The Iola register., 1891-10-09
NICE N the PIANO.
new Cestiy lTasioal Iastru msnts NAY Ne
Greatly Damaged By Rodsnts-

A mouse and piano are seemingly
Of no associated interest. yet they are
often given joint consideration. says
the Kansas City Star. This little ro-
dent can in a few minutes do q large
amount of damage to the musical in
strument. He sometimes finds his
way into Q piano. and then wee unto
the action and the hammers. The in
tricate and complicated action impedes
his progress and he gnaws through it.
The little straps and felt hammers are
chewed into bits. The reason il OBJ
vious. They make soft and downy
nests.
A piano used frequently is not so
often visited. but one standing in Q
quiet corner of the parlor. its use be-
ing merely that of an ornament is q
retreat never overlooked by mistress
mouse if she happens to pass by. No
sign For Rent is needed. 1t is dry.
quiet and roomy, and the material for
a nest is near at hand. The first inti-
nations Of the little rodents presence
are the numerous little squeaks en-
anating from the parlor. The entire
household turns out on a crusade.
courageous Bridget taking the lead,
and the commanding housewife con-
stituting the rear guard. Every cor
ner is searched. furniture moved. and
things turned upside down. No mouse.
The piano is overlooked. and in con-
vention it is decided that the disturb
ing element is under the floor and the
search is given up. Some observing
member of the household finally dis
covers the home of this terror of house,
keepers. and many are the expressions
of astonishment as to how it reached
its new home. for the piano is appar-
emily tightly-closed instrument, front.
bsck. top and bottom. The little
beast crawls in under the pedals.
There IS an opening below each to
allow room for play. Naturally. when
not pressed down by the foot. it rests
against the top of the opening. leaving
the vacant space below through which
the mouse crawls. The majority Of
pianos have no covering for this OPEN
ing, which seems of no consequence.
while others have blocks of felt but
sharp little teeth soon remove this
obohaSiC' 4tOt "OusC
age piano, but he is apt to get in and
find that he can not get out. He dies
in there, and the result is an unpleas-
ant and sickenng odor in the parlor.
When first noticed it is credited to the
account of sewer gas.
A gentleman in this city recently
had an unpleasant experience with .
mouse. 1t had found its way ints the
piano and in its ramble of investiga.
tion got under the keys. One day the
atmosphere of the parlor seemed
rather close and a slightly disagree
able odor. which the opening of win
dows would not dispel. 1t rapidly be-
came worse. and the family was com.
PEELED to shut up the room. 1t was
finally traced as they thought to the
piano. The front was accordingly
taken out and a close investigation
made. but nothing was visible. The
action, however, showed evidences Of
having been gnawed by mouse, and
piano repairer was sent for. He
took out the keyboard, and UNDER
meath was the fast-decaying remains
of the fated mouse. 1t is supposed
that some member of the family struck
a note or two on the piano while the
mouse was under there. and it was
crushed or disabled so that it could
not get out.