The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-23
QUEER THINGS WE SEE.
MR., CHEESEMAN'S CHICAGO sUB-
URBAN FROG FARM.


Little Known-Barney, the Last OF
Eis Race, the BashIul Duchess and
the Faithful Watch Dog Buzz.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
There is a unique and Furnishing indus
try. the only one of its kind in Chicago. to
be found away out on the South Side, lust
where Sixtv~eighth street intersects Lang
ley avenue. This is a froggery, estab-
Lshed twenty-six years ago and owned aud
managed during that time by Albert
Grossman, a veteran of the gallant Twenty
fourth regiment of Illinois
The nursery and abode of the croakine
denizsns Of the swamps is handsome two
story frame building situated opposite Oak
woods cemetery.
In the evening, when the DAYS HAT il
passed and night begins to curtain the
landscape, the frogologist may be found
seated on his porch smoking the pipe of
peace. Through the open windows the
dulcet strRias of the piano will glide sweetlv
into the cleaning; and if you listen atten-
tively-very, very attentively-you may
hear hoarse counterpart proceeding as if
from the bowels OF the earth. This Ia the
frogs singing their evening hymn.
Il is better than "Night in Pekin.n all
the small boys of the neighborhood say.
Yesterday, while plotting a reporter and
artist for the Inter Ocean to the frog farm.
one Of the small boys aforesaid confessed
that he would much prefer to listen to some
of the frogs than to his sister Susie who
takes lessons in the city, or his cousin Tessie
from South Chicago. The frogs don't put
on airs and they sing every bit as sweetly,
the boy said.
AS the visitors approached the Grossman
cottage they noticed a frog playing with
the baby on the porch. They thought it
was top frog made Of papier meche or
gutta percha, and were astOnished when
they laid hands on the wicket gate to see
the frog disengage itself from the child's
gambols and bunch ithelf on its HAD legs SO
as to get good view of tho intruders
Then bis frogship, evidently satisfied with
his inspection, gave three grating
croaks, and, Topping down, scampered into
the house.
The interesting animal was afterward
discovered to be Mr.. Grossn1an's tame frog,
barney. Barney acts as porter and also
minds the baby. He is Ivelier and more
attentive than q messenger boy and has
more conscience than the average nurse.
He is very much attached to the baby and
will spend ho6rs endeavoring to amuse it.
He shares the child'S candy, and being the
soul Of good nature and generosity
was detected the other day trying
to make a return by dividing up a
big spider with the child. Barney is
something of a coxcomb and wears bit of
red ribbon around his neck. By being
formally introduced by Mrs. Grossman, he
became quite friendly with the reporter
When, on taking him in his hand, the re-
porter remarked how heavy he felt the
latter remarked that Barney had habit of
swallowing the pennies that visitors gave
the child Tho oOipe init no
tling when the frog was shaken. He must
contain half a dollars worth at least
When Barney dies the baby will be rich
AS Mr.. Gresham was away in Indiana
whittier he goes every day to hunt for frogs
IN the swamps, the visitors amused them
selves until the gentIemans return with
Barney and another frog, the Duchess The
Duchess is not as amiebls as Barney, and is
quite shy Of strangers. She engaged, how
ever, In lively conversation with Barney
They appeared TO be giving out riddles to
one another. They must have been very
funny riddles too, for the baby crowed i'm
moderately, and clapped its chubby little
hands in glee.
When Mr.. Grossman returned about 4
o'clock he brought about ten dozen of the
speckled animals with him in a bag. They
croaked dolefully in a low, dull kind of
grooming. which sounded like a pianissimo
echo of planning mill that was operating
about six blocks away.
MIR. Grossman is fne-looking man, some
years passed the half century, and has a
handsome, good-humored face and a jovial
voice. He was a printer. and worked on
several Chicago dailles before the war. On
the outbreak Of hostlities he Joined the
Twenty-fourth Illinois regiment, and took
part in many stirring engagements during
his three years service under Col, Heclze..
He carried the colors of the gellsnt Twenty
fourth in many hard fought battle. He is
at present an honored member OF Drue Post
No. g., Grand Army of the Republic.
After being mustered out of the army he
suffered severely from hemorrhage OF the
lungs, aud found return to the compost
tors case matter of danger. Being ad-
vised to follow some out OF door avocation
he selected frog catching as q profession.
He found the employment lucrative as well
as healthful. He raised a family of thir-
teen children, all of whom are living, one
OF the sons being police officer in Engle-
wood. He owns the house in which he
lives, besides six valuable lots adjoining.
He delights to talk ofshis calling.
II deal only in gross frogs" ne said.
"Bull frogs are no good, although some peo-
pie eat them. / always find ready mar
ket for my frogs Why, every evening
fisherman visit me for bait. Frogs are
used for bass, muskallonge, and pickerel
fishing. Saturday evenings as many as
forty men call here for bait. The gray
frog is the best. 1t is most easily seen in
water. A frog will change color in few
hours. Iput old grass among green frogs,
and they very soon turn gray"
MIR. Grossman every morning dresses a
number of frogs for table use. These he
sells to the hotels and restaurants in the
city. Frogs fetch 80 cents dozen for bait
or for table.
The frogs seen yesterday were partlcu-
larly lively. They had to be Kept under
cover or they would escape. They are
always especially active in warm weather,
Mr.. Grossmnn said. He has a dog named
Buzz who is trained to capture runaway
frogs. Buzz gave some exhibitions of his
accomplishments yesterday. Two or three
frogs were let loose aud corralled by the
alert and watchful Buzz before one could
say Jack Robinson
Frogs abounded in Englewood some years
ago, but are now almost exterminated. The
trick frog, Barney, is one Of the last of the
race, which may account for his intelli-
gence, perhaps. The hoosier frogs have no
talent worth speaking of, Mr.. Grossman