The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-04-05

estimator five million of Teddy bears
are now preparing an estimated cut
put of one million Billy possums. II
the million sell--and the American
public excerpts the successor to the
Teddy bear-it is probable that tne
manufacture will exceed In quantity
even that of the favorite of the last
four years.
The possum was adopted by Presi-
dent Taft while he was in the south.
Hense its name. The picture above
shows real live posrum as he actu-
ally is. The possum is well known
in the south, and mas been southern
by-word for ages. But he is a COM
parative stranger to the northerner.
Down in Owensburg, KY, is one
southerner at least who doubts the
ability Of Billy possum to make good
as the successor to the Teddy bear.
BILLY possum may be a logical sue
cessor of the Teddy bear, but he is not
going to be the household pet that
some folks imagine" says Colonel
William Godlxin of Owensburg.
"No sir; not with folks VINO know of
the peculiar habits and traits OF the
William possum family" continued
Colonel Godlxin. "a Teddy bear braced
up on a sofa pillow will stay put--will
remain right there and not cause any
streak of misery through the whole
family. That is just where Billy
possum is different from a Theodore
bruin. Mr.. Postum will calmly eat all
OF the red welcome to- curl happy
home thread out of the sofa pillow,
chew the leg off the grand piano in
the music room, and bite his initials
in the polished sidebcard. He is a
born thief and will give a pet crow
cards and spades in stealing every :
thing that is not red hot or tied
down. 'I .-r.
Then his cursed idea of cleanliness
causes trouble. A 'possum, you know,
insists on washing everything he eats.
Down in my home near Owensburg we
have a big old-style we'll, like grand
father used to dig and wall up with
limestone. My boy got pet 'possom a
year or two ago and the beast % bur-
den insisted on washing everything he
found in the well. He would slide
down and crawl up the old pole Of that
sweep like a circus acrobat and when
we put in rope to beet him at his
little game he went down the uneven
sides OF the stone and washed chicken
livers, antique bone, scraps of bread
and everything else in that well until
one OF the hired hands made a howl to
me about not havin' any drinkin' water
on the place-and he was tired Of guz=
cling soup every time ne went to the
well for a drink Of water.
II stood it for a long time out OF ad-
miration for the little rascal and the
way he everlastingly lanbasted every
cur dog that came on the place He
was a regular man-eater at fghtin',
but his fool habit OF enforcin' his idea
of culinary cleanliness on the whole
family WAS what brought about the big
possum slipper down in the quarters
No, Stree. mann, this Billy possum
cult may gain some circulation in un-
Informed communities, but a Givin
'possum as pet is worse than ownin'
and holdin shawlstrap full of rattle
snakes. The Teddy brute was a we'll
behaved, quiet sort OF citizen for
children and foolish actor people to
carry around; but, as / said at the
beginnin', real live 'possum is only
a common disturber in the brute crea-
ton. He's smart as creased lightnin',
but he's too alfred smart and set in
his way to have around a house where
white folks is goin' to i've"