Arizona republican., 1891-10-18
ZION FISHES.
Artistic Counterfeits for th;
 Worlds Great Fair.
An Interesting Collection of Crusta- ceans and Batrachians Produced in the Exact Image oF
 Life.

A very wonderful collection of ami. mals that live in the water is at present being manufactured by the United States fish commissioner for exhibition at the worlds fair in Chicago. Some- what less than five hundred specimens will illustrate the food and other eco homie fishes and reptiles of this coun- try, each one representing a species. Two experts, said to be the most skill ful men living in this line of work, are engaged in turning out counterfeit pre- sentiments of things scaly and tinny in the utmost variety.
 The most extraordinary thing about these products, says the Albany Argus, is that they not only look but feel like the real creatures which they initiate, the very substance being to the touch so like fish itself that it is difficult for anyone who handles the objects and ex- amines them closely to realize that he is not dealing with the animals them- selves. So amazingly well are they painted that their hucs are the very t.nts of nature. For example, you can take frog in your hand, pinch him and admire the beauty of his coloring, with out being able to distinguish him from an actual batrachian just killed. E,' The SC crct of this art, which is quito a new one, lies mainly in the compost ton employed as a material Its basis iS glue. The operator first takes the fish to be initiated and makes plaster mold from it in the ordinary fashion. Then he places a wooden core inside the mold-a flat piece of plank of the same general shape serves usually for the purpose, the object being to give stiffness to the finished result--and pOurS into the mold the melted compo- sition Eight or ten hours later the mold is opened and perfect counter part of the fish, as to shape, is taken out.
 So admirably are all the details re- produced that each scale is distinct After the counterfeit has been hung up to dry for few days it is painted with oil cOlOrs in manner as near to nature as possible, fr'sh specimen not hong out of the water being used for a copy. This h'llNs l4iN lIlillS ln llAllollNbs ltl NllN DlOC- cNs of molding, stiffening was given to the fins and tail with ordinary wire mosquito netting.
 The fishes required for mOldiug and copying. with colOrs, are being sent to Washington as fast as required from the various stations of the fish conmis- sion all over the country. Most of them at present are being obtained from Woods Holl. It may be that the experts will be obliged to go them selves to Galveston, San Francisco and elsewhere, in order to secure fresh specimens from the gulf Pacific end lake waters. Those forwarded hithcr are wrapped in cloths as quickly as possible after being captured and kill me on my wedding day. Oh, l am not crazy, maH
 lin not afraid of ghosts" said Mrs. Mum. "I thought you had more spirit. Why, before you pa failed found burglar in my room robbing my jewel box, and l collared him l thought you took after me and had some spirit, Clarity"
 You cannot collar a ghost" sobbed Clarity.
 You can try," said Mrs. Mum. "Now, what l ask of you is to take my folding bed into the parlor tonight and let me sleep in your bed upstairs, and if she that was Mrs. Sheers ap- pears to me I'll make her come to terms"
 That night Mrs. Mum in the little upper room put out her lamp, hid n dark-lantcrn behind the pillow and awaited events.
 The clock struck eleven-twelve- and nothing happened. At l3:l5 6 curi- ous noise wa heard under the bed
 A groan follOwcd-a voice, and it sounded very like Mrs. Sheers' voice, wh.pcred: Clarity Mum, you shall not have my husband!'
 For moment Mrs. Mum felt faint. It was all true, then!
 Indeed, it was far, far worse than seeing burglar, even to hear that voice. And now-nOw! Yes! Slowly, soIcmniy arose from behind the foot board a figure all in white. Mrs. Mum covered her head with the quilt.
 "Hou are right to quail before me, " said a voice. ''I claim my husband for my own. Marry him, ana you die"
 It was the voice of Mrs. Sheers, il seemed to the old lady She had al ways disliked it. Now it irritated her and helped her to be brave. Making one great effort, she sprang to her feet and faced the ghost
 Tho frhngt N,.s M,np fnl. lowed. It tstruck her that she had fright cned the spirit more than it had fright ened her. This encouraged her. And, stretching out her hand, she grabbed the ghost by the collar, as she had the burglar, Her face was close to its pallld face now, and her blood curdled Tn her veins as she fancied that she recognized the sharp nose, small mouth and flat forehead of the late Mrs Hheers amid the folds of the ghostly headdress. But the thing did not van
 Sh' lt was quite substantial.
 T believe I've materialized you, sad Mrs. Mum as she crowded the ghoSt Tn the corner and reached for the "arN-lantern, which she had hidder under her pillow, and opened the slide
 m a moment more she had pulled away lne white wrappings and stood over ; hharPfeatured young woman in hello
 'oPe'colored gown, who crouched anC >nNered in the corner-Miss Selini
 r"'Phcrd, whose resemblance to hel
 ,"l'r vanished when one saw her rec
 Ia'r Tor Mrs. Shcers' hair had beer
 0Iack' either by nature or by art
 Opnlons varied as to that.
 SO It is Yon. V said Mrs Munn=uyol