Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-12-05

used 70 engage my attention much more
than any thing else when was there"
"WhNt is itin inquired the other, family,
anticipating the reply.
'Fleas, said the cynic, with q cold, mock
ing laugh, and The Snowman answered
never word. He was a true Californian
with an interest In real estate, and none
such cares TO talk abodt any thing disagree
able wnen far away among strangers. 1t
is well 70 extsl the fruits and flowers, but
as 10 fieas well, there Is the wisdom OF
Solomon concerning a still tongue and
wise head.
p5wever, we will for once put the fiea on
exhibition by itself; not that amazing atom,
the cannon-firing, trained, obedient Insect,
but just tho plain, ordinary, everyday little
bloodsucker Of California. But before we
hold him up 70 view we shall be obliged 10
gently but firmly press the life out OF his
razor backed body, MS he has an unconquer-
ablo aversion 10 being seen In public. As
you now perceive, he Is hardly larger than
apin's head, yet beneath the snug shelter
Of warm undershirt no has seemed, TO the
excited wearer thereof, 10 be at least as big
us hornet Unlike the insect pests Of the
East, the flea allows It's exasperated prey no
rest, but like u guilty conscience, stays
right with you day and night. Its round eye
has always blood in 1t, and its lancet jaws
drip crimson.
Precious, aristocratic gore IL often is, too.
For California feas arc no respecters of
persons. In selling alike at the palace and
the cottage gate they are as impartial
as fate Ine.o are, ~ Is true, npologists
who say that fieas never trouble those who
pay scrupulous attention TO cleanliness.
But our experience has been that 10 escape
the tormontors in that way we must hot
only reside permanently in the bathroom,
but deeply immersed in the tub.
At all events, the great popular sport Of
California Is fiea-hunting Both those OF
low and high degree indulge In II. Every
body, in fact, who breathes the breath OF
life takes a more or less active part In IT,
Only the hopclessly dead refuse 70 be quick
in pursuing the flea. All are possessed by
a spasmodic. but violent, desire 10 Join 10
the grant hunt. II Is q great move
ment Of both the common and uncom
mon people. But, alasl the flea also
moves. As n mover naught in the
heavens above, the earth beneath, or In
the waters under the earth can compare
with the flea. In its now-you u-see-it-and now
you-don't act tho flea Is spryer than the
quickest kind OF lightning. Consequently
the chase is often exciting, especially IL the
hehNNa ~ WA baA Aoi -nAAeNf Muo long uHO
learned from the Spanish their wise saving:
"Do nothing hastily, except catch Heasn
One Of these Argonauts assured me that
he hadn't found tho golden fleece, but II
was the fault Of the fieas. He couldn't
search for 1t while they demanded that he
hunt exclusively for them.
Such hardened pioneers well know what
the care-worn look OF the Eastern tender
foot means. The L. T. doesn't know. Red
blotches break out all over his innocent
epi1ermis. They itch with the passionate
fervor and maddened ccstacy Of modern
loye-story. He now, for the first time,
appreciates at their full value his finger
nails Heretofore regarded as chiefly orna-
mental, now how exac,lYthey serve the prac.
tlcfl purpose for which an all.wise Creator