§ 233 One Old Enough to Merit Respect
I venture to present here and now the famous and deservedly immortal tale of the Educated Flea. At a theatrical hotel a vaudeville performer was stopping. He was the owner of a troupe of performing fleas. One evening, at dinner, he was telling his fellow-lodgers how he went about the job of training his tiny pets. To demonstrate, he cleared a space on the table, took one of his fleas, an especially intelligent and gifted insect, out of a small box, and proceeded to put the lively little chap through his paces.
“Hop East!” he commanded, and the flea hopped.
“Hop West!” The flea obeyed.
“Forward!” The flea marched.
“Face about!” And the flea whirled into the air to execute the command. But one of the lady boarders, in the intensity of her interest, was bending close and the flea landed in her hair and was instantly lost from view.
Confusion followed. After much searching the lady produced the truant and the performance was resumed.
“Hop East!” the man commanded, but the flea refused to move.
“Hop West, then!” The flea remained stationary. Surprised, the owner leaned over and scrutinized the performer more closely. Then, sitting up with a start and staring at the lady, he said in a stern, accusing voice:
“Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”