Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-10-29
A TIPPLINo TOAD.
He Took Fancy to Cocktails, and Played
Sick to Get Them.


He Took Fancy to Cocktails, and Played
Sick to Get Them.
Sandy Mojave is dead Many persons
were not acquainted with Sandy in his
lifetime, but not few Palace hotel
guests mourn his loss as we'll as Master
George Neal. his owner, for Sandy was
undoubtedly one of the best-trained
horned toads in America. He departed
this life the other morning, and posi-
bly, is now reveling in the delights af-
forded In the horned-toad heaven, II
there Is such place.
A few months since Master George
was the recipient of the funny little
reptile and at once proceeded to train
his new pet. From tie first 1t exhibited
remarkable degree of intelligence and
attained considerable proficiency in per-
forming feats that many animals occu-
plying much higher scale in the ami
NAL kingdom would not be expected to
attempt. The lizard was caught on the
hot sandy Mojave desert and was
named accordingly. Sandy had all the
privileges afforded in the apartments
of his master, whether crawling over
the carpeted floor or climbing up
the lace window curtains, and in two
or three days had his bearings
When not being put through his
tricks the horned toad liked nothing
better than to lie on the window sill In
the sun until some silly fly alighted
near him to be gobbled up. Later he
would run to his trainer at his call, and
would eat crippled flies from his hands,
but he would take them from no one
else He would also haul little wag-
ON around the room and climb q small
ladder at command.
One day Sandy disappeared, and after
a careful search he was given up for
lost or dead. But two weeks later he
appeared again to the great surprise of
all. The horned toad was cold and
stiff. He was placed in the sun, but as
this had no apparent effect on him II
few drops Of brandy were administered
from teaspoon, and he was then re-
placed in the sun. For five minutes he
lay with closed eyes, and was about to
be subjected to another dose when his
eyelids suddenly opened, and the little
pet glared around him with evident
ferocity. Suddenly he made a flying
leap to the floor and scurried around
the room with such rapidity that the
ladies scarcely had time to seek places
of refuge on chairs. Sandy had the
floor all to himself, and the antics he
cut were not believed to belong to the
category of acrobatic feats usually in
dulged in by horned toads, for he stood
on his head and danced stiff legged
waltzes about the room to the edifca-
ton Of his somewhat frightened on
lockers.
After the performance Sandy lapsed
again into a lethargic state, and in the
morning he acted so stupidity that it
was evident he was suffering from an
enlarged head. To restore him to his
normal condition a tiny cocktail COM
posed of about ten drops of whisky,
lemon juice, water and bitters was
given to the patient.
The horned toad picked up wonder
fully under the treatment and INDUCED
in hearty breakfast of flies. But that
was not the end of Sandy's bibulous
habits, for every morning thereafter,
he played 'possum" in order to get his
regular morning cocktail, until he
could have been classed as steady
drinker. His convivial habits short
ened his days, for the taxidermist, who
performed an autopsy on Sandy yester.
day declares that death was due to
chronic alcoholism. Sandy is still in