The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-11-20

| the curlO man, leading the way to ono
side of his crowded store, whore in a
great, round, deep glass tank were half
a dozen or more Of the funny little fell
lows sprawled out upon their sandy do
main. One seemed asleep. the others
werv moving with moro or less degree Of
sniniation. fS (
50 Oneswas trying to mount an elevation
furnished by the back Of = colnrade,
and having attained that height tho
roguk balanced himself upon his hind
legs and tried to climb up the CLASSY
sides of the tank. But In this hs was
not successful, and after slipping back .
most discouraging number OF times he
gave it up rs bad job. Two Others
seemed to be assuming belligerent at
titude, to which the owner at once called
the attention Of his visitor.
49, THEY ARE QUEER PETs. =.
.sDo you $50 that said he. some Of
those fellows IRE the greatest fighters
imaginable. They taks a dislike to each
other. and never rest until they have
fought It out to the dsath. Tho old one
there is especially vicious. = = 800.
''These horned toads ere to be found
40 sandy wastes, IhaYe heard Of their
being caught out ut the Mission, but Of
tsat caa't speak positively. These here
CINE. from Arizona. although wo have
received them from much nearer home.
AT ReGlands the boys catch ever so
many. ard the Chinese eat them. They
just skin off that coat Of mail and eat
the inside. Besides, they highly prize
the oil. which is contained in d little
pouch. somewhere within the anatomy
Of a horned toad. -
"The toads ore shipped to us by ex-
press in boxes, sometimes as many as
twenty or moro in the same box, and by
the time they are released from their
confinement they are all wound togeth-
er, until they look like writing, ami
mated mass Of wriggling legs and
squir1ning tails.
AS soon as they seem to consider it a
safe thing to do they unlock their travel
ing grip and begin to look about. Then
sell them. They bring from four to
six bits. How long do they live? Oh,
| don't know. l have known them to
live three or six months in perfect
health, and with every prospect Of con-
tinUiTg in that state. when they were
brought to AZ untimely end by being
stepped on. If there is one thing above
another that horned toad cannot stand
it's being stepped on. 1t seems to fatten
him out. as 1t were. ]" '' ~.-" 1..-" .'.
Aren't you becoming very facetious?"
asked tho reporter r.. ..=-- -:
Not ut all. that ia tho usual fate Of a
pet horned toad. You see, they are
great travellers and like to keep running
about. Nearly everybody who has a
horned toad thinks 1t Il go cute to see
him try to climb up out Of his box. and
Tho first thing you 'know he has suc-
ceedod in getting out Of his box and ia
running about on his own hook -:
.-...' now 70. KEEP STnEu. >>'''
"Can they be taned7 Do. they seem To-
know one human, being above another7"
were the next questions.
= "Those who buy them maintain that
they do. Why. Lsold one to lady who
lived mt the Palace hotel, and she al
lowed him tho freedom Of her apartments
when she went out, and she fold me that
on her return hewould run to meet her,
no matter where he had hidden himself.
He was finally stepped on, Another, a
dear old lady, said that her grandchil-
dren made fun of her, and declared she
thought the horned toad scratched his
tees OH the floor in response to her CHR
rap, but she said he really did not 90
quite so fur IS that, although he was
very knowing.
what do they live on? Oh. on flies
and insects. iLavs known them, though,
to go for month without eating any
thing. There Is this that must, be re-
membercd if you wish to keep your toad
alive-give him plenty Of sun. The best
house for him is q, fish globe filled with
q deep bed Of nice clean sand. Set this
In the sun, and throw in some live flies
now and then, and Mr.. Toad will thrive.
Il: he wants the flies he'll catch then
and devour them quicker than d wink.
If he doesn't do 30 you may know it's be-
| cause he's not hungry. - r.
"And / must not forget either to tell
sou that while they are perfectly harm
less they. got themselves into towering
! RACES. 1t makes them mad to be ticisled
andcr the chin. They like to be smoothly
| strokcd down the back. If you poke
him Oh the side he will bend way down
as if in rcspon.o to your touch. San
I Francisco Gail.
Meetings Of members were held every
Saturday between November and June.
All the members had to wear a sort of
uniform, namely, blue coat and buff
waistcoat, with brass buttons bearing a
! gridiron and the words Beef and Lib.
erty," and also ring having the same
device. Each could introduce one guest,
except on particular days, when ac-
ce-nts were looked up, the merits of
| candidates discussed and other business
matters gone into. - .-s---.-----
~ One side Of the room was occupied by
an enormous gridiron, through which
one could see cook In white cap and
blouse standing by fire in readiness
for action. The steaks were served Gu
hot pewter plates, together with Spanish
onions, cschalots and baked potatoes,
and We're. washed down with port o.
porter. The only second course per.
lnitted was toasted Cheese. This dis
posed of, the cloth was rcmoyels tho
cook collected the money In q plate, and
| the rest Of the evening was given mp to
oo;cx, vx-,,1rx, IJJI, tes7 M ysy,