User:ATrebeau

Daper Dan The Dancing Squirrel
Daper Dan The Dancing Squirrel was a bit hit on the Vaudeville circuit between 1885 and 1905. Normally, when his name appeared on the billet, the evening's program would be sold out. His act was never reviewed as being extraordinary, as he would make the same repetitious movements back and forth across stage, sometimes for hours on end. No matter, as the paying crowd always enjoyed his antics. What people didn't realize was that squirrels do not live to be twenty years old and Daper Dan was actually comprised of 242 different like-trained squirrels over that time period. Squirrels have a lifespan of six years. Inevitably, the current "Daper Dan" would sneak out of his cage and wander out of the theater and be run over by a passing carriage or new-fangled motor car. There were even a few reported incidents of Dan scurrying up a woman's dress, long after his performance was over. This usually ended in the stomping or throwing of Dan but a replacement "Dan" was always at hand and his fans were never the wiser.

Yes, Daper Dan The Dancing Squirrel was a big hit in those days and did the squirrel species proud. Dance on, Daper Dan...dance on.