The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-04
HAP TALKS.
what the Haphnmmer Has to Soy to
Our Boys and Girls.

Dear Haphammers: How many of you
were caught mapping last Thursday? Did
any one play FRANKS on you and then call
you April Fool?" April l has been a day
for foxes s1nce--weli. 1t Is hard to tell
whn April fooling' did begin, 1t seems
that from the earliest times tho first day
Of this month has been gwen up to prac-
cnei Joking. Tho very fact that 1t pre-
Ssls a!l over the globe and or about the
Same day proves that the custom il
yefy ancient one. The Hindoos have
their festivals. ana they send each other
apout on foolish errands and dLSpatch
messages to people who are never TO Dc
found. Swift and Goldsmith each alludes
TO the making OF April fools in England.
HISTORY records that noted premier es-
capped from Jeil in France on April /, and
upon the alarm beng gwen 1t was sup
posed 70 be an April fool and no pursuit
was made. All sorts OF theories have been
advanced for the origin of the day, but
no two agree, and every nation has It's
own tradition to account for 1t.
There have been many big hoaxes offer
ed on the ist of April. yet the public is
sasly caught again the next time the day
comes around, One April few years ago
sreport was circulated in New York that
the animals had escaped from their cages
In Central Park and were roaming the
streets OF New York City on the lookout
!or prey. People We're afraid 20 venture
OUT OF their hnuseg. and widespread con-
siernalllon prevailed until the newspapers
Of o the "a contradlcted the report; In Bos..
ION report was once circulated on April
mat hoodhirns had defncej tho CogSs-
VOL fountain ON the common with several
YARDS OF green pafnt. Curious Bostohians
Aocked by the thousands to the spot, eN-
p,cting 10 behold q scene OF desecnation
Al they saw was n fountain: without
slgn OF green paint. The only green in
SIGHT was themselves.
The Happyhammers sent IN several In
Wrestling cat stores this week. Here is
one that a Northern paper relates: on
mo farm OF Amos NJ. Collins, near Balm
oadge. ONO, dwells most curiously as
"H'ea family, presided over by n demure
uouse cat. Several weeks ago Tabby gave
birth to n pair OF healthy kittene. When
S Sna enough TO get about they went on
co,ssg expedition In wood near by, &C
solalan'ed by the mother. In their jour
T.; NV they discovered a gray squirrels most,
tn 9 a Two young squirrels lay sleeping.
Ana CURIOSITY OF the kittens was aroused,
- ~ thoy soon made friends with tho
cSSSuuinreis, and while the mother cat sat
ss~unasehteily on log kittens and squirrels
SST1yed froEo. When 1t finally became
s s5Nx the cat quickly took one of the SOUR.
tas In her mouth and carried it to the
I'm, returning for the other one in a
w minutes. The squirrels are now safe
v thJused with the t!ftens. and the cat
4. .sohe ZINES over the children or her adoption
carefully as over her own offspring.
%e OF the most accomplished cats In
S~hd belongs to Lady Randolph
S4u'ohIl- 1t is Maltese Angora, with
spot, and with particularly cunning
This cat was bought for tho late
~ Randolph Churchill during that year |
No when his strong mind failed and |
enort was made to amuse him. lie
~ AFRAID of dogs. taking n sudden ter
ju,4 ~ 4, she sight of them, but Miss Angora |
IA ~ eased him. She was sent from In |
taken an ofhcer I'm that country who had |
moihsrngr parents there years before. Her |
s,s s,a over a tent, meowsng If a strange |
Wera ZANE, and Of course her children |
cat va very bright. When this Churchiil
Would imm ne 70 ata, Go play The planS'|, she
boudoir Keys OF the baby grand in the
heaSt !, Now sit for your picture
her raw 70 assume Is a ,femure position. with
o. IA mem and her head nicely bent to
'as as II trying to ''look pleasant"
~ - the treasury department at Washing
os,, mere 10 one very wonderful cat. Hts
suo., rom. and when addressed he Will
souna respond, even waking ont of a
Hpns,,Is "ep 20 20 toward tho speaker.
ain, e-s' to confuse him, the clerks Will
sylhhs :, some word or words IN which tho
pay. rom Is emphasized. and to that he
Tom ,, ae'tenton. But let any one call,
Ne waltss dinner time. and forthwith
yah his no across the room. reaches up
= nsnes bringing ID in his montb ram
6 Hsnd ay fond OF music. Al the cry
Ssssst Sgan' he climbs TO a high win
0etnfs ma ANA az the words Heres q dog