The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-15
MICE IN THE PIANO.
How Costly Musical Instruments May BE
GrnatIr namapad hv RAdents.

How Costly Musical Instruments May BE
Greatly Damaged by Rodents.
A mouse and a piano are seemingly
OF no associated interest, yet they are
often given joint consideration. This
little rodent can in a few moments do
large amount Of damage to the musical
instrument. He sometimes find his way
into piano, and then woe unto the ac-
ton and the hammers The intricate
and complicated action impedes his
progress and he gnaws through it. The
little straps and felt hammers are
chewed into bits The reason is obvi-
GUS They make soft and downy nests
a piano used frequently is not so Of
ten visited. but one standing in quiet
corner of the parlor, its use being mere
" that of an ornament, is retreat new
er 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 nest Is
near at hand. The first intimations OF
the little rodents presence are the nu'
merous little squeaks eminating from
the parlor. The entire household turns
out on crusade, courageous Bridget
taking the lead, and the commanding
housewife constituting the rear guard
Every corner is searched, furniture
moved, and things turned upside down.
No mouse. The piano is overlooked,
and in convention it is decided that the
disturbing element is under the floor
and the search is given up. Some OBJ
serving member of the household final
" discovers the home of this terror of
housekeepers, and many are the eX-
pressions of establishment as to how it
reached its new home, for the piano IS
apparently tightly-closed instrument,
front, back, top and bottom. The lit
tie 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 OBJ
| stacle Not only will mouse damage
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 unpleasant
and sickening odor in the parlor. When
| first noticed it is accredited % the ac'
count of sewer gas.
A gentleman in this city recently had
an unpleasant experience with mouse.
1t had found its way into the piano. and
in its ramble of investigation got under
the keys. One day the atmosphere OF
the parlor seemed rather close and &
slightly disagreeable odor, which the
opening of windows would not dispel
1t rapidly became worse, and the fam
lily was compelled to shut up the room
1t was finally traced as they thought t.
the piano. The front was accordingly
| taken out and a close investigation
made, but nothing was visible The
action, however, showed evidences o
having been gnawed by mouse, and |
piano-repairer sent for. He took on
the keyboard. and underneath was tn
fast-decaying remains of the fate'
mouse 1t is supposed that some mem
Der of the family struck note or tw
on the piano while the mouse was I'm
der there, and it was crushed or dis
abled, so that it could not get out =
| Kansas City Star.