The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
HYPNoTIzEs BUTTERFLIES.
Mrs. Julia Meyers Gay Insect Pet
Under Perfect Control.


Under Perfect Control.
New York Tribune.
Mrs Julia Meyer, who lives at No. 1903
West Seventy-eighth street, has succeeded
in tanning number of butterflies, and the
bright gauze-winged creatures flutter about
producing an ornamentation such as the
designers of rare jewels seek to initiate.
Il discovered my ability to attract butter
flies this summer while at my country hon.
at Sea Gaze, said Mrs. Meyer to a Tribune
reporter. These really belong to my coun.
try house, but l couldn't leave them there
to die, SO 1 transported them to my city
home.
They will not live long" she added, re-
gretfully. They only last three weeks al
the best and these l have now are about
ten days old. The country about Sea Gate
is butterfly field. and had constantly as
many as two dozen on hand. AS they passed
away from old age l renewed constantly
the number of my pets.
How did l discover that I could tame
them? One day two alighted on me at one
time. as though there were some special
attractive force. l took one of them at a
time, and as l breathed gently upon it l
stroked the. tiny velvet-covered back of the
body with the tip of my finger l noticed
that when / did this the wings were spread
out and closed again, as though with salts
faction. / repeated the operation several
times, and, to my surprise, the butterflies
refused to leave me, and remained just
where / placed them. Then 1 fed them.
Their diet is sweetened water and lettuce
leaves
Here Mrs Meyer took a plate a dainty
Dresden china affair decorated in tints as
and. placing some sugar in the center of the
plate she poured a little water over it.
Il will show you how 1 feed them,'' she
said.
Here she began to gather them from mus
lin wind w dral cries I aki 6 t EN- up emit
ly by the wings that were folded together
as though 10 facilitate her effort she
breathed on each one slowly as though 10
hypnotic it, and then placed IT, on the rim
of the plate. She continued to do this until
sixteen of the pets We're ranged about the
circular plate, moving deliberately and say
ing not word. Slowly each butterfly UNI
curled it's long, threadike proboscis and eX-
tended the feeder into the sweet solution.
The feast of the butterflies lasted about fif-
teen minutes, during which time their tanner
was silent When the proboscis of each was
curled up again Mrs. Meyer removed the
butterflies from the plate and placed them
on the neck of the gown she wore. This was
also done with great elaboration, at the
same time breathing gently from her nos
trilS upon each.
II think She said, that my discovery
may eventuate in some one wearing the
beautiful creatures as ornaments for even
ing dress. as Brazilian beetles have been
worn. The jeweler fashions gold and silver
lace work butterflies and sets them with
precious stones and then attaches them to a
spiral wire as an ornament for the hair;
but how much more beautiful is the natural
live butterfly that clingS to the owner
through apparent affection.
Il preserve my beauties after they pass
away, and my case of mounted butterflies
will possess an interest never invoked by
science. DO I name them? Yes. indeed. !
call one Fanita and one Juliet and another
Carissima. This lovely white and yellow
one is Narcissa. / have no reason to think
they are conscious of their names, but do
know that they know me, and me alone.
II have always been able TO influence
birds and dogs; In fact many animals and
all animals like me. / can teach canaries
to perform all sorts of tricks. This requires
great patience and mental concentration"