The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-02
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
A Wonderful old Turtlc-Children's
Games In ItRly-The Little
Dandy DandeIiOD.

Stray turtles, measuring from four
to five feet in length, do not often
wander unmolested through the streets
OF a thickly populated city. But not
long since a well known family in
Honolulu. Hawaiian Islands, received
q visitor of this kind Nobody knew
where the great beast came from. He
simplv appeared one day at the gar
den gate and. forcing an entrance, pro-
ceeded TO make himself at home on the
nremises. He was promptly expelled
NV the astonished family, TO wander
once more on the city streets, for they
did not know what else to do with
him Inc turtle had different ideas,
however He had found a comfortable
home and meant to stay in II. He had
very likely led life Of hardship and
intended to end his days in peace ana
security. so he returned. but was again
turned out upon the cruel world.
The turtle had a will of his own, and
no determined to live in that particular
spot. so he crawled in again the next
time the gate was open. The family
gave ND in despair and allowed the I'M
invited guest to remain a few days be-
fore they turned him out again. But
be returned once more. This perform
ance was repeated a number of times.
If they shut the gate on him, he would
rear ND on his hind legs and put his
two fore feet on the top, like great
dog.
II was necessary to accept the ineyi-
table. The people to whom he wished
10 attach himself began to feel a GER
tain superstition and allowed him to
take possession of the garden which he
had so long coveted as his abode. There
he crawls about in the daytime and
sleeps at night and is given his three
good meals a day Of bran and water
and scraps from the table. he Is per
fectly harmless old fellow, and the chill
dren have great sport with him, two
or three at a time riding on his back.
It Is only dangerous to place hand on
the side Of his neck, for, as he con
tracts his neck quickly within his shell,
It Is likely to be drawn In and injured.
But his funniest characteristic devel-
oped after he had been fairly accepted
into the family circle. In return for
the kindness lavished upon him he took
upon himself the functions Of watch
dog. The poor beast is not able to
bark, but when a stranger enters the
gate he gives forth such loud and for
midable Kisses as to brighten the most
courageous until they discover that his
hiss Is worse than his bite.
It is estimated that this great turtle
Is very old. While not Of a rare spe-
cies. be has grown into an unusual
size. His neck is beginning to shriyel
and take upon itself the drawn look OF
extreme age 1t Is thought by some
that he is the famous turtle that be-
longed to Kamehameha l. He was the
greatest conquerer and king of the Ha-
waiian Islands and lived over 100 years
ago. The animal remained for genera
lions In the custody Of the royal family
and last belonged to the queen dowa-
ger Kapiolani. Some time before the
Queens death the turtle disappeared.
But whether this queer old beast, with
its almost human intelligence, has such
q romantic history or no it IS today one
of the most interesting sights in Homo
lulu, though few visitors know Of Its
existence.-Exchange