Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-06

Dee0
served, and more than once resulted in his dis
grace. habit he developed of reaching his
head over the table and helping himself to
beefsteak just as the blessing was being said by
the head of the family was one Of these occa-
sions. Mats big wealth of curly black hair be-
came recently meadow of milk and honey to
the heas, and they rested there in incalculable
numbers His master therefore determined to
take the poor animal, dropping under his heavy
parasitic load. to Coney Island and try the
failed Mats beautiful coat would have to be
taken off,
The dog hailed the sight of the white tossing
rollers and broad sweep of cool ocean with
growis, manifestly Of delight. Clad in bath
ing suit and armed with a section of carboiic
soap, his master started for the water and un-
fastened the leash Nat looked thoughtfully
at the water for moment and then began a
chase along the beach. Finally he returned
with chunk OF cotton batting in his mouth.
he then approached the water gradually, and
only went in little way at time. Slowly he
advanced till only his mouth with the roll of
cotton was out of water. but it's wilderness was
observed to be gone and it was covered with
the feas.
Mats idea had been that TO escape from the
water the feas would travel up to the dry por-
tons OF his body. Continuing in this mannec
they were all finally lodged on the remaining
dry piece OF cotton. Then Nat quietly dropped
the ball into the water and the heas were
The big intelligent animal became almost
metamorphosed. His dropping spirits revived
at once and he dashed into the water in great
glee.. In his joyous pranks he nearly tore the
bathing suit of his master. The carbolc soap
was cast into the waves and Mats beautiful coat
remains as curly as ever"
IN THE PENSION OFFICE.
The Office seeker might secure valuable
points by watching the methods of the flea and
II he can only follow him closely he will be
able to get into some or any of the depart
ments without trouble, and if the authorities
have no better success in BUSTING him than
they have in attempting to eject the flea he
will stay there as long as he pleases. The pen
sion office has been pretty thoroughly invaded,
and although active repressive measures have
been enforced vigorously the flea is still there.
He differs somewhat from the ordinary flea of
commerce and displays little or no fondness for
domestic animals, put when it comes to devour-
ing clerks, copyists, laborers. messengers,
watchmen or even a stray commissioner he is
all there. Lunch baskets that used to be laid
carelessly on a desk or stuck away in drawer
are now suspended in such places that they are
deemed to be beyond the range OF the champion
jumper. Open any of them and you will find
that although little ''puly' Gas he is familiarly
called by erudite bugologists) has no winged
aids to aerial navigation he succeeds ultimately
in reaching what he imagipes to be his destina-
ton. He is of the .'Eli' family.
Some of the other departments are also
afflicted, but not as yet to such an extent as is
the pension office.
ARE THERE ANY REMEDIES?
There seems to be no really effective powder
which will relieve mankind and animal by
decimating the unwelcome visitors. Druggists
are ready and willing to supply what they have
for sale, but they cannot guarantee the efficacy
OF any OF the preparations in such time
this. They can provide people with all sorts Of
unguents with which to still the raging that
follows a bite from full-grown flea, but they
have nothing which will prevent the aforesaid
or any other flea, followed by his sisters and
his cousins and his aunts. from entering what
soever household he desires to abide in. An
alright, waterproof fence would fail to do
that
One Of the best Of the remedies is to burn
quassia or cedar in the infested rooms. The
Odors arising therefrom are not unpleasant to
human oifactories, but they annoy the flea, and
as rule he stands not on the order of his going
Afflicted people should try this There is no
other remedx known to science unless it is the
cracking of the flea between the two thumb
flea is too numerous.
Your druggist may tell you that oil of penny
royal will prove remedy for feas, but it won't
so say those who have tried it. 1t will soothe
the poisoned spots somewhat. but vinegar is
SAID to be more ethcacious in stopping the itch
ing than anything else.
RELIEVING ANIMALS OF THEIR LOAD.
When it comes to relieving overlo AIDED dogs
or cats there less difficulty is experienced.
Stand your canine or feline on large out
spread newspaper and sprinkle the animal with
Persian insect powder. This has temporarily
Oppressive effect upon the fea's lungs. The
thorax is congested for awhile and there seems
to be desire on the part of the flea to remain
quiescent for a few minutes so that his aston
ished interior department may have time to
adjust itself to the powder-sprinkled atmos-
phere. This is your opportunity. Brush the
feas off on the paper and burn them pretty
thoroughly Cremation is one of the few
remedies that are too many for the pulex
irritans. Then hang the dog or cat up in some
place where even flea cannot jump upon it.
prominent Washington physician is author
ity for the information that the flea wave
which is now centered in and about Washing
ton will not be of long duration, and that a
fortnight hence the ravages of the pesky
Insect will not be nearly so extensive as at
present They will not disappear entirely,
but whole households will not be aggravated
almost beyond endurance by overwhelming
numbers. 1t is also stated that one reason why
the flea epidemic is SO malignant here is that
the dry streets and cutters afford no oppor-
tunity for the overburdened CANNES to free
themselves by wallowing in the puddles of
water which are SO frequent in the cutters of
most towns and cities.