The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-04
PRECIOUS MICE.
Those Kept for Show Purposes Worth
Weight in Gold.

|
by children to be delightful play
mates" and even "grownups' find
the keeping of them an interesting
hobby, but it is not we'll known fact
that there is very large and ever in
creasing trade in fancy mice, which
are worth their weight in gold.
There is a National Mouse club, a
National Mouse show, and hundred
others of rather less importance. The
prizes would be worthy of considera-
ton by a channel swimmer, and va
rious fanciers seem almost as anxious
to gain cups and medals as is SOL
dier to win his Victoria cross.
Many of the mice at the National
Mouse show are worth anything from
five to 20 pounds apiece; and on one
occasion 100 pounds was refused by
a financier for a small selection of
prize mice, and they are practically
all profit. for the small sum of three
pence per week will suffice to keep
nearly dozen.
Their diet consists of bread and
milk, hemp seed, and occasional
meals of "odds and ends" which the
owner must always take care to
choose carefully.
Fancy mice are much larger than
the ordinary household specimens,
and during the last few years, the
breed has been so much improved
upon that the beauty Of the show
mice is simply wonderful. Their
| coats are thick, rich, and silky, and
the colors include black and white
and every possible shade between.
The marked or spotted mouse is
always popular, and many wonderful
specimens of this Lave been obtained.
Silver gray is fashionable, and into
this tints of grayish-blue have re-
Gently been introduced. The pink eye
of the ordinary white mouse has
gone quite "out of fashion," and to
be at all valuable the white ones
must have large black eyes.
The best mice are selected from
litter-which usually consists OF
about eight-and then the rest OF
them are drowned. The chosen ones
are reared with the greatest care, and
as soon as they reach the right size
the little creatures comence their
'round of shows"
They travel to the exhibitions
singly in special exhibition cages,
which are packed together in a live
stock case. AS soon as they reach
the end of their journey they are put
in the charge Of 'stewards," who
place them in their right classes and
arrange the show.
| The mouse cages are of regulation
size, but shape and ornamentation
are left entirely to the fancier. Some
of them make their own cages, and
they are, as a rule, beautifully dec
Grated, pokerwork sketches, carving
and other methods of adornment be-
ing frequently resorted to.
| The mouse judge is always sur
rounded by a crowd of fascinated
spectators, many of whom are them
selves showing collections of mice.
He is usually satisfied with glance
into the cage, but, if the mouse is a
particularly fine specimen, it is taken
out and held up by the tail. And if
two or three have to be closely COM
pared, they are placed upon the arm
of the Judge and carefully scrutin-
lied.
AS soon as the show is ended the
mice are fed, and either returned to
their homes or "packed'' ready for
the next show.
Most mice have 'play ground
and tiny gymnasium where they
are put for exercise and play, which
helps to keep them IN perfect nealtn.
They are taught tricks, and to watch
them walking the tight rope" and
swinging from poles is pretty and
interesting sight.
One lady fancier has large fam
ily' of mice, each of which has a
name, and their dispositions are care
fully studied by her. She has gym
nasium, which is fitted up with ev-
cry possible contrivance, and the
mice have been trained to give aero
batic concerts" They are all as
sembled at one end of the hall and
then called out one by one to enter
tain the others.
Her latest idea is dolls piano,
which several of her mice are learn
ing to play. ."-Pearson's Weekly.
Baby Born With Tooth.