Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-12
Reasoning (.afs.

Southey, In his Doctor gives 4 curious chan
ter upon the cats of his acquaintance chaptsr
In which humor and natural history are agreeably
mingled together; he was evidently close OBJ
server OF the habits OF poor puss, and took much
delight in the whims frolics and peculiarities of
bis favorites. Proofs of the doniestication and
strong attachment Of the cat might 30 adduced od
nansedm. The story Of M. Somnini and his favor
te cat may be recollected case In point: sTh;s
auimal," he writes, was my principal amusement
for several years; how vividly was the expression
Of her attachment depicted upon her countenance:
how many times have her tender carcsscs made
me forget my troubles and consoled me in my mie-
fortunes! My beautiful and Interesting companion
at length perished; after several days or sufernr
during which never forsook her, her eyes, cor :
stantly fixed on me, were Mt length extinguished,
and her loss has rent my heart with grief"
Among the admirers of the sleek and gentle cat
may be mentioned Mohammed, Rousseau Petrarcb.
johnson, Cowper, and we know not how many
other llustrious names Madame Hevetius, had
fvorite cat, which, Mt the death Of her mistrefs
wandered about her chamber, mewing most pitc-
ously and after the body was consigned to the
grave, IL was found stretched upon the tomb, lfe-
less, having expired from excess Of g,ief The
fatal Notwithstanding been confined some time
in the Tower, was one day surprised by visit
from his pet cat which Ia said 10 have reached It's
master by descending the chimney OF his ar art
ment. The following anecdote Of combined at
tachment and sagacity, rivals anything that has
been told OF the dog, and places poor pussy in q
much more favorable light than current opinion
would allow. In the summer of 800, physician
Of Lyons was requested to inquire into a murder
that had been committed on n woman Of that city.
He accordingly went TO the residence Of the d,-
ceased. whore he found her extended lifeless on
the floor, wetering in her blood.
A large white cat was mounted on the cornice Of
the cupboard at the further end Of the apartment,
where he seemed 10 have taken refuge. He sat
motiouless, with his eyes fixed on the corpse, and
his attitude and looks expressing horror and al
fright. The following morning the animal was
found In precisely the same state and when the
room filed with the officers Of justice he still
remained, apparently transfrcd to the spot As
soon, however, as the suspected parties were
brought in bis eyes glared with increased fury his
hair bristled, and he darted precipitately from the
room The countenances OF the assassi1s were
disconcerted, and they now, for the first time du-
ring the .nhole conrse of thu harsid tseneee.ie.-
felt their atrocious audacity forsake them.
We might instance cascs In which the reasoning
process was evidently exhibited; but let the fol-
lowing, related by DIR. Smellie, In which ingenuity
Of performance was combined with sagacity, sui-
fee:
"a cat frcqnented closet, the door Of which
was<astencd by common iron latch; a window
was situated near the door when the door was
shut the cat gave herself no uneasiness, for 80
coon as she was tired OF her confinement she
mounted on the sill Of the window, and with her
paws dexterously lifted the latch and came out.
This practice she continued for years. ss,
Many instances Of the kind are upon record
and we personally know Of one, in which A cat.
having been neglected at the regular dinner
hour, which Was usually accompanied by the ring
ing Of q bell, would sgtste the bell wire. Tho
sagacity Of the feline race Is so clearly evnced In
she following anecdote that cannot help repeat
ingit: nF
valuable tortoiseshel cat, thar for days did moth
but moan. Guessing the cause, he looked into it's
mouth, and seeing decayed tooth, soon relieved
II OF iis pain. The following day thcre were at
least ten cats at his door--the day after, twenty
and they went on increasing at such a rate that he
was obliged to keep bulldog to drive them away
But nothing would help them. cat who had
the toothscbe would come any number Of miles TO
him. Il would come down the chimney, even,
and not leave the room till he had taken Its tooth
out. IL grew such nuisance at last that he was
never free from one Of these feline patients
However, being one morning very nervous, he ac-
cidentally broke the jaw Of an old tabby. The
news Of this spread like wild.fre. Not a single
cat ever came to him afterwards nnl 7fsN.
-- 4 atrna4 !.
PRuSus vIReNIASA--Mr o. I. Bragg advertises
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he win pay cash on delivery. Address o. 4. Brngg,
corner Of Third and Market streets, st. Louis, Mo-
-------------4--------------
Mr.. VIM. 3. Ashe was reelected President for
the ensuing year Of the Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad Company ~,
The New York Times estimates the number Of
disordery women in that city at "a, 600. III
$50 -------~---@-----
A correspondent OF the Staunton Us.) vindi- 4
Gator nominatcs Stephen A. Douglas Cor the Presi-