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Training Fleas

“Mr. Bertolotto, the well-known educator of the flea, is now in New York exhibiting his curious success. The insect he employs appears to be the species of flea common to dogs. The first lesson, he says, is to put the fleas in a small circular glass box, where, by jumping and knocking their heads against the glass for a day or two, the idea is finally beaten into them that it is useless to jump. During the remainder of their natural lives—about eight months—they are content to crawl.

The instructor then fastens a delicate pair of wire nippers to the middle of the flea’s body; to the nippers any desired form of miniature vehicle, such as a wheelbarrow, car or wagon, is attached, and the flea trots away with the load. The professor harnesses his insect pupils to perform many curious duties, such as the operation of a fortune-telling wheel, orchestra playing or racing. The fleas are allowed to feed twice daily upon the instructor’s arm.”
--Scientific American Magazine, 1875

With all the talk of the “penny” no longer being minted I find it ironic that the US has never actually minted a penny. The first coin minted in the US was the “flowing hair” cent in 1787 that was designed by Benjamin Franklin. It was called a cent to separate it from the British penny. The first coin issued by the US government was the Fugio cent in 1797. Also a cent. Now even the US mint is referring to them as “pennies”. The US has never made a penny.