Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-12

species, being taught to hunt other BIRDS
and even the antelope and other game In
South America a bird is employed to
watch the sheep of herders, valiantly
dashiIg at predatory animals that menace
the herds
The carrier pigeon is an example of
birds trained to important service, while
the great ostrich has been employed in
Africa and France to carry riders like a
horse.
In the oldest books trained animals are
referred to, and an ancient MS. pictures
cock dancing upon stills for the amuse-
menS of an audience.
u Egypt few years ago a faklr ex
hlblted wonderful trained goat that &C.
| compllshed many remarkable feats. One
was to allow itself to be built up, raised
inch by inch with very small blocks, until
1t was elevated several feet from the
ground, when the slightest movement
would have destroyed its equilibrium. Yet
1t stood perfectly still, allowing its owner
to lower 1t again successfully.
One of the most remarkable exhibitions
ever witnessed was in Africa, where a
planter conceived the idea of training
soma large balloons to work One was
used as a servant, ana handled articles
with great cleverness. This animal also
smoked pipe, and did many singular
things. 1t waited upon the door, sitting
In chair with much state and dignity.
One season the planter was to give a
bali, and as a novel feature he decided to
have the balloons serve as light bearers
Five or six of the mosU Intelligent were
selected for the purpose, and with practice
became remarkably expert.
Upon the night of the ball, so the story
goes, the guests were astonished to see
| these animals sitting side by side on a
bench, each holding a rush light, and ap-
parently much impressed with their
responsibilities. Matters progressed sat
isfaetorily until an odor of scorched air
pervaded the room, when suddenly scream
was heard and a moment later the mon
keys were engaged in fierce battle, be-
laboring each other with the torches and
screaming In their rage. 1t is needless to
say that the ball broke UP in confusion. It
was presumed that a monkey had fallen
asleep and allowed its torch to touch an
ether monkey that, naturally, retsliated;
hence the disturbance.
Possibly the most remarkable trained
animals are the feas; not for what they can
do, but because of their size There are
number of professional flea trainers in
Europe and America, and some time ago,
during the winter months, an advertise.
ment appeared in the daily parers stating
that the advertiser wanted several heas.
This naturally aroused no little attention.
and it was found that the flea trainer had
lost some Of his performers, and wished to
replenIsh his stock
That such minute and high jumping
animals can be brought under control,
much less trained, is wonderful; but those
who know claim that it is not very diff
cult process. The first lesson is TO teach
the flea not to jump-a seemingly diff ?uIt
proceeding at best-but this is overcome
by placing the animal in a small vial 80
that every leap brings the head in sharp
contact with the glass-an operation which
soon teaches the little insect that a pass-
i've, non-iumping life is by far the best.
The next lesson is to teach the flea is obey,
which we may well believe requires no
little time and a vast amount of patience.
Finally, the owner of the flea circus ha
his animals well under control, and is
ready for exhibition.
| remember some years ago being in a
'fea circus" The "circus" was held in
the upper story Of building, and was
naturally so restricted that but one person
could take peep at it at a time G'he
proprietor claimed to keep part of his
troupe on his wrist and others in little
compartments. When the time came for
the performance one observer took his
seat in chair and looked through large
magnifying glass upon the stage, which
was about as large as a watch crystal.
Here number of very wise feas went
through various performances. Some
were Earnessed up in minutes chariots, In
which sat other feas side by side, while
one was perched upon the box as driver
At the word or signal off would dash The
miniature tallyho. Other feas represent
ed dancers, and were distinguished by
their costumes. Some were ornamented
with silver, others with golden wires or
threads, all moving about In figures that
were called a dance. Then came the
scene of the murdered hea-a villain that
had killed SOMEONE, possibly bySjumping
upon his back. Several f9as appeared
dragging the criminal, that had chains
about his legs fastened to balls, which it
dragged along on its imaginary trip to
execution.
The trained flea is very remarkable
little creature, showing at least docility
and faculty for doing as it is told, and
is in a sharp contrast to the ant. which Is
supposed by ome to be the most intelli-
gent of animals yet has never, so FAY as is
known, been trained with any degree of
success. What these little creatures that
keep. servants and slaves and 60 to war in
organized bodies might do, it is difficult
to determine G.. Holden in Edinburg
Scotsman.