed he could run off with chain, mistress, and all. A lady on Washington square has marmoset, the ] funniest little creature alive, with very human expression and peculiar little cry, it's eyes really filling with tears at times. It is almost always chattering with the cold, and has to be snuggled up in blankets or placed in basket near the fire most of the time. It is great | pet, fond of its mistress, and runs about her head and shoulders. It is, however, somewhat of nuisance, all endeavors towards neatness being time thrown away.
 Miss Mary Mcclellan. daughter of the late Gen. Mcclellan, had very peculiar pets, two white mice, which at times she would take to the opera. They ran around the box at the Academy, often perched on her bare shoulders, and kept the audience quite amused or the re- verse. They were only permitted to run about during the intermission, but one night, just as the prima donna was in the midst of a pathetic solo, the mice came out as if to hear, too, and the eyes of the audience followed them. Miss Mcclellan tried to secure them, but they became excited and ran away over the cushioned rail of the balcony until caught by an usher and returned to theil mistress. Probably the prima donna to this day does not understand why he1 solo received so little applause that particular n n:ght. Young alligators ar great pets, and several fashionable young ladies own whole families of them. There is goat living near me that is grea' favorite of its owner. It is named "Stephen Dorsey," butts called "Dorsey' for short. We never speak as we pass by. I have good reasons for being thu unfriendly. Dorsey" himself and slippery sidewalk last winter have mucl to do with it. There is dog that livc next door to me. He only understand
 French. He is forever running away and his master stands at the front doc shouting "Plon-Plon" Ghe dogs name)
 "venez ici," till sometimes I wish Pion Plon was off somewhere with his nor, or less, usually less, distinguished name sake
 But the latest fashionable pets ar, babies. Yes, babies and small children
 who have heretofore been consigned tt the nursery, are now decorated, I vii
 not say clothed, in the most artistic cos
 tunes, and serve to enhance the pictur of a pretty and gay mamma. Tn
 human pets are no longer considered
 nuisances, but are on dress parade when ever occasion requires. They are no allowed to converse at all, but simply to pose. It is said of Mrs. France } Hodgson Burnett, who has two hand } some boys, usually dressed like tn
 princes in old pictures, that wheneve
 the door bell rings they quietly strik
 an attitude, so that to the guest the g make complete the picture of the charm