The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
STUFFING DEAD PETS.
Tears in Plenty But the Money Paid
In Advance.
From the New York Sun

(From the New York SUM-
Comes the young woman attired in the
sealskin cloak and many accessories TO
feminine adornment. Her eyes are in
famed and dewy with tears; she weeps
cOpiously into an insufficient triile OF lace
which pretends to be handkerchief, and
is superby Indifferent to the no:oriety
of grief publicly exhibited.
Comes the small boy teyidently her pro-
geny) staggering beneath the burden Of
huge paper-wrapped parcel and supple
menting the maternal tears with alternate
sobs and snufies. Reverently the parcel
is deposited on a long bench in dark
little Fourth Avenue shop which is filled
with stuffed birds and beasts OF many
descriptions. and an atmosphere redolent
of unpleasant, pungent odors.
Tears, sobs and snuffies unite in one
stupendous outburst which gradually sub
sides as a tall, spare. gray-haired man ap-
proaches, and in silence-a tribute Of
sympathy and implied condolence-awaits
the composure and commercial purposes OF
his visitors. His gravity Is most pro-
found and impressive. By comparison, the
professional, melancholic solemnity Of the
undertaken is nothing short of frivolous
ness, for he is a taxdermist whose spec
ialty is the perpetuation of the familiar
forms of pampered pets and is accustom-
of bereavement
Poor Nero" begins the young woman
in the seaIskin cloak, but she is interrupt
ed by an anguished yowl from the small
boy and pauses TO join him in tear.
Il see" murmurs the taxidermist sadly.
as he gently strips the layers OF paper
from the parcel and reveals the stone-cold
carcass of a cocker spaniel "A much
loved pet-too bad: too bad Very affec
tionate and intelligent, no doubt. What a
pity, What a loss,"
"He-he was more like one of the chill
dren than-than some of them them
Selves quayers the young woman in the
sealskin cloak. heroically striving 10 dam
her lachrymose overflow. Her name is
Flynn.
Jaw, g'wan." blubbers the small boy in
infinite contempt. Nero had twicet as
much gumption and sense as any us
kids. 'eept me-"
Recollection of the spaniels superior
both. but the tall. spare, gray haired man
hastily. though not unfeelingly. obtrudes
a business proposition which effects tenn
porary relief.
Our price for stuffng animals of this
kind ranges from So to SIS, madam" says
he in soft. soothing tones. What is your
pleasure?"
VIII you make him look as natural
as life" queries the young woman in the
sealskin cloak anxiously and with a dis
NAL negative shake of the head which i'm
plies vast doubt.
Yes, we will mount your unfortunate
pet so that every line in his anatomy will
be naturally and al perfectly indicated as
in life for any price over So returns the
taxidermist. We will also pose him in a
characteristic attitude if you will suggest
one"
By this time the fury of the emotional
tempest has slightly abated. and the young
woman in the sealskin cloak issues from
her trife of lace and determines on a
style OF mounting. price is also agreed
upon and the bereaved ones prepare TO
depart.
II beg pardon. madam" says the tall,
spare. gray haired man. but one impera-
tive business rule of our establishment is
TO collect in advance. Not that for one
instant doubt your honesty that bland,
yet grave, expression of confidence which
illumines her face dispels her possible
doubt on this point-'but, you see, were
animals left on our hands owing to the
forgetfulness of owners. we would be at a
loss to dispose OF them so as TO reimburse
ourselves for cur expenditure or materials
and labor"
"Oh. we certainly would not leave poor
darling Nero on your hands, you may be
sure" eXclaims the young woman in the
sealskin cloak somewhat Jelly.
II am as certain Of that as | am OF my
own name" courteously responds the
suave taxidermist. "only We must live up
to our rules. distressing as it is to do so
in instances like the present"
1t is very nice for yGu to say that"
answered the young woman in the seal
skin cloak. counting out the required sum.
II do hope you will make poor. darling
Nero as beautiful as he was when alive"
Depend uon it. madam. our work will
leave nothing TO be desired or even sug-
gested."
Thus assured. the young woman in the
sealskin cloak and the bubbering boy
vanish and their sobs are heard only In
reverberant memory.
IF We did not insist on getting our
money beforehand" explains the taxidcr-
mist to his visitor as with no particu-
larly reverent or gentle touch he filings
the latest candidate for stuffing to an as
sistant I'VE could not pay our rent Ex-
perience has demonstrated that after the
first throes of grief have exhausted them
selves, owners of dead pets are not so
enthusiastic to have the animals perpetu-
atod by the taxidermist's art. and the less
inclined are they to incur the expense So
most OF our patrons are those whose pets
have departed this life only few short
hours prior to the carcasses' arrival here
to be stuffed"
Try a ease of Heurieh's Senate Beer II is
the best to be had.