Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-03-25
FROG FARMING.


How . Maine man Thought He Had Them
When H Didn'l
II see BY The Herald that q New
York restaurateur u going to Man.
chester, N. H., with the intention Of
raising frogs for the Boston market, ,"
said Maine man toa reporter yester-
day. "Now, I'll bet the best pair Of
boots I've got" he continued, Chat he
will DO disappointed. Whyi Simply
because he cant do II, that's all. Let
me tell you Of an experiment Of this
sort that was tried away down In Ban
gor some years ago. There was a
prominent Bangorian, bank presi-
dent, wealthy, and holding a tip top
position in the business world, but a
trifle eccentric. He made lots of money
in his regular business, but he was
forever inventing something which
he believed would make him million.
aire, and into these schemes no put a
good deal Of cash which never came
out again. He didn't know discour-
ageznent, though, and would come up
smiling with something new every
time one of his pet projects was
knocked into o cooked hat. Well, he
got the idea which has seized the New
York man, that there was an immense
profit to be made BY raising frogs for
the Boston market. He had q charm
ing bit of lawn adjoining his residence,
and this he decided to make the hatch
ing ground. He had a big, round
shallow pit dug, and the bottom Of it
stoned and cemented, 50 IL wouldn't
leak. The dirt taken out was made
into q circular embankment around
the pool, and about the edges he set
ont rushes and other fresh water
plants, to give the frogs q nice hiding
place. He had water turned in
through q special line of pipes, at q
great cost, and the pond thus formed
was to all appearances just the place
that a frog with luxurious tastes
would delight to inhabit. Then he
enlisted the services Of all the small
boys in the neighborhood to catch tad
poles and little frogs, paying them
literally, and in short time his pond
was populous with the squirmers and
jumpers To be sure they would
have plenty to eat, he supplied his pets
with frequent and generous repasts Of
minced liver, white bread crumbs and
other delicacies he thought they
might like. All went well. The
colony throve wonderfully; the tad
poles developed into little frogs, and
the little frogs fast grew to fat bull
paddocks.' The air in the vicinity
fairly throbbed with their shrill songs
and dolorous grunts of an evening,
and people came from far and near to
see the wonderful sight. One night q
New York friend of the frog culturist
came in on the late train and was
taken to his house. The newcomer
noticed the unusual sounds and asked
their meaning, whereupon his host re-
vealed to him the whole scheme, and
received his congratulations ON the
promising look of the enterprise. Be-
fore the two separated for the night
they agreed to go in tho early morn.
ing and inspect the pool. They kept
their agreement, and, not long after,
dawn, sailed out, each carrying q
quota Of food for the croakers. All
was silent when they reached the
pond Never mind said the frog
farmer, Just you wait until throw
in this chopped liver and you'll see
plenty of them He cast his painful
Of the dainty far out, and it fell into
the water with tremendous splash.
But there was no response; no angular
head with google eyes appeared in the
vicinity; no sprawling legs were seen
kicking under the surface; there was
not q single 'ker-chug' to denote the
plunge OF croaker from the rushy
banks. Throw yours in now said
the host, and the guest complied. But
when this splash had died away the
placid pool was disturbed by no move
ment. Well, this is singular ex-
the puzzled cultivator; there's
enough Of EN- about here, and never
knew 'em to hide like this before
30 the two walked around and around
the pond, intently watching. They
saw nothing, however, and when at
last the now nettled bank president
seized q pole and threshed the weeds
and PUSHES, he did not scare up any
thing. Painting and perspiring with
his exertions-he was portly man
the inventor Of frog farming, mort.
fed by his failure to astonish his
friend, gave up his search tempo
rarlly, and they went into the house
for breakfast. That disposed OF, the
quest was resumed, but neither then
nor ever since has frog been seen in
the vicinity.
Every kicker of them all had mi
grated elsewhere during the night.
And upon my word and honor this
is true story. Boston Herald.
Men Who Don't Rest.
NM, uUho po,,o,, A%ol>oo o,~, .ocx