The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-21

tame and train in any kind of tricks. The paeehce required to keep track Of them, to get them acquainted with their train et, and to keep them imprisoned, Is be- yond that possessed by the average hu- man being. They are kept at hand by haVlng glass beads fastened to their hind legs, looking for all the world like a band of desperate convicts. Yet when these are removed they will usually dis appear very old book of travel tells that a century ago f1eas with silver chains on their necks were offered for sale in Venice and Augsburg. At various Flu ropean courts in the early half of the nineteenth century a clever trainer show ed company of most intelligent feas
 Some were harnessed to tiny silver and ivory chaises on which were seated pas sengers made of jewels and one sturdy fellow drew chaise twenty-four times heavier than himself. Another drew a tiny cannon, and remained at attention
 while the silver toy was loaded with mite of powder and fired. Exhibitions of this kind were held in New York about 1880 and provoked wide comment.
 Sometimes there have been disasters att tending the performance of feas. for as they are never happy in captivity they make every effort to escape. At a per formance being given before the ruler of small German state an act suddenly ldiltui dliu When an HApldndloil WAS demanded of the embarrassed director he said that the star performer Napoleon. !" had absconded in the direction of a pretty princess standing near. The king asked that the princess return Napoleon She retired with her maids and soon re- turned with a wriggling, protesting little black flea To the distress of the direc- tor. this proved to be a stranger. and as Napoleon was never recovered the nprfOrmanra uta p1nepd Enc fish entomologist unlntentionally broke up dinner party given by his wife, by bringing in a box of rare Egyptian ffeas for the edificatlon and entertainment of the guests. He thought the fieas quite tame, and opened the Jeweled box to all low better view. Liberty looked good to the captives and they scattered in every direction The guests suddenly decided to go home. The bereaved profes- sor added insult to injury by requesting the guests to return any Egyptian fleas that might have accompanied them home.
 While the flea Is under suspicion of being an accomplice in the spread of certain tropical diseases in the United States proper, he has not been found to be n purveyor of disease to the unsus- pecting public. Once, however, he came near being a great factor in a national event, for it is said that If the Mexicans could have held out a trife longer in the war with the United States, they would have won. for Uncle Sans troops had about decided they could no longer stand the feas. The sands of the southwest are an excellent breeding ground for them, and there they are a terror to man and beast. Senator Bob Taylor of Tennessee, however, argues that In Texas they arc a vast help to railway con tractors For when sand is needed for ballast on the track, the cars are filled at the nearest bank, shunted down to the dump, and at two blasts from the engine whistle this sand jumps off the car Of it's own accord. The senator sol emnly ayers that each grain Is carried by an active and helpful flea.
 Tomorrow: Navigating the Air"