Only a Mouse.

Manawatu Herald, 18 July 1893, Page 3

Only a Mouse.

. ■*■ ■» Men are ve'y fond of making fun of women's ad version to mice. it : being said that such a little animal let loose in a woman-rights meeting would quickly disperse the gathering Our lady readers will be there-, fqre ejetremely gratified to learn that, even some of the largest and most' ferocious of beasts are equally afraid of a little mouse, not that we mean by this to suggest, . for one, momo.^t/ that any lady is, or f ever" will be ferocious, bar one! It apparently atrupk an American, who : might . have .' -had some serious . domestic experiences, that he would experiment with the wild animals in Barnutri and Bailey's menagerie, , and has repprted the* same to Jj(ind and Watti.' When a mouse was tftroWn , into the lions cage the anii^iais leaped away, roaring with fright and making frantic efforts to escape from the little creature. After a time; however, they began to sniff it, and thence-forward affected a- lofty unconcern. Their fear of rats was still greater, but the lats shoyred fight when thrown into the oagea— the mice had exhibited as much fear as the beasts to which they were introduced — sprang at the animals, and one bit a lioness on on the nose, causing her to scream - lustily. A tiger which had been in captivity for six months, and is no. tamer now than when first trapped, was • subjected to the ordeal by mouse. At first he roared in a frenzy of rage at the impertinence of th€> mouse, which boldly advanced towaids him. Then he lowered his muzzle to smell at it. This was too '"* much for the mouse, who squealed and bit .the' tiger's nostril. The tiger shrank- back in terror, and would have no more to do with the little 'stranger, to avoid whose advances he made violent efforts to break from his cage. The behaviour of the elephants is said to, have beer., very ludicrous; They B(Jfcmei_Mii Jmmpeted with, fear shrinking from the rodents as far as their chains allowed. The beneficial results, of education, howeye^ I; we're. efc&bjtsd.in the/ conduct of a trick elephant. When a couple of 1 mice were placed before him he quietly

put his foot upon them. The experiments created so much excitemeufc among the animals in the menagerie that their custodian was finally compelled to have them brought to a close. . J3ufc the elephants were heard trumpeting for an hour afterwards. The lions and tigers calmed down much sooner.