The National tribune., 1894-01-18
HOW FREAKS ARE MADE.
The breeding of Monsfrosities for Museum
3, Regular Business.

Ssesei:y x1EvslTH all the queer doiBgs and say
SSEAES ings that are credited 20 the Bow
SSsHEE4S cry, il is doubtful if that noted
EH ~ thoroughfare, or indeed any part
3STVelsV1Sc of any city. can produce a more
remarkable institution than one recently IN
operation in Washington. There is no recOg-
nized name for the business in which the in
genious man who conducts IL was engaged, but
it might be very property termed q " freak fac
tory" declares the Post.
There is a certain morbid tendency in all
human nature 20 gloat over all sorts of mon
strosities and def"rmities. ii not with enjoy
ment. at least with an understandable curiosity
that is satiated at every opportunity, even
though the more refined part of the individual
nature reyolts at the sight after the first wonder
is satisfied.
This it is that keeps the Golfers of the dime
museums full the strength of advertise
ments OF The bearded woman. or the ig-foeted
boy, or the wild man of the woods, who is only
some unfortunate and missBapen idiot.
Freaks Of all sorts are geld to the museum
man, and the more grotesque the better.
IT il is only a kitten with the tail of rat, well
and good but if be. with some degree of truth,
can advertise man with snakes head and
eagle wings and a prebensile tail. he is that
much the better OF ia prospect.
So il happens that sboWmen of the dime-mu-
scum sort are always Oh the lookout for freaks
and bny them ST good round figure. Dealers
IN animals OF all sorts are not averse 10 turning
dollar or two by baying in any sort of mon
ster that they may happen to run across. but it
remained for this enterprising Washington
man 20 conceive the idea Of starting up a iac-
tory where such monstrosIties could be grown
10 order so. 10 speak. For some time Past he
has kept bird store near the Washington Cir
Gle. where parrOis csnaries, and Java sparrOWs
tBiItered aud iab cred under the caves of the
frfrl. a
rabbits divided the honors Of the front yard
with fuzzy little terrier dog aud All occa-
si0nal 'pOSsum or raccoOD.
The eStablishment IS altogether queer one
from its swarthy owner and his family of tod
dliug children down TO the fantaiIed Chinese
goldfish that iii series of glass jars and tanks
inside the house. The inner rooms are lined
with hufches of pigeons aud fancy chickens,
and South American monkey has the freedom
of the place when the weather is cold enough TO
have the doors closed
The proprietor talks very small amount of
poor English, but chatters volubly in French
He Says that the first freak he handled came
accidentally into his possession from some
street boys. who had it for sale. IL was alto
gether nondescTipt animal, with the head of
q cat and the body of rabbit, while its tail
was long aud hare. like that Of a rat or an opos-
sum. IL attracted considerable attention, aud
he haaliy sold il, presIm ably TO the agent OF a
dime museum.
Then il struck him to try breeding freaks
himself which he did for some time, the most
remarkable being hybrid dog and monkey, a
most pTotesque-lOOking animal. which attracted
almost "a much attention the rat-tailed rab-
bit. The bird dealer regarded his trade as one
Of the most natural aud innocent in the world,
and with the tolerably good stock of animals
be had on hand there is no telling what re.
markahle results hs experiments might have
led 10, the last acquisition TO his stock being a
big Western gopher upon which he was going
70 experiment, when one of bis customers cali
cd has attention TO the fact that his trade was
one that liable 10 get him into serious
trouble with the authorities.
This frightened him into reform, and when
called upon by reporter for an interview re-
garding his peculiar business be protested fer
yeutly that he had abandoned it entirely, and
hencelOrtb intended to confne himself strictly
20 the legitimate part OF his trade hand ling
only snch freaks as chance might throw into
his hands
BE added that il there were any very urgent
orders for monstrosites he might be able to
supply them on his annual trip TO Berlin,
where the freak-breeding business was prac-
tieed 20 large extent, and where monstrosi-
ties Of al sorts were kept on sale constantly.