Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-09-01

AdlI DOSCOuul0uIc, Wul10 wandering al
will over his luxurious domain and
viewing the sight of the modern Ath-
ems.
..'...'''..
"A LIVE MOCHETTE BUG
FOR LACE OR BONNET WEAR.
.................
This placard in the window of Shreve
Crump & Low satisfies the curiosity of
many passers-by regarding large
and healthy-looking beetle displayed
there and saves the time of the beetle
and the statesmen in answer
ing questions. The insect is harnessed
in trappings more gorgeous than ever
the horses were which drew the chariot
of Caesar at one his of triumphal entries
into the Eternal City. Gold and silk
are the only materials used in the con-
struction OF the harness, and the finest
of black velvet is none too fine to serve
for his parade ground.
When the little creature was first
placed in the window his name and OBJ
jects in life were left unexplained by
any placard. andpassers by formed va
rious opinions, Some said that he was
wound up in the morning and would
run all day, while others could see in
the little gold chain ample means of
furnishing electrical power to drive the
mechanical anatomy of the supposed
automaton. To save the trouble of an
swering questions the above card was
placed IN front of the bugs velvet Gov
cred stamping ground.
The mochette bug is evidently a
member Of the beetle family. He is
little more than an inch and half in
length, and is Of sort of yellowish
gray color, spotted with black, with
black legs. The range of his peregrina-
tons is circumscribed by a slender
gold chain four or five inches in length
The chain is made fast to the body of
the creature by means of two gold
bands across It's back, connected by
another similar band, the ends of the
ribbons OF gold being connected to-
gether by soft silken cords passing
around the under part of body.
Thus attred the stranger spends his
days looking at the jewels, rich vases,
and bric-a- brac in the window and
looking out at the crowd of people,
who in turn spend the day on the side
walk looking in at him. Occasionally
he takes a lelsurely stroll around the
velvet platform of his prison. The
chain barely reaches to the edge of the
raised surface, which the bug calls his
home, and just as he reaches the edge
he generally stumbles in an absent
minded way partly down the slope, be-
ing brought up with short turn as the
chain becomes taut. He then starts
for another aimless journey, after
glance at the crowd to see if they
noticed that little misstep of his.
Mr.. Blank of the live stock depart
ment stated that the mochette bug was
a native of Brazil.
"We have sold two of them already,
and we have only had them in the
store ten days. The first was sold al
most as soon as be was received from
New York, and both were sold to some
of our best customers. They are actu-
ally worn by ladies apd seem to inter-
est ladies very much. The cost? Eight
dollars apiece, including the chain.'
How long have they been on the
ma, ket?"
lin Boston only the ten DAYS that
we have mad them, but in New York
they have been sold for a month or
two past. Mr.. Bergh of the Society
for the Prevention OF cruelty to Ami
mails was interested in them, and went
in to see if the bugs were being impos-
ed upon. He examined the gold and
silk fasten;ngs, and then decided to
allow the trade in the bugs to 90 on
the ground that they were not subjected
to cruelty of any Sort
What do you feed the oreatures?'
was asked.
"A box, with perforated cover
comes with each bug" said he, land
when he is not out on the street with
his mistress for an airing he is supposed
to be kept in the box. The box is two
thirds filled with sort of decayed
wood, such as the bugs live upon in
their native land, and that prevents
their getting homesick or hungry. One
of them died in New York, and they |
dissected him to see what the trouble
was. They found that he had hardly
anything in him, but had practically
starved to death.
But in his case they seem to have pro-
ceeded on the superstition that air was
a sufficiently hearty diet for a mo-
Ghetto bug. With proper treatment. !
however, they will easily live from six
months to a year,
Are they likely to become popular
as articles of ornament, do you think?'
"Oh, yes, for they are really orna-
mental and as neat in their habits as |
can be-. There is no reason why they
should not be as popular as imitation
insects, only the fact that they are
alive might sometimes create misap-
prehension. They say that lady in
New York was wearing one on the
street week or two ago, when she
was stopped by market woman, who
called out
"'Say, mum, there's bug on yer
hat!'
1.-The lady stopped, and then the
market woman noticed that the buz
was moving.
"'Hes a-crawlin' off wild yer watch
chain! exclaimed the woman in great |
excitement, as she saw the bug drag
ging the chain after him. III eaten
the ugly crayth Their for yez,' she volun-
teered, but the lady rushed off, much
to the surprise of the kind hearted
market woman
When Baby was sick, we gave her CAS-
TORIA.
When she was Child, she cried for CAS-
TORIA.
When she became Miss, she chung to Cas-