The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-20
Fate Of His Trained Owl.
A Bird of Wisdom That Took to
Cigarettes and Died.

iIF Eben Grown had only been con-
! tent % let his trained owl live hap
us life of rural industry among the hills
and dales of Pike county," said Dea-
con Todgcrs sadly, that owl might
have been with us to-day, the delight
and admiration of all nature lovers.
warned Eben that he was making a
mistake in letting his owl leave town.
Cigarette smoking will ruin the
constitution Of any OWL told him.
'cen a trained one that has become an
experienced pipe smoker. Here's an
OWE who is doing his duty in his
humble owlish way, and it's sin and
disgrace to expose him TO the temp
fations of life in a big city
But Eben was tempted by the big
offer made him by the agent of to-
baccc company who wanted TO use the
owl for advertising purposes. And
the result was that Ebcn gained ex-
perience and lost the services Of the
best and most intelligent hunting owl
known 10 the annals of Pike county.
One evening last summer Eben at
tended a lecture at the old school
house. The lecture was about the an
Gent Greeks and Romans. Eben list
encd attcntively until the lecturer
happened TO remark that the people
he was talking about lived 1000 years
ago. Then Eben's interest tagged.
amt interested in live dagoes,'
said Eben, sort Of YEARLY, let alone
those who were buried before Column
bus was born. Why don't he talk on
expansion, or bear hunting, or fishing,
or some live issues of the dayT
by and by the lecturer happened
70 mention that the owl was the
chosen bird of Minerva. the Goddess
Of Wisdom. This interested Eben, and
al through the lecture I could see
ne was bordering over that state
mcnt.
The owl is an honest. respectable
bird said Eben while we were walking
nome. He attends to his duty and
never bothers any one. You never
near OF an owl being arrested for non-
support Of Mrs. Owl and the little
owlcts and no Pike county owl was
ever mixed up in any scandal. But at
mat ! never knew of any owl doing
anything particularly brilliant. Still,
me nreeks were pretty wise old cod
gers about lot of things and they
must have had some reason for Sc
iectlng that particular bird as the
emblem Of the Goddess of Wisdom.
The subject is worth looking into.'
About week later dropped over
10 Eben's house. He was sitting on
,he porch, enjoying his pipe after the
days labor.
Speaking of owls said Eben in
nus solemn manner, If they are really
such wise birds as they appear to be,
y seems to me that they might be
taught to enjoy pipe. 1t would he
a sight to delight kind mans heart
70 see an old owl, after hard nights
work finding food for Mrs. Owl and
me little ones sitting in front OF his
nome smoking q long clay pipe. 1t
would improve his temper and make
'hings pleasanter in the family
4 knew Eben's benevolent idea
wasn't intended entirely for the benc-
NJ Of the owls, but at that 1 couldn't
see where Eben was to get anything
out of il.
And do you mean to set up to-
nacco store in the woods and adver-
use Tobacco and cigars sold TO all
owls Of respectable families. No cigar.
rmes sold to owls under the age Of
- = inquired, puzzled like.
may do that in the future re-
nhcd Ebcn. calmly. But at present I
"on't think the demand for tobacco
among owls would justify II. Still, II
woes seem to me that could take
Young owl and teach him 20 look on
good smoke rs the reward OF days
nard work, the proceeds OF his labor
70 % turned over to his guide and in.