PEEFOEMING FLEAS, 173 



instruments. There are also quite a variety of other tricks^ 

 but they are- all pretty much the same in principle. The main 

 secret in these performances is a piece of very thin wire, some 

 ten or so inches in length, which the exhibitor holds in his hand 

 during the entertainment. The end of this wire is greased with 

 butter, which appears to possess a strong influence upon the 

 fleas, for they will eagerly follow the wire in whatever direction 

 it is moved. The audience, ignorant of this fact, attach no im- 

 portance to the exhibitor's directing with it the movement of 

 his performers, and may even consider their following it a proof 

 of superior training. By this means the fleas may easily be 

 made to go through the desired movements. 



Where the fleas occupy a stationary position a trick is resort- 

 ed to which if on a large scale would be clumsy, but which in 

 this instance defies the sharpest eyes to detect. The insects 

 are fastened in their positions. Aided by the costumes with 

 which they are encumbered, this is not difficult to accomplish. 

 Natural movements are also made to pass for seemingly won- 

 derful eflfects. Thus the performance of the musicians is nothing 

 but the customary wriggling of the fleas. Any insect in a con- 

 fined position will seize hold of a light article whether it be 

 shaped like a fiddle or not, and twirl it about. With the fleas 

 it is hnpossible for the spectator to distinguish exactly what 

 the motion is — it is so rapid and everything is so small — and 

 imagination makes up for a good many deficiencies. 



We have seen boys amusing themselves impaling a fly, belly 

 upward, upon the point of a pin, the head of which was inserted 

 in a cork standard, and giving him a little dumb-bell composed 

 of pieces of cork connected by a piece of hog's bristle. The fly 

 would grasp this in his agony, and his convulsive movements 

 would have a very exact resemblance to a dumb-bell perfor- 

 mance, and be irresistibly ludicrous, however much one might 

 sympathise with the victim's suffering. It almost rivaled the 

 professor and his fleas. 



Once upon a time this, troupe of fleas were exhibited at Ber- 

 lin before the king and queen. The professor was suddenly 

 seen to exhibit signs of great consternation. "What is the 

 matter, Herr Professor f inquired his majesty, on seeing that 

 the performance had come to a stand still. " Sire, I perceive 

 that one of my very best performers, the great Napoleon, has 

 got loose and disappeared." " Let search be made at once for 

 the great Napoleon," replied the king, good humoredly. " La- 

 dies and gentlemen, let the Herr Professor have your best help 

 in recapturing the great Napoleon. In what direction, Herr 

 Professor, do you imagine the runaway to have gone f " If I 



