The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-10-21
A COMNJN HOUSE RAT.
is QUICK TO LEARN AND is AN
AMUSING PET.
Filing SQUIRRELS, Mice, Aiiigsters. Cham
eleons, Turtles AMI Horned Lizards
Can Be Tanned and Trained to DO
Tricks--Pets In Families.

some and require 50 much looking
after. There are the squirrels, TO
begin with. Every one Is frolcsome
neat easy to take care of. and alto
gether bewitching. A squirrel OF
any sort likes warm bed. out OF the
reach of meddlcsome children. plenty
II nuts to eat. and liberty--!or. like
everybody else, he hates cage.
The gray squirrel is the most elegant
Of the tribe (unless we except the
black, who is not so often seem, and
he is intelligent and atrectionatc.
The red squirrel is ono of the most
lively Of u wonderfully active family,
and is exceedingly inventive in
pranks. The chipmunk. though
frisky enough, is said to be the least
interesting of his race. and the flying
squirrel is rather quiet for one Of his
kind, and entertaining only ut night.
AS limited above,s all rodents re-
quire watching, for their teeth grow
rapidly, and something to gnaw is u
necessity of their existence. This,
indeed. is one reason why captivity
in cage is so distastcful to them
it is impossible to secure sufficient
exercise for their teeth. The whole
family is said to be unusually fond OF
music; some OF them become so alb
sorbed in listening 20 the notes OF an
instrument, or even to whistling,
that they lose consciousness Of dan.
ger, and may be caught without
trouble. would not advise. how
ever, that ones hand DO employed to
seize a squirrel, for he might come
to his senses and use his teeth.
Another rodent, the rat, is not
popular with petitioners in general,
but persons who have overcome tho
repugnancc which our race feels for
his Frank auckland. of England, for
instancc-insist that no Is, above all
other little animals. amusing and en-
pertaining. He is full of gambols as
a kitten and scrupulously neat in the
care Of his person, washing and
brushing his fur as carefully as cat.
Though not over-dainty in feeding
when he is wild and has to live by
his wits, he is particular and notional
to the last degree when he is cared
for and able to choose. The rat is
peculiarly amcnable to instruction,
readily learns to perform tricks OF
all sorts, and, what may seem most
singular in one against whom every
mans hand is raised, he become,
warmly attached to the friend who
cares for him.
A winsomc pet is the common
brown mouse; and now fancy hear
the most vigorous protests from my
readers, who, though they do not
shrek and take refuge on chairs and
tablJs like llowell's feminine charac-
tors, still have Il strong feeling of
distaste to him. writes Olive Thorne
Miller IN Harpcr's Bazaar. Nothing
can be imagined more dainty, grace
full and altogether captivating than
the tricks and manners of this hum
Bile resident within our walls. Once
allay the poor little creatures fears
Of his big. clumsy human prosecutors,
and his deiightsomc qualities are APP
parent Frisky in movement, drol
in conceits and eccentric in action,
he is q never-ending source of en-
tertainment, Moreover. he is as
tcachablc as the rat. absolutely neat
in his ways and most loving 60 his
friends.
a singing mouse. which is not so
great II rarity as one would suppose
from the newspaper fuss that is some
times made over one, has an added
attraction as pet, The singing is
no doubt similar to tina. OF the mar
and resembles the canary
song good deal smothered.
All these little creatures should ho
tanned and attached TO people by
Their affections, and not kept rs pris-
oners in cage In the former case
they display their peculiar charac-
teristics, and take perfect care OF their
coat', while in the latter they require
constant watching and attention, and
show no individuality whatever. 1t
is not a pet that is kept in cage. it
is prisoner. and a prisoner in his
and unhappy life can never
afford much pleasure.
Whatever beast is kept it should
have its own quarters. in which it is
at home and free from intrusion, and
to which it can retire when il
chooses. The home should be kept
clean and sweet by frequent changes
Of bedding and the use OF soap and
water. No one has right to keep
IN animal IN confinement who finds !
1t too much trouble to attend to it's |
health and comfort. 1t should be
regularly fed on food that is most !
healthful for II, and what is quite as
to its happiness and conse-
iuently to its health, IL should BIO |
talked to and noticed as much as |
anybody. am certain many ami
mails and birds suffer and die in our
homes from pure loneliness and from
being regarded by their human
icighbors as creatures OF an alto
yether different nature. Whereas
he truth Is, II one will but cultivate
heir acquaintance, he will be as
TO see how the duilest and |