Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-06-06
VOL. 7---NO. 28.
The Rat-tau Cactus.

The n. York Leader. IN giving sketch
of the late Mike Walsh, relates of him. when
a member of Congress, the following story,
which, though old, is worth repeating. as 10
one can by any possibility read 1t without
laughing.
At the foot of tie capitol gardens Penn
sylvaDia avenue, (on the right hand side rs
you are fronting that building.) is an enclo-
sed space-national property containg orc
or more tenements and some conservatOries
and hot houses Here for some time past,
and until his death, enjoying Urcle SAM pa
ronage. sojourned FrenchmaD learned in
botany and many other sciences. Sorle COM
paDions while passing these promises. we're
Saunting his requirements 10 Nike. Eho fIola
spirit of contradiction. caiied them in CUES
tion lie doubted whether these eminent
botanists knew the difference between oats
and wheat, and believed, be said, that a Bow
cry boy could persuade them that their corn
was clover. Finally, Mike undertook, '.bo-
tanically." TO deceive the Frenehman with
whatever he could pick up where they stood.
in lane skiIting his premises. Frou, 8
wreck of flower pots and rubbish, he selected
one sound pot and rat lying next the heap.
Placing the rat IN the flower pot be covered
1t up with mould, leaving out the tall which
lie fixed perpendicularly by tying it carefully
to a small green rubbish. He next called on
the Professor and told him that a friend.
Lieut.. --, (Whose ship having touched
at one of the Islands of the then terra incog-
nita, Japan, had excited some INTEREST," I ad
presented him with very curious sklnd of
Cactus. This he wished the professor to
examine. 10 one, Nike said had been able
to make 1t out, and he might have 1t for ten
years and not find five people who would; 50
be hardly felt justified in keeping it out OF \
public collection, and yet he did not ike to
part with a keepsake from friend"
The Professor eagerly repaired TO examine
the vegetable curiosity. After close in
speotion he determined what II was, or at least
christened it by a fue Greek name-two
words, as Mike said, averaging sixteen let
tiers. The Professor exhausted himself in
persuadiDg Mike that the interests of science
required that he should sacrifice to them the
sentiments Of friendship, by surrendering
this rare production of the vegetable kingdom
to the keeping of the botauIst The reluc-
tant Mike eventually consented OF the viii
ling and solemn assurances of the Professor
that !; would be tended to with the utmost
care; and SO it was Placed in hot house
itwas cautiously but carefully bespliukled
with water, At a temperature of seventy de-
gress by the thermometer. 1t was noticed
aud described BY the National Intellisepcer.
The Notice was copied into othre pauers-
The plant was exhibited with pride to several
eminent individuals; at length with the heat
and the moisture the Tip of the tail began to
excoIiate The Professor vas delighted-it
was budding Ii Was exaninel with great
interest by one OF the chief patrons. tho
Great Daniel, to whom the bo.anist promised
one of the first slips for Marshfeld. 1T was
too good joke to keep" said Mike, '.espe-
cially in a hot house, SO before long they
snelt rat :" The wrath and shame of tho
Professor were excessive, aud so was the in
dignation of the great Daniel, not the author
of the joke, but at the unfortunate botauist.
whom he stigmatized as q I'D frog
eating Frenchman, through whom be had
been taken in, and ought TO have known bet
ter.