Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-06
From Cozzens's Wine Press .-
ANECDOTE OF GEN. LESLIE COOMBS


back straight rs pine tree, his eye bright as a
game-cOcks S, and his laugh as cheerful as the
carol of bird in nesting time. All these quall-
ties are doubtless owing TO an internal we'll
spring of wit and humor, as certain to keep the
outer man fresh and yerdurOus as the spray of
"A fountain will keep its borders in perpetual
bloom. One day the General was travelling in
n stage coach with one of those unhappy phi
lOSophers who bestow more attention upon the
humps on their skulls than on the Innings there
Of yclept phrenOlOgists. Of course, every body
in the stage was thoroughly bored by this pro-
fessOr, until the General drew him into an un-
lucky ambuscade. - Sir, y said Leslie, - used
to be of opinion that this science was neither
correct, nor founded upon proper grounds, al
though had never given the bject the atten-
ton / now lind it merits; but am convinced,
from the very able discourse you have given US,
that your theory is a just one, and of no little
consequence when we need to make an estimate
of the characters and dispositions Of men. But,
although had no great faith in it, yet 1 was
sometimes struck with a resemblance in its
leading features to n science with which l am
familiar and by which l am in a great measure
guided IN my intercourse with Strangers
presume" interrupted the professor, with
a smile Of satisfaction, you allude to phySiog-
nOmy?'
mo, sir" replied the General, " my science
is dogology.''
Dogology." echoed the professor, aghast.
". II
ming smile. II can always tell, sir, by the ap-
pearance Of dog, what sort Of a man his mas
ter is"
"Sir." replied the phrenOlogist, drawing
himself up stifiy, q L sea your intention is to
cast ridicule upon my science"
Pardon me, said the General, with a most
amiable expression of countenance - will
convince you to the contrary. At the next town,
where we stop for dinner, and which have
never visited before, will tell you from the
dogs in the street what sort of men their owners
are; and, if L fail to do 80, will forfeit drinks
for the whole stage-lOad of passengers"
''Oh, yes, that you could readily make up a
fanciful theory, am convinced, and draw an
imaginary character for that of the master Of
every dog, / have tOlerable good reasons for be-
lieving but how am | to tell whether you are
correct or not am stranger here as well as
yourself, said the wary professor
We will leave the decision to the landlord
of the tavern where we stop. He must know
every person IN the place" replied the Gen
eral.
Agreed, y said tho phrenologist, winking at
the other passengers, and regaining his self
satisfied air. " / agree to that, and will forfeit
the drinks if the landlords account tallies with
your descriptions.
On arriving at the tavern, dinner was speed
lily discussed, the passengers being anxious TO
enjoy the exhibition OF this novel science. The
General beckoned tho landlord out Of the bar
room This drew all the idlers with him. 80
what with them and the passengers there was a
tOlerably large group in front of the tavern,
and of course this attracted other persons to see
what was going ON, 50 that by the time the
landlord had been made acquainted with his
duties as arbiter, quite respectable audience
was eOllected-in numbers, at least.
The owner of that dog, said the General
asafne pointer, with steel chain collar around
his neck. passed, : is gentleman Of education
and property. He lives we'll, dresses well has
a fine house, (the best house in town, quoth the
landlord Is fond of society, sportsman, (that
he Is,) is generally popular, and on good terms
with his neighbOrs. How is that, Landlord ?''
True as die, said the landlord; - the
very man. s".
Just then a little wiry Scotch terrier darted
from under garden gate opposite, and rushed
mp street after 4 flock of chickens. 9 The owner
OF that dog, said the speaker, " is q boy, about
fourteen or fifteen years of age. sly little
rogue. always about some mischief; he is q
spoiled child; perhaps the only one he and
the dog are constant companions, and neither
Is happy unless engaged in some scrape; and
tie neighbOrhOod is, no doubt. in trouble all
the time with their pranks." ...
by jolly" said the landlord there 3
something in this here dogology That boy is
just such n boy as you say he Is, strangerI''
= The owner Of that dog" continued the
General, as Dug-nosed bull dog, with great
wrinkles on his cheeks, short, belligerent ears,
heavy, thick eyes, broad chest, handy forelegs,
and a tail that looked as if it had been gnawed
Oh. made Its appearance, . is an uneducatod
man. In disposition he is suspicious and OBJ
sunate; very wrong headed; not likely 10 have
many friends-if any, men like himself; not
apt to take much interest in public affairs
close IN his dealings, and not given to talk
much"
BY thunder :" said the landlord, "you' we
got him again. The owner Of that bull dog is
Dutch butcher. He don't talk for he can q
speak English good be don't take no interest
. IN public matters. cause he can't vote and
he 5 obstinate as mule, as know for he al
waye gets more pounds of meat on his bill than
there Is in his weight, and he won't take of a
cent neither"
That dog said General Leslie, elevating
his voice, for he was very much clated with his
success go far, and he saw a capital specimen of
the bull-ter-ier coming up the ROAD union
OF terocity and cunning-heayy- headed, lank-
bodied, broad breasted, eyes like Goals Of fire
ears and tail cropped for rough-and- tumble
fighting that dog, gentlemen, is owned by a
man VINO is probably the worst man in this
town, if not in the State of Kentucky He is
destitute Of honor and principle, and would not
hesitate to take the life of any man for the sake
Of sfew dollars
Here he was interrupted by voice in the
crowd:
Look here, stranger, you re making n little
too free with my character, by Gard. That
dog selongs to me '" and the speaker pushed
his way through the crowd, and confronted the
dOgOlOgist.
My friend" said the General, calmly,
pushing back the hair from his high forehead
want to ask you questiOa-Drtere did you
get that dog ,"
by Gard :" said the man, 81 raisei him.
" Then, said the General, - I've lost ths
drinks. | was only betting on dogology, and
my friend, you have swept me Come in. =
sad he to the Phrenologist; II want you to fec
the bumps 1t this gentleman. And hope the
rest Of the crowd will join me in drink to old
Kentucky"
Any person who has seen the great West
will know how cheerfully this last sentiment
was approved Of by the crowd generally.
FISH IN A HUMAN SKULL.-Two sons of Mr.
John III. Isitt, of Greensburg, Pa. were in tn
habit Of setting 'night-Iines' in the AIeghan,
rissE, IN oFdeE-to become possessed Of the finn,
tTioe- Ohe morning very mysterious looking
uing was observed from the shore, as being at
tdchel one a ths. lipa5 ont s,n,..