South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-17
THE FIRST DOLLAR |
EVER EARNED.
BX Hi SIBLEY.
: X X X X X X X X x x *
FRANK FREYERNIUTH.


How did 1 earn my first dollar p
repeated Frank F'reyermuth. the art
store man. well, I'd have TO go back
about go years for that wouldn't I?'
he laughed.
Now, let me Sc" he went on slowly
"Oh, yes, the first dollar-lesS 20
cents-that | earned was raising
pigeons. l was twelve years old then
and sold my first pair for 70 cents
remember it distinctly. That trans
action brought me three bright new
quarters. At least they looked bright
and new to me.
After | sold few more pair took
my money and bought a watch-have
the watch yet he added, fumbling in
his desk for it. Guess L left il home
but its good one and usually
carry it right along.
Il kept increasing my stock until ]
had quite a flock of birds, and then
added rabbits"
Raise them for the market"
mo. just for pets. Rabbits were
in good demand then. Every kid in
town had to have a pair of rabbits for
pets, and l did a flouriShing business.
Had all varieties, white, pink-eyed
ones, lop ears, woolly ones just like
you see in the toy windows, black and
few native cottontails. 1t was reg
ular rabbit ranch"
Not Hobby, Science.
But the pigeons interested me the
most. I'd like to be raising them
right now if l had the time and a
place for them. l tell you, its not a
mere hobby, but a wonderful science
to breed and raise high grade pigeons.
Some of them run into lot OF money
down near New York, Havemeyer,
the sugar king, had high grade flock
and one pair alone was valued al
$4,000. A man who doesn't know
anything about pigeons can hardly
realize that.
when / had my store over on JEFF
ferson boulevard, L kept the birds in
the basement during the winter, and
when the place burned l lost all OF
them-about $4,000 worth. L never
quite got over il"
Mr.. Freyermuth then went on to
describe the various breeds and Varl-
cites. The number was amazing.
There are SS distinct breeds, it
seems, each breed subdivided into
from three to seven different varieties
according TO their markings. Begin
ming with the fantailS there are black
red. yellow. white. blue and buff ones,
A lavender fantail has been produced
Just recently. These are solid colors,
but the saddle-backS have the body
white with only the wings in those
colors.
In the pouters are the English.
German and Pigmy varieties, each
with its individual characteristics.
The tumblers include tipplers, high
flyers, straight shots, almonds-so
called on account of shape of the body
and parlor tumblers.
Are AcrObatic Birds.
These last are decidedly interesting,
as they do all their tum bling, literally
somersaults in the air, less than three
feet above the ground. The nearer
the ground they accomplish these
these gymnastics. the more hlghIy
priced are they.
Some of the high-fyers will soar up
out of sight. and then come tumbllng
down, head over heels, until WITHIN
short distince of the ground When
they will suddenly right themselves,
glide along the ground a ways ana
then start over again.
Among other varieties are trlll-
backs, archangels, buttercups ana so
on.
The turbots are the most affection
ate and consequently much valued as
pets.
Mr.. Freyermuth is very enthusiastic
on the subject. attends the show
when he can. and has a number or
catalogs in which his entries are list
cd as first prize winners.