Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-14

4IIeHuSJ ILOLHuHS, SOuHU yHteH-Lenu NE your
ears. Why an ass should be the chosen butt
against which so much rough wit is directed, and
why 10 call shallow -pated fellow should
be considered an insult 10 the fellow, is precisely
wnat we never were able 10 understand. We have
never perceived great want of brains in asses,
though we have made such discovery i'll relation
TO their calumnatorS. If an animal IS to be estl-
mated by lis moral, physical, and intellectual
worth, rather than by popular prejudic, then we
contend mat donkeys are entitled 10 reSpecta-
blty, and this is the grand proposition we design
10 demonstrate on the present occasion.
w c have ever loved the Shrewd and simple speci-
men OF humanity, the de- light of tue heart of great
Ceryantes, honest Sancho, and much of our af-
tection is founded on the fact that he had SO much
unaffected love for his ackaSS II ..ny one iuti-
mates anything here in relation to fellow feelings
making us wondrous kind, all we nave to say is
that we "acknowledge the corn.'' Had Sancho
been one OF these inhumsn creatures who abuse
| asses, we should have much less regard for him
than we now cherish. What touches our heart
particularly in Sanchos history is that interesting
incident IN which he recovers his faithful donkey,
and runs to him and clings TO him and kisses him,
| and calls him "my darng,'' ''my life,'' ''my re-
pose," "delight of mine eyes, "my sweet COM
panion," honeyed phrases such as a warm hearted
mother lavishes her first born. Cervantes says
that the suffered Sancho to kiss and caress him
without saying one word. The reason he did not
speak was, suppose, that the creatures ten
der heart was too full of gentle emotions, emotions
too large for his powers of utterance. Besides his
eminent sense of proprety forbade him to speak
Just then, for knowing he did that his was
one that did not admit of whispers and soft words,
| he ielt that silence was particularly proper.-
Therefore, while Sanchos fond arms enclrcled his
| neck and the lips of the twain came into contact,
| honest Jack said not one word his master not
| wlthStandlng his master was overhowing with
passionate terms OF eldearment.
| How much the world has sufferdd in the loss of
| the speech made by Balaam'S ass! Had Con-
grcSsional reporter been present. who is in the
| habit OF reporting the sayings of asses, and had
| bs-r fol 1fNlN ai1,,,
ass, the world would now doubtless be much wi
than it is. There is nothing in the sacred rec
| Crd TO show whether that ass was in the habit OF
speaking in the Hebrew Language or not, or wheth-
er or no his fame as an orator, like that of Single
Speech Hamilton, rests altogether on one speech.
We presume 1t does.
The truth is, Jacks sense of pIopriety seldom
fails him. When the king of beasts gave his IA
nous party, Jack withdrew from the crowd while
the dancing party was in progress, for not having
enjoyed the services of French "artist'' in the
education of his heels, he felt that he would ap-
pear 10 some disadvantage, and therefore retired
| from the festive scene. When the lion sent
! messenger 10 Jack 10 know why he did not honor
| the company with his presence, Jack very polite
ly said: Tell his royal highness that have
| on my toe and can't dance, but added he, with
| decided manner, ttwhen the music begins, why
| then I'm thar!'' An animal of inferior proprety
would have danced even if he had trodden on tie
| tender feet of every quadruped present.
Did any of our admiring readers ever walk out
one oil those bright mornings in Spring when the
grass on hillside and in vale was green and vel
| vetty-when the air was genial as the breath
| OF cherub or Of ones SM MeetLeart-when dande-
lions and vloletS beSprInkled the meadow and the
perfume of roses hoated away lazily the wings
OF each breeze-when the love- making birds fit
| ted in every tree and poured forth their little
hearts i'll the most ravishlng Ineodies-when heav-
en- was serene and earth was beautiful and the air
was laden with the voices of birds and the breath
| of flowers
-. day SO calm, SO sweet. bright,
-.. The bridal OF the earth and sky
did any of our readers at such moment of bliss
we have described, in walking along, or it may be,
| i'll sitting on a log with his bedewed forehead
barred to the refreshing air, suddenly hear guSh
| OF sound come booming over the landscape, and,
Oh looking up towards the gentle elevation in
| font of him. perceive that the cause of this gush
OF sound was iackaSS, who, having grazed liner
ally on the luscious grass until he full to
petlon, was gratefully and reveTentialy returning
'thnnks after meat' fora breakfast so delicious?
With head upfted, as if addressing the pale star,
the grateful creature returns thanks in n success
sion of sounds which are rather iinpe fecty joined
together, the links not making precisely .'cOncat-
enation accordingly" and to use the language of
| Milton, for in speaking OF such melody such
occasion it is betting that should use the poe
| try of Milton, resembling
| 't-- a winding
OF linked sweetness long drawn out.''
Then in such moment of sweet tranquility did
any say that the asS's voice diScor-
dant and 1t did not harmonic strictly and deli
cluuSly with tne ocCaSlol lnat IL grated luIeIlcI-
tously the of morning, that ii did not dove
tail itself into the spirit of the scene! OH no.
Heard under such circumstances, the lover OF
sweetest sounds does not TlIuberate the musical
ability CT al ass, neither will he echo the SANDERS
of our favorte Cowp-r, who has said that the bray
Of such creatures is the only unmnSical sound III
nature. We regret that one we 1--we so deaIly
we co Cowper should have committed such a blum
der, for it is almost the only spot his sun, the
one solitary instance of mistaken judgment in his
appreciation of music in all his sayings and wri-
ttngS. .a-a..-
We giant that distance does lend enchantment
10 the voice of jackasS His voice Is moi adapted
TO concert rooms, and, hence, Whenever we hear
of ones undertaking TO perform in such q place,
we think he must be very foolish ass indeed
But give Jack the advantage OF such distance the
natule of his melody requires, and then, II the sur
roundings are the proper kind, he will delight you
with his vocal powers. II you wishto relish this
sort of music you must not place your ear near the
mouth of the performer, for then you will certain
ly be oppressed by painful sense OF the evil OF
propinqLity
Neither would we advise any one to get up Duet
or quartette of asnine melodies. Indeed the great
er the number Of voices the less desirable the ef
feet OF the music. We once heard half dozen
Jacks accompanying each other anu it sounded like
the 'swreck of matter and the crash of wortds.''-
There too much of good thing. Were we
autocrat in the republic asses, we would certain
ly forbid subjects TO sing in concert for II
undertake TO sing in unison, they are certain to
produce result, which, TO say the least of it, is
very undesirable. But let Jack confne himselfto
solos, and be sure TO place respectful distance
between performer and auditor, and he may pro-
ceed 10 hold forth with eminent chances OF creating
sensation The artist demands of you that you
shall place yourself at distance from his best
plctuTss that they may produce their happiest eff
feet on your eye and mind, and you grant ii, and
souint at the '.creations of genius" through many
yards of atmospheric air. In order to clearly ap
preciate Jack, you must treat him as you treat the
artist-that is, yon must give him the advantage
E ant Il etan an
of musical enchantment he possesses will steal over
your Iapt ear, and the melodSt will stand redeem
ed in your judgment from wretched caiumny