Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-20
DEVERE'S HUNT IN TOWN.
End Of an Experiment at Keeping
Bachelors Hall.

End Of an Experiment at Keeping
Bachelors Hall.
Jack Devere decided to spend his
summer in town, and the family went
away to Narragansett Pier. leaving
him keeping bachelor hall. He got
along in his bachelor quarters for few
days and then his troubles began. Di-
rectly In the rear Of the Devere resi-
dence is a private stable with living
apartments above for coachman and
his family. 1t so happened that tho
coachman was left in town for the sum-
mer, TOO. He had nothing to do but
take care of his horses, and when the
owner OF a happy family OF performing
animals, who had been exhibiting at
the continuous Snow during the winter,
came along and asked him to take care
of the happy family, he saw a chance to
make a few dollars extra and readily
agreed to do so. The happy family was
moved in and the coachman built a
huge crate-like cage on the roof for its
accommodation. There were exactly
nine members of the happy family, in
ventored on the playbills as follows:
Socrates, the largest horn billed owl
ever caught, measuring 81 inches in
height and 3S inches across the wings.
This remarkably intelligent bird will
Tell the fortune of any lady or gentle
man for the insignificant sum OF 8
cents, Take advantage of his wis
dom.
Bill 30, the moon faced baboon,
caught in the depths'of one Of the wild
est jungles in Africa. His performance
on the swinging trapeze was never
equalled by any babOop in captivity.
Caesar, the Esqu!mau sledge dog,
who survived the Greedy, De Long and
Perry expeditions, being the only one
Of thirty-fve animals who returned
safe after having made trips with these
celebrated explorers. Caesar was really
a coyote.)
Mary and John, two Australian rab-
bits. who walk. sing and keep house
just like human beings.
Actiagenes, Brazilian bear, VINO
turns somersaults and shakes hands in
a most l.felike manner.
Sir William, Harlem goat, who
chews a tomato can every hour.
Nelly, a trained kangaroo, who spars
three rounds with her keeper at each
performance.
Jocko, a ring tailed, pink nosed
monkey, the only specimen Of its kind
in captivity, who plays baseball as
naturally as any member of the New
York base ball club.
This aggregation was what broke up
Jack Devere's bachelor home. The roof
Of the private stable is right under his
bedroom. and the big crate, with its
queer collection, was within twenty
feet OF his window. Jack is nervy
young fellow, but was nearly frighten-
ed out Of his senses the first night he
slept in the house all alone by snort,
sharp noise, like that made by bullet
striking a piece of sheet iron. He
Jumped out Of bed in a second. Every
thing wa quiet as before. He CROPPED
around in the dark, fearful lest by
striking match he should reveal his
presence to a burglar. Fearing no
further noise he struck match and lit
the gas. He noticed that the windows
were all right and there was nobody
out on the fire escape. After searching
about for nearly half an hour he dis
covered the cause of the strange. sound.
His banjo had burst string which had
been keyed up too tight. He felt him
self safe then, but was still trifle APP
prehensive.
Two nights after this the menagerie
arrived. Jack arrived home rather
late that night. It was rather warm,
and he had the wondows open, but the
blinds closed. He had just got comfort
ably settled in bed when he heard a
low moaning which sounded like a
womans cry Of distress. Jack sat
straight up in bed and began to pers-
p.re. The moaning occurred again, and
this time Jack jumped out of bed and
crept softly toward the window where
the sound came from. He had hardly
reached it when there was a blood-curd-
ling ,screech which awche the echoes
for blocks.
"G-r-e-a-t Caesar, what the
devils that?" whispered Jack In
husky voice.
He had not concluded when there
arose on the still night air babel OF
unearthly sounds, which caused him to
throw open the window blinds and yell:
who is that?'
There was no answer, and in mo-
ment or so his eyes got accustomed TO
the light shed on the dark roof where
the menagerie was kept and the sight
made him reel back in the room. He
thought he had 'em sure. It was some
time before he could trust himself TO
take another glance, and when ne did'
and saw the same sight that first
ceught his gaze ne cooled down some
what and after remaining at the win
dow long enough to satisfy himself
that he was not dreaming he murmur-
ed:
well. darn that coachman! I Won
der II he has any objection to my liv-
ing here?"
The happy family, like all happy
families. had broken loose. They were
having a genuine monkey and parrot
time of IT,. The moon faced baboon had
q strangers hold on the Esquimau
dog. while the Harlem goat seemed to
be inextricably mixed up between them.
The Brazilian bear-and the spectacle
was the stranger as the bear was only
about two feet long-had locked arms
with the kangaroo, and Socrates, the
owl. was pecking away at the rabbits.
Each member OF the happy family was
giving vent TO his peculiar cry as loudly
as he could. The row continued for sew