St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-04-29
MICE THAT WALTZ.
Science VIII Endeavor to Find Ont
II They Dance for Fun or Ne
cause They Can't Help IL.

DR.. Frederick. Schiller Lee has the
only waltzing mice in New York. They
do not require music. nor do they abb
solutely need partner. though they
prefer one or more of the latter, but
waltz they will, no matter what time
of day or night.
There are only four of them now,
They were originally 'seven," like the
mortuary family of poetic exploitation
They came over on the Cermanic from
England, and during the passage one
of them escaped. He is doubtless whirl-
ing through the cabins and the hatch
ways of that ship, and at this moment
may be striking terror to the heart
of some superstitious old salt
Two of them have died since they
came to this country, but the other
four are thriving on American air
They are to be seen in DR.. Lees lab
oratory, at the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Columbia university
He keeps them there in a wooden cage
with two compartments, and there
they whirl and whirl to their hearts
content. Three of them turn to the
right most of the time, but the other
prefers going to the left, SO the poor
fellow has to waltz alone. The other
three get together and dance sort OF
merry-go-round in one compartment,
while the fourth spins all by himself
in the other. Sometimes two waltz
together. and then the dancers look
like real folks doing the misty mazes
in proper style.
These wonderful little mice have not
been brought here for amusement nor
for pets, but to further the interests
of science. 1t is study of motives and
physical causes-to find out whether
these little fellows waltz themselves
giddy because they want to, or be-
cause they can't helpit.
1t is suspected by those who have
heard of their gyrations that the mice
have no choice in the matter-that they
are merely suffering frcm malady
which. remarkable to say, is located
in their ears. 1t is wonderful how
many things can be traced back to the
ears. either as cause or as an indica-
ton Of disorder.
The particular portions of the ear
which determine whether we walk
straight or tipsy, or whether we fall
off our bicycles our ride a creased
wire, are known as the semicircular
canals. There are two kinds-one. the
horizontal, which regulates our move
ments in walking forward or back
ward; the other. the vertical, which
prevents our falling down and turning
cartwheels and somersaults when we
want to be dignified.
1t is the horizontal canals which are
suspected of causing the commotion
in the affairs of these mice. 1t is pos
sible they may have been tempered
with in some way, and if so that would
be sufficient explanation. Otherwise
the scientists may have to conclude
that the little fellows are only anus
ing themselves. and that waltzing is
their favorite game. Other waltzing
mice have been known. Old sailors
say they have seen them in China,
which would be natural place for
come from. along with the two-tailed
goldfish, the dwarfed birds and ami
mails, in which that queer, topsy-turvy
country abounds.
DIR. Lee had hoped to determine by
the actions of the offspring of the
walters whether it was family trait
or only an eccentricity on the part of
these individuals. but. unfortunately,
Mrs. Mouse's children came on the
scene while he was out of the city, and
she at once proceeded to kill and eat
them.-N. Y. World.