Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-13


ed to them; for, doieiu, to relate tiit
cock. which WAS Of the right game bree:
had unfortunately taken offence at the vi
sage of the owl lis neiyAbor, and in hi'
struggles TO cDme at him, through tit
bars Of the cage, had rubbed Oft ono, an'
displaced the other Of his horns. WheI
this deplorab!e misfortune was menuone'
to the owner. it is impossible 10 describe
his establishment and confusion. lie stoop'
cd hastily to be satisfied Of the truth OF It,
and be!lolding the irrera.able ruin OF his
pride, gave one dismal groan, and fell al
his length OF the t.ccr. in q s"Oon.
While his servants, who were summer
cd upon the occasion, were fetching him
to himself, one Of the philosophers opened
the cage. and taking out the bird, they all
entered into discussion Of SO strange a
phenomenon. After many learned and in
acnious solutions, one Of them declared
that it had always been his opinion, in
which the present case abundantly coll
firmed him, that all corn;tcd animals east
their horns every year, like the stag, and
that the present case was no more than
that; Of which lie was perfectly conNinc-
ed, as he could plainly feel, with his fin
ger. the growing horn, whicl. had thus
thrust off tine old one; SO that, my lord.
(said he, addressing himself to the owner,
who by this time was recovered, and at
tending to their remarks instead OF being
vcxed at such an event, you have reason
to rejoice, as it explains very dillicult
point, aud you will now have an opEoru-
nifty Of tracing the growth OF this beautl-
full prodigy.
This sage solution administered some
consolation to the NirtuosO, who immc-
diately took the bird in his own hands,
and feeling the lump Of wax which had
fastened on the fictitious horn, was con-
vinccd of the truth CT lis friends accurate
observation, which he himself further
by taking notice, that, as no
blood followed the abultion. it was evident
that the horn was of Itself ready to fall off,
without the assistance Of the cocks strug-
Cling (for they had caught him at that
work. and the dislocation of the other
horn Showed that that was not in the same
state Of ripeness. and, therefore, it had re-
sisted that force. Consciousness of the
sagacitt of this remark. in some degree,
restored his spirits, and he was going to
proceed, when one Of the company, who
had taken up and examined the fallen
horn. and had not given any opinion on
the matter, interrupted him drily, and
said, that the hypothesis was certainly
very ingenious, but he believed the affair
mi ght be solved reader way for upon
examination of the supposed horn, he
found it was only cocks spur, which
had been fastened upon the creatures head
with wax, upon the end of the spur in his
hand 4 fthey would let him pull off the o.
undertake that the impOsture
woGid be too plain to admit of any doubt.
The mention of this threw them all in
to confusion, as they had all given their
opinions positively, of the honor of which
It deprived them, and cut short many more,
which they were ready to offer: they
stood looking at each other, till
nc stretched out his hand to pull off the
,ther horn, when they all interposed, par
icularly the owner. and insisted that they
must be better satisfied Of what he had
advanced, before they could permit so rash
~ experiment. But the bird himself cut !
short the dispute for. some of the COM
,any happening to have snuff in their fin
gers. it got Into the cocks eyes, and made
aim shake his head with such violence,
hat of flew the horn in the owners face.
The person who ilad made the discovery;
took it up. and Showed such !
,l.in prcof of the trick, that it could no
onger be denied.
1t is impossible to describe the shame |
md vcxation in every pI,ilosophic face
present, at this Iamentable event. The
sbnsed purchaser. in particular, was al
most mad. However, after mature deli
'crstion. it was agreed upon. for the Gre
lit of philosophy. to bear the ridicule Of
he unlearacd, by seeking satisfaction
rom the cheat. As for the .cock, he was
sacrificed TO Esculapius, to