Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-28
MOTION OF ANIMALS.


! Animal motion is wonderful, though
from its perpetually meeting the eye,
1--WE take little account of it. The Pho
las Ia she'll fsh) has the power Of per-
forating the hardest marble by means
Of feshy substance, apparently no
way suited to so laborous an employ
ment. 1t increases its cell as it in
creases its size; and constitutes per-
feet example Of the first rudements of
animal motion. The only impulse an
|oyster possesses arises out of its power
Of opening and shutting its shell. The
muscle moves by means of muscular
substance resembling tongue. The
crab moves, sideways, and the water
fly swims, upon its back. The serpent
undulates, and the lion-ant moves back
wards; it has no power to make the
smallest inclination forward. Marine
birds can walk, run, fly and swim.
Some animals can only walk, others
only run, and others only gallop: the
horse performs all these motions. The
tiger and the crocodile dart; the rein
deer runs, but never gallops; the arma-
dillo walks swiftly, but can neither run
nor leap; whilethe great anteaterclimbs
much better than it can walk. The
sloth is large animal, and yet can
travelonly fifty PAGES in a day an elk
will run mile and hall in seven mi
nutes; all antelope mile in minute;
the wild mule Of Tartary has speed
even greater than that An eagle can
fly 10 leagues in an hour; and canary
falcon can even reach 253 leagues in
the short space Of l6 hours. Man has
the power of initiating almost every
motion but that Of flight. To effect
these, he has in maturity and health9o
bones in legs and thighs, 62 in his arms
and hands, 60 in his head, and 67 in
his trunks. He has also 434 muscles
in the structure of his body, and his
heart has 3,s4O pulsations in an hour.
Harmonies of Nature.
TACT AND TALENT.--Talent is
something, but tactis every thing. Tai
ent is SERIOUS, sober, grave, and respect
able, tact is all that, and more too.
For all the purposes Of life,
tact carries it against talent-ten to one.
= Take them to the bar, and let
them shake their learned curls at each
other in legal rivalry; talent sees its
way very clearly, but tactis first at his
journeys end. Talent has many a
compliment from the bench, but tact
touches fees from attorneys and clients.
Talent speaks learned and logically;
tact triumphantly. Talent makes the
world wonder that it gets on no faster;
tact excites astonisho.ent that it gets
on so fast; and the secret is that it has
no weight to carry; it makes no false
steps; it hits the right nail on the head;
it looses no time; it takes all hints; and
by keeping its eye on the wcathercock,
, is ready to take advantage Of every
wind that blows.
Take them to the church. Talent
has always something worth hearing,
tact is sure Of abundance Of hearers.
Talent may obtain living, tact will
make one. Talent gets a. good name,
tact great one. Talent convinces,
tact converts. Talent is an honor to
profession, tact gains honor from the
profession.
Take them to court. Talent feels
its weight, tact finds its way. Talent
commands, tact is obeyed. Talent is
honored with appreciation, and tact is
blessed By perferment.
| Place them in the senate. Talent has
the ear Of the house, but tact wins its
heart and has its votes. Talent is fit
for employment, tact is fitted for it. 1t
has knock of slipping into place with
sweet silence and glibness Of move
ment, as billiard ball insinuates itself
into the pocket. 1t seems to know.eve-
ry thing without learning any thing.
It has served an invisible and extem-
porary apprenticeship.
1t wants no drilling. Itnever ranks
in the awkward squad. 1t has no left
hand, no deaf ear, no blind side.
Talent is certainly very fine thing to
talk about, very good thing to be
proud of, a very glorious cminence to
look down from; but tact is useful, por-
table, applicable, always alive, always
alert, always marketable; it is the tai
ent- of talents, the availableness of re-
sources, the applicability of power, the
leye Of discrimination, the right hand
Of intellect.
4 A lady in the Scouringburn lately
found litter Of young mice in one Of