The herald., 1897-11-29
HER PET BUTTERFLIES
Mrs. Meyer Feeds Them and Caresse
Them Until They Are Tame

| Mrs. Julia Meyer. a prominent member
OF the Woman's Suffrage league and the
Ladies' Health Protective association,
and who is we'll known for her philan-
thropic doings, has succeeded In tanning
number Of bright, gauze-winged but
| terf1ies.
| In Mrs. Meyers home her pets fiutter
about her, alighting on her shoulders
and head with the utmost confidence and
affection for their fair mistress.
II discovered my ability to attract
butterflies this summer, while at my
country home at Sea Gate" said Mrs.
Meyer today. They really belong to
my country house. but couldn't leave
them there to die, so transported them
to my city home.
"They will not live long" she added,
regretfully. "They only last three weeks
at the best, and these 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 renewed constantly the number OF
my pets.
How did discover that could tame
| them? One day two alighted on me at
one time, as though there were some
special attractive force. took one Of
them at time, and as breathed gently
upon it I stroked the tiny velvet-covered
back Of the body with the tip of my
finger.
Il noticed that when l did this the
wings were spread out and closed again
as though with satisfaction. l repeated
the operation several times, and, to my
surprise, the butterflies refused to leave
me- and.~remained just where placed
them. Their diet is 'sw&atened water
and lettuce leaves"
Here Mrs. Meyer took plate. dainty
Dresden china affair, DECORATED in tints
as delicate as the hue" d the butter
flies, wings, and, placing some sugar in
the center Of the plate, she poured a
little water over it.
II will show you how I feed them, "
she said.
Here she began to gather them from
muslin window draperies. Taking them
up gently by the wings that were folded
together as though to facilitate her ef-
fort, she breathed on each one slowly,
as though to hypnotic it, and then
placed 1t on the rim of the plate. She
continued to do this until sixteen of the
pets were ranged about the circular
plate, moving deliberately and saying
not word. Slowly each butterfly un-
curled its long, thread-like proboscis
and extended the feeder into the sweet
solution. The feast of the butterflies
lasted about fifteen minutes, during
which time their tanner was silent. When
the proboscis of each was curled UP
again Mrs. Meyer removed the butter
flies from the plate and placed them on
the neck of the gown she wore. This was
also done with great deliberation. at the
same time breathing gently from her
nostrils upon each.
II preserve my beauties after they
pass away. and my case Of mounted but
terfiies will possess an interest never
invoked by science. Do name them ?
Yes, indeed l call one Fanita, and one
Juliet, and another Carissima. This
lovely white-and- yellow one Is Narcissa.
I have no reason to think they are con-
scious Of their names, but 1 do know
that they know me. and me alone.
have always been able to influence birds
and dogs; in fact, many animals. and
all animals like me. I can teach canaries
to perform all sorts Of tricks. This re-
quires great patience and mental con-
centration. New York Evening Jour-
nal.