Year: 1878

A noticeable popularity of theatrica
people is a passion for pets. Patti i
constantly surrounded with dogs. Clar.
Morris has a weakness for cats, an,
Madamme Modiesha is disconsolate with
out her canary birds lima De Murska il
no exception to the rule


A reporter called upon her at her hotel
wishing to explode the story of the sing
ing mouse The reporter explained hi.
business Immediately.


Madame, have you a singing mouse
in your possessionf


The lady went at once to the window
and produced little wire cage in which
the vocalizing rodent rested IN bed o
cotton batting


"Does he singl"


Certainly


"Have the goodness to start him."
The cantratice tripped up and down
the scale few times with the ease and
rapidity of a school boy running his thumb
nail along the edge of fne-tooth comb.
This caused the mouse to wiggle his tail
slightly and stretch his hind legs spas
medically, but he did not encore. The
perverse animal WAS then replaced on the
window-sill, with the assurance on the
part Of the owner that he was liable to
warble at any time.


The reporter then had an opportunity
to examine the other samples of natural
history scattered about the apartment
In two large wicker cages were couple
of Australian magpies, which first made
their presence known by running their
bills into the calf of the reporters leg. At
irregular intervals they whistled bars Of
music, and when the prima donna scram
bled up the scale they initiated herexactly.
One, however, with fine sense of humor.
would begin familiar melody, then come
to full stop and emit screeeh that would
make ones pulse jump to 1G0 beats a
minute


Presently Scotch poodle crawied out
from under the sofa and climbed up on
the reporters lap. He was Immediately
followed by Sky terrier with cropped
ears and little hairy spaniel


"Where is your bull dog| inquired
the reporter.


"Gettins doctored in San Francisco.
He will be up in q week. You should see
him-he is perfectly divine.


"Yom Eer'


This blunt remark came from poll
parrot In a cage on the mantie-plcce.
Madame De Murska remarked thai she
had purchased the bird in San Francisco,
and at times it was insulting Here the
bird gave the reporter touch of his early
training by talking in a most horrible
manner, while its mistress shook the cage
and tapped towel at it The bird went
in fury of passion, and threw off shower
of expletives that would have reflected
credit on sixteen-mule quartz teamster.
A glass Of water soused over 1t finally
brought the wicked bird to its senses.


The Madame apologized for the parrots
conduct, and then trotted out the mouse
again. This time the animal was in better
trim and in response to little ehuekling
on the part of its mistress ehlrruped and
chatted like bird for half minute. That
the mouse could sing there was no mistake
but he was by no means as accomplished
performer rs either OF the magpies, and
his voice lacked compass as well IS volume.


The Madame assured the reporter that
she hadn't half her collection with her
most Of it was in San Francisco, and be-
fore she left she expected to get rat dog
from Jack Magee and young bear from
Tom Bean.


As the reporter left the dogs barked,
the magpies screeched like cross-cut saws
and the parrot told him to "take spin |
around the block