Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-11
PETS OF A PAINTER.
Two Trained Mice That Have Pleasant
Life In Artists studio.

Two Trained Mice That Have a Pleasant
Life In an Artists Studio.
1t was the poet Lowell who sang, There's
never loaf nor a blade too me; N to be
some happy creatures palace" Eve n a dis
carded cigar box may be a palace--not for
one only, but for two very happy creatures,
as is demonstrated in the studio of George
w Plat, the we'll known painter of still
life.
High up i'll the Lake Side building, in
Mr.. Platt's stUdior which overlooks the
tops of smoke enclouded chimneys and the
upper air architecture of tall buildings, is
an oddly and simply contrived toy struct-
ure made of small and large cigar box.
The boxes are set one upon the other in
such way that an upper and lower story
isformed. The primitive trap door, which
leads TO the upper apartment, is reached
bymeans of a little slat ladder two inches
wide.
The occupants of this "palace," con-
structed expressly for their acco nmoda-
ton, are two little gray brown mice. They
are the common, everyday sort that are
housekeepers' especial ANNOYANCE nd aver
sion.
Being greatly pestered with tie mice.
which were called to his studio bv he fruit
and other edibles which he used a. models
for his work, Mr.. Platt was obliged to con-
stantly trap them. He fancied that the
little creatures were intelligent and, desir-
ing TO study them, arranged the cigar
boxes for their accommodation and set a
couple of them up housekeeping on their
own account. At the front of their small
residence is bit of window glass, and not
only were their daily lives an open secret.
but they very soon became accust omed TO
l.,t s,F,
and out of the studio. Finding that they
We're not harmed, they became perfectly
fearless and soon took their food readily
from Mr.. Platt's hand. Their names are
Johnnie and Fritz, and when Johnnie is
addressed Fritz does not pay the slightest
attention, and when Fritz is spoken to
Johnnie does not make it his affair.
Their bed is a small pasteboard box that
IS set IN the upper part of their house
This Is hlled with paper, and the principal
industry of these two jolly and wise little
fellows is chewing this paper into bits and
arranging 1t according to their ideas of
comfort, and also treading a wire wheel.
smaller in size but similar to those in the
cages of squirrels. When either one or
the other is ordered to go to bed he springs
up the little Stat ladder opens the trap
door that leads to their bedchanlber and
with one bound springs in among the bits
OF paper, drawing them over him until
nothing but his bright eyes and tie end of
his doubled up tail is visible.
If both are ordered to retire they lie down
contentedly together. If they are either of
them told to tread their wheel for a bit of
cracker or few grains of sugar, hey will
fly around it like mad for the coveted bit.
They are particularly fond of cake, cracker.
Suoarand nuts, but diSDrove the lec-aDdary
belief that mice are fond of cheese as thew
will not touch it if they can get anything
else.
They are gentle little creatures and can
be handled with perfect impunitv. Occa-
sionally they bite the little wire with which
they are whipped in vengeful and savage
sort of fashion, but this is the only evil
dence they give of an evil disposition.
They are exceedingly neat, and spe nd much
time polishing their sharp noses and tidy
ing themselves up generally. They are ex-
ceedingly fond of jelly, but are very careful
not to touch it with their little paws.
They take it into their mouths with their
tongues, and without letting it come in con-
tact with their fur.
They have upon several occasions escaped
from their palace" but have ALWAYS come
back within twenty-four hours. eyidencinc
desire to be recaptured. Having had
everything which mouse could possibly
desire provided without effort, they evil
IDENTIFY do rot desire laborious freedom ac-
companied with uncertain rations. Ger
talnly these two small foes of women - if
appearances mean anything, are as happy
IN their cigar box palace as they are Gu
rious and entertaining Chicago Post.