The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17
Living With Freaks

QUIT for separation brought by Mrs
y Ocuavio X. White in New York re-
Gently revealed another odd domes-
tic episode to be added to the worlds
record of marital eccentrics. Mrs Wilt
complained that her husband insisted
upon having Zip, the What Is IT."
freak seen by hundreds of thousand, I'm
Barnums exhibits for many years. tax,
up his abode with them. This would
not have perhaps been SO irritating 100
Itself were not the family quarters ON
fined to just the one room for all three
to eat drink and sleep In. Mrs white
complained that the crafty, leering eyes
of the freak. half human, half ape fol-
lowed her about the room constantly
day and night.
An ultlmatum was put to White that
he must make a choice between On,
freak and his wife. He He'd to California
with Zip. Mrs. Whites pride was MT
hurt because Of her husbands prefer
ence, but she brought suit so that she
might never again have TO endure the
freak as an associate.
a few years ago there was a snake
collector In Milwaukee who practically
compelled his wife. three daughters an.
two sons to live with room full
snakes. He made two trips a year re-
plenishing his stock, which he sod %
showmen and snake charntrs. His wife
got over her repugnance to snakes In
glass cases in the parlor. the dining
room, the sitting room and even one oi
the bedrooms and his children in their
earlier years did not seem to mind Il.
But when the eldest daughter reached
the age when a young lady might he rN-
pected to have company the snake COZ
lectors trouble began The girl found
that her company was very acceptable
when away from home. 1t was when
she invited her escorts To step inside her
home that the difference was revealed
Young men objected to sitting near
case of rattlers in the parlor or bunch
of copperheads in the dining room. one
eligible chap was on the point of pro-
posing to the daughter one evening when
rattler in a nearby case reared is
head, prodded at the glass side with It's
singer and ratified its tail. The eligible
chap didn't call again.
As the other daughters grew up they
Joined the band of discontents Finally
| the girls got their mother to side with
them and an, utimatum was handed oUi
to the father. But he stood 10y his
snakes, refusing to alter an arrange
ment that had stood for many Years
So the family separated, all but one oi
the sons leaving the paternd! sna"
roof, Strange as it might seem, reports
had II that for a long time the moihe'
missed the craving sound of the rep
tiles.
Miss Juliette Parsons of Cincinnati
who died last year, had a penchanI i"i
| canaries. She was not content VII"
one or two in cages. or half a dozen
She had fully fifty birds in her apart
ments, consisting Of seven rooms. Sh'
allowed the birds the freedom OF me
house, providing against their escape oy
a contrivance of spring doors set doAp.r'
so that one door must positively De-
shut while the other was open.
This lady possessed snug bank nc
count and also acknowledged relation
! ship with several nephews ana r'r''S
They were often invited to visit ana
| they went very often in spit" o, 'hT
! canaries. The birds flew hlih.' anu
; thither at will, and frequently prHh'"
upon the heads of the visitors '"'
| word of disapproval and the visiting
nephew or niece would not b" l.N'''
to call again. So they endured It rs
; children at the admonit.un u. ''',
parents and as grownups at o." 'u'
montion of diplomacy.
, So the years went on, Mss I'uS.",
' eating, drinking and sleeping VIII ne.
r birds. She was found dead In .'i ohe
morning with the birds singing 'H" I'u'
{ tering about her, just as she mGa. nav
wished. And when the will Wa pen'"
' II was found that all her money w.
I left to the museum OF natura .''o''
D in the town of her birth, with o sP''',
= sum set aside for the maluter."'t u
= her beloved cananes,