4 
ALMOST HUMAN 
was made clear when she cried out aloud in her disappointment when 
Mollie industriously broke them to pieces, crumbled the plaster of Paris 
and extracted the wires. Mollie thought that was the hidden treasure 
— the lady dentist had hoped she would try to fit the cumbersome things 
into her mouth. 
A CONFIRMED SMOKER. 
No one can resist the attraction of watching Mollie smoke a cigarette. 
One day she was honored by a visit from a Very Distinguished Person, 
who had attended a Very Grand Banquet the night before, and whose 
morning “pick-me-ups” had been just a trifle too numerous. He was 
prepared to be bored in the best manner, but Mollie was on her best 
behaviour, and when he was condescending enough to give one of his 
expensive cigarettes to Mr. Wilkie for Mollie, he gave it with an un- 
assumed indifference. Then he lent his matchbox to her, by special 
request, for he had just lighted a match for himself from it, and Mollie 
eyed it anxiously. His interest began to stir when he saw her open 
the box and strike a light after placing the cigarette in her mouth in 
as rakish a manner as he had done, but when she proceeded to imitate 
his way of lighting, and shook the match twice as he had done to put it 
out, he watched with real keenness. Then the two smoked in unison, 
she imitating his every gesture; but the Very Distinguished Person was 
completely sobered in a moment when she held out her hand for a pin, 
and then impaled the last half-inch of the unusually good cigarette to 
enjoy it to the last. He stared in bewilderment, and laughed unrestrain- 
edly as he admitted that he had never believed it could be done by an 
animal. 
A number of city men were grouped about her cage one day, when 
one of them said: 
“They say she smokes cigarettes. Lend us one, old man, to see.” 
The man addressed took out a packet and offered one to her. She 
took it at once, but turned it over in her Angers after smelling it, as 
if she did not think very much of it. She was so unimpressed that 
another member of the party laughed: 
“Say, old chap, she doesn’t think much of your taste in cigarettes. 
Perhaps she’ll prefer mine.” 
He drew out his gold cigarette case and took out a Milo. In an 
instant Mollie’s eyes glistened, and as she thrust out an eager hand 
to get the rare treasure, she contemptuously threw back the cheaper 
brand at the giver of it. There was a yell of laughter from his delighted 
friends as the nonplussed man caught his unappreciated gift and twirled 
