Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-05-26
MISCEEEAMEOUs.
SINGULAR AssocIArloN OF ANIMALS

All associations between animals of oppo-
site natures are exceedingly interesting;
and those who train animals for publick
exhibition know how attractive are such
displays ofthe power of discipline over the
strength OF instinct. These extraordina-
| ry arrangements are sometimes the effect
OF accident, and sometimes Of the greater
force OF one instinct over the lesser force
OF another. A rat-catcher having caught
a brood of young rats alive gave them to
his cat, who had just had her kittens ta-
Ken from her to be drowned. "A few
DAYS afterwards he was surprised to find
the rats In the place of the drowned kit
tens, being sucked by their natural enc
my. The cat had hatred to rats; but
she spared these young rats to afford her
the relief which she required as a mother.
The rat-catcher exhibited the cat and her
musings to considerable advantage. Al
somewhat similar exhibition exists at pres
ent at Brodelip. There is little mena-
/ gerie IN London where such odd asssocia-
tons may be witnessed on more exten-
slve scale, and more Systematically con-
Quoted than in any other collection of an-
lmals with which we are acquainted. Up
on the Surrey side Of Waterloo-bridge, or
sometimes. though not so often, on the
same side of Southwark bridge, may be
daily seen quadrupeds and birds. The
keeper of this collection, John Austin,
states, that he has employed II years in
this bushes Of training creatures of oppo-
site natures to live together in content and
affection; and those years have not been
unpro6tably employed. 1t is not too
much to believe that many person who
has given his halfpenny to look upon
}this show, may have had his mind awak-
ened to the extraordinary effects of habit
and discipline, when he has thus seen the
cat, the rat, the mouse, the hawk, the
rabbit, the guinea-pig, the owl, the pig
con, the starting, and sparrow, each en-
Joylng, as far as can be enjoyed in con-
hnement, its respective modes of life in
the company of others-the weak without
fear, the strong without the desire to in
jure. 1t is impossible to imagine any
prettler exhbitionof kindness than is here
shown. The rabbit and the pigeon play
fully contending for lock of hay to make
up their nests the sparrow sometimes
! perched on the head of the cat, and some
times ON that of the owl, each its natural
enemy and the mice playing about with
perfect indifference to the presence Of the
cat, or hawk, or owl. The modes by
a5c6 sprCIgs 10
the society of the other at sary oorly pee
riod of their lives. The ferocious in-
stincts of those who prey on the weaker
; are never called into action their nature
is subdued to systematick gentleness
the circumstances by which they are sur
rounded are favourable to the cultivation
of their kindlier dispositions all their de-
sires and pleasures are bounded by their
little cage and, though the old cat some-
times takes stately walk on the parapet
: ofthe bridge, he duly returns to his COM
S panions, with whom he has SO long been
5 happy, without at all thinking that he was
e born to devour any of them.-L Library OF
It Entertaining Kno0ledge
fl CAUTION AGAINST READING MEDICAL
n Books. 1t has been shrewly remarked
If by Goethe, that {" he who studies bis body
n too much, becomes diseased-his mine
5, becomes mad" and we are well convinc
IF ed that many Of the men and women o
n the present day might with great justice
lie have another clause to the well knowr
n, Italian epitaph--" stavo bene ma per
" stor meglio, sto qui = which being a
$. mended would run. 4 was well-wished Il
Of be better-read medical books-took.med
icine and died." In no other science, in
$, deed, does Pope's maxim, that ga littl
Or learning is dangerous thing" hold $
H.. strongly as in medicine, for those VIII
a dabble in the medical lore, dealt out i
ay works protesting to be popular, are almos
he certain to suppose themselves afflicted wit
alb every disease about which they reat
tn They forthwith take alarm,at the probabl
D. consequences, and having some lurkin
er suspicion that they may have mistaken tn
ms symptoms, they follow the prescription
k. laid down in their book in secret, LEI
ra- they should bring themselves into ope
lr- ridicule.
eff
ANECDoTE. Every body knows TIL
previous to and during the late war. II
he political excitement ran immoderate
ty. high between the republican and the fe
vas eral parties. In town not forty mil
nc from Halloweft, there lived a decent b
ct, jealous wight who was famous for g goli
Of the whole hog" on the federal side, BEN
of particularly devoted to the interest of Go
fol- Strong. Calling at the post office o.
the day, not long after the spring election,
,er- which he had taken an active and entl
Der siastick part, he took thereform an e.
of ganty printed sheet, with the ominlo
in. caption 8. Commonwealth Of Massacl
ttee setts,'' and signed Caleb strong" !
that ----~cast his eye on those fearful wo
lose and turned pale with rage. /" What
,nty exclaimed he TO bystander, " here