Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-06-18
INGENUITY OF THE FAKlR.
Astute Brooklynltes Puziled by a Freak
of Natural Hiator,,

30" w NHlidil III MS RlD way lnat
he was not a pedder but that he had
merely dropped in to exhibit rare an
imal, one he had captured himself in
the interior of Brazil.
ITS as tame as a kitten" he said.
Then he added: "The likes of it has
never been seen before. Naturalists
believe it to be the last specimen of an
extinct species. It's rare curiosity,
gentlemen. I'd like to show it to You
If the boss is agreeable. You can give
me what you like afterward."
mo, no, the gentlemen don't want to
see the thing" spoke up the proprietor
testify, as he made a movement toward
the intruder
"HoldNon. Let us see what the man
has, spoke up one of the men present
Several others requested that the fell
low be allowed to exhibit his treasure,
and the proprietor gave his consent.
Placing his box on one of the tables
the fakir opened it, and out stepped the
oddest-looliing animal imaginable. 1t
paused, looked around at the company,
walked to the edge of the table and
then leaped almost noiselessly to the
floor
what in the world is it?" came from
a chorus of men.
Looks like Il long legged rat said
one.
ga misshappen monkey or a hairless
'possum," interjected another.
''ls it a small kangaroo"
"What is it?"
"Where did it come from?"
Everyone present asked some ques-
ton or offered some suggestions at the
sight of the queer thing.
81 don't know what ii is gentlemen,
said the faltir.
81 captured it after hard struggle"
he added "Barnum offered me one
thousand dollars for it, but am at
tached to the creature and won't part
with it. It's worth while seeing, isn't
it?' he added with some pride.
The men thought it was, and gave
the fellow quite a sum of money. The
animal was small, not larger than a
half grown cat. 1t was entirely bare
of hair and was of light liver color.
1t walked about the floor jumped up
upon chairs and tables and appeared
perfectly at home.
ut is certainly the oldest thing |
have ever seen in the way of an ami.
NAL" remarked well-educated man.
1.-THE animal is of the cat tribe, | think"
he added, land yet it is an anomaly. 1t
has claws a sensitive, nervous organ
ism, as shown by its movements and
the action of the tail, and yet it has
smooth hide. really can't account for
such a peculiar make up. 1t is con-
trary to all established natural law"
Then came a long discussion into
which the shades of Cuvier and Darwin
and several other famous gentlemen
were dragged by the ears. The author
tiles were quoted and misquoted at
length. The fakir stood by smoothing
the smooth hide of the mysterious ami
NAL, now and then accepting a drink
from one or the other of the gentlemen,
and listening to the discussion with the
greatest of interest,
1t is difficult to say how long he would
have remained had not young gentle.
man, accompanied by fox terrier dog,
CHANGED just then to enter the resort.
The dog spied the mystery, emitted
sharp, angry bark and sprang toward
it. The hairless creature leaped with
great agility to the bar, then to a shelf
back of it. There was crash of broken
glasses and croclery "tobys," thrown
down by the animals efforts to escape
the dog. The latter barked furiously
In vain his master tried to still him
The fallir looked nervously at his pet
Everyone else did the same. The crea
ture stood aloft. It's back arched high
its tail moving furiously The proprie'
tor tried to dislodge it, it crouched bacl
and gave forth sharp, 'pst! pst!'
'By Jove! you can't blame the dog,
said the young man. "You have nc
business to keep such looking cat az
that about, he added.
"Cat?" said everyone at the same
time. "Why, that isn't cat"
Eyes it is" said the first speaker.
Its shaved cat. The dog recognized
1t If you don't. man who would
serve an animal that way ought to be
arrested"
At this speech every one turned to.
ward the spot where the fakir had
stood, but he had sought safety in
flight. A glance at the animal con-
WINGED the company that it was really
cat, but that it had been shaved to the
hide from tip of tail to tip of nose.
1t was really remarkable piece of
tonsorial work, and those present agreed
that if, for no other reason, the fakir
was entitled to his money as a reward
for his ability and dexterity in shaving
cat. How the feat could be performed
without an immense deal of scratching
and caterwauling is difficult to imagine.
N. Y. Herald.