Fleas

Fleas. They’re the bane of existence for our pets, but somehow, I have a soft spot in my heart for them. I never saw a flea circus, though there are still some in existence today. The first recorded one was in London in 1820, and the novelty spread to the United States. Fleas were harnessed by thin wires around their necks and made to pull tiny carts or rotate Ferris wheels. Of course, their movements were challenging to see because of their size. That’s when a microscope or magnifying glass came in handy. A microscope is what I used when I visited the West Virginia State Museum as a small child. At that time, the museum was in the basement of the state capitol building and nothing delighted me more than seeing dressed fleas through a microscope. Emmiline and...