The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-26
FLEA CIRCUS WILL
Be At THE BIG FAIR
Tiny Insects Have Been Train
ed MarveIOusIy
PERI ORM MANY TRICKS
Manager Tells How They Are Handled
and How He Teaches Them.
Feeds Them Only on
Human Blood.

Few people place much confidence in
the reports that flea circus is coming
to the Birmingham fair, but the one which
Manager Barnes has signed is a genuine
one. and during this week it has at
tracted the attention OF thousands at
Nashville.
These feas are so well trained that they
are able to ride bicycles pull wagons,
l!!.!manipulate canon, all OF which are 10
times their size, and a hundred times
their weight The flea demonstrates him
self to be the strongest animal in ex-
istence.
The trainer exhibits them on table,
allowing the audience to crowd around
him and witness the exhibition at first
hand, well as observe the little ami
mails through a microscope
In discussing his accomplishment he
said:
The first process in training flea Is
to attach a tiny gold chain or write about
his neck, and the chain, once attached
is never again removed during the life
of the captive. Next he is attached by
this small chain to d heavier one, in
order that he may not hop. but must. of
necessity, learn to walk if he wants to
move at all. Sometimes he is placed in a
little mechanical device, a sort of tread
mill which moves slowly around and
forces him to walk, walk walk. This
slow progress of training is kept up for
months often, and continues until the
flea forgets entirely his natural inclina-
ton to hop.
THAT alone is something-just to be
able to teach a flea not to jump. Those
who have ever had experience with a flea
in his natural element know how ne
simply delights in hopping about. and
the cunning he displays in leaping in I'M
expected directions. One can no more
tell which way a flea Is apt to jump than
he can foretell the direction in which a
grapefruit is going to squirt it's juice.
aside from the trouble and expense
connected with gathering these insects in
their own land, the additional cost and
care required in transporting them
amounted to pretty sum. For one thing
they are epicurean in their taste; that
is, from a tieas standpoint. They will
feed upon nothing but human blood
Consequently healthy German, willing
to allow himself to be Toasted upon by the
bloodthirtsy little gourmands, has to be
secured and imported with them. Many
of the travellers succumb to seasickness
and die en- route; SO, considering all the
difficulties attendant upon bringing them
to this country, it is quite a risky and
expensive business Then, after getting
them here, there are only eight or 10 out
of every 100 that can be educated, and
it takes months to find this out.
'The development of the flea is in the
following manner: They lay eggs like all
other insects, which are white In color,
on the seventh day they crawl out as
suming worm shape, in the thirteenth
day they become black and white spot
ted on the twenty-first day they make
their last change and become perfect in
sects and spread all over. The females
are larger than the male, the female
having legs of equal length, while the
two hind legs of the male are larger than
those in front. The fieas have four legs,
ing of the fleas occurs once every day,
and upon the arm, and when regularly
fed will attain the age of 6, Z, or 9
years.
THE above account has been compiled
according to careful observation, as L
have been cultivating the species of flea
for ii years.
"rhe tanning of this bloodthrsty wild
enemy of humanity, whose muscular
power is actually twice as great as that
of the lion or tiger, is an almost I'M
deliverable example of an iron will and
great patience, it taking the entire power
of man.
THE power necessary to endure the I'M
avoidable sufferings and disagreeabilities,
to see and admire the feas taken from
their wild natural state becoming obedi-
ent gentle, manageable, faithful and
learning, is almost a world wonder"
The greatest secret is in the art and
training of the very smallest beast This
secret has been discovered by the owner
of the original flea circus. He sought to
study the character and temper of the
fieas. and by kind treatment made them
obedient to his Instructions.