PERFORMING FLEAS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13090, 2 June 1913, Page 7

PERFORMING FLEAS.

SHOWMAN'S "TROUPE" STOLEN. • SYDNEY, May 24. A whole circus — of fleas — has been stolen. The showmen were very proud of a troupe of performing ileas, numbering about a dozen, the exhibition of which lias, the rightful owners say, been bringing m much good coin of the realm. The exhibitions were given m a room attached to a tobacconist's shop m the city. During the luncheon hour, when the proprietors of the ilea circus were talcing necessary refreshment, a group of lads entered the tobacconist's shop. While a couple of them were making purchases at the counter, the others walked into the circus-room. When the proprietors came back from hinch they found that the main part of the circus, measuring quite a number of cubic inches, had disappeared. Only a couple of specimens of their highly-educated live stock (m a separate case) hid been left. The distracted showmen hastened around to the nearest police station and asked that constables be sent out at once to recover their fleas. The officer m charge took careful note of such particulars as seemed useful, including details as to age and sex, and concealed his doubts under a promise that competent men would forthwith start on a search. One of the missing fleas is said to be able to perform prodigies m the way of weight-lifting. Another, a female, b: described as being wonderfully clever at tight-rope balancing. * The publication of these details may assist m the apprehension of the robbers if they should go across to New Zealand.