Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-09-15
Correspondence of the Crescent.
 The California Frog story.
A POLITICAL VERSION.

0-~-- ---- - In conversation with friend the other day, l expressed astonishment at the fact that Gen. Grant had not made . single speech during the pres ent campaign. "Why," said he, tits all quite natural. Did you ever hear the story about the California miner, who worked in gulch far off from all companionship, found large toad frog 1 in his tent, and being of n kindly dis position, he determined to tame and make pet of it. He found that the frog was very intelligent, and soon made such progress that he appeared to understand every word addressed to him. But he especially showedhis ex-s traordinary efficiency in the art of Jumping. His leaps soon grew so as-l tonishing that it occurred to the miner that the animal would prove a profita- ble thing to exhibit. He tried the ex-' pertinent, and every miner in the next town as well as those from the neigh- boring diggins, came to see the learned frog So successful was he, that q party of friends made up purse of five thousand dollars to pay his expenses to the States, where it was expected his. frogship would excite such furor'that a fortune could be made. Consequent ly g few days soon found the miner and his frog in San Francisco, putting up at sort of half gambling house, half hotel. The first night of his stay at this place he made the acquaintance of a couple of men who respectively hailed from the Eastern and Western States, Agreeably to their usual cus- tom, they asked him thousand and one questions, and among them, his business in New York. He told them, to exhibit his trained frog-and, sciz-. ing so favorable an opportunity he began to cxpatiatc upon the wonderful requirements of his pet. His hearers Laughed in his face when he stated that his frog could outjump any frog in the world. He offered to bet hundred dollars. TheycontemptuousIy refused --then one thousand-still refused with sneer Then, thinking that he had certain thing, the whole amount of his pile--five thousand dollars. All the while pretending to do him favor, one of the party took the bet, and the money, in gold, wasplanked up.
 "But difficulty soon arose us to how the men who had bet that tho learned frog could not outjump the whole frog kingdom were to prove it, as they had not even single representative of that royalty to pit against him. However, still sure of his game, the miner volun- tecred to go and search for one, pro-. vided that tho opposite parties would agree to his being a representative of his race when caught, and if he should be beaten to give up the contest. This was agreed to, and he started otf-the crowd following him--to hunt up a toad. The parties who opposed him, however, remained behind and quite cooly awaited his coming.
 "He was not gone very long, and brought back with him toad of ordi- nary size, which was soon placed on the floor on'a line with the brag frog, and the signal given for them to jump. But neither moved, although the com- mand was, given time after time. Fi- nally it was agreed that it was allowa- ble for each party to touch his toad so as to scare him into leaping. At the first touch the newly caught frog jumped about yard the first leap, and continued on in the direction of the door; but the educated individual, al- though rising up on his fore and hind legs as if inclined to move, did not succeed in making an inch of headway in spite of the repeated commands and even kicks of his trainer. The referees, after waiting patiently an hour for him to make leap, decided that he was beaten, and handed over the stakes to the Eastern and Western Yankees, who retired amid the plaudits of all pres ent. .s
 "Astonishcd as we'll as aggravated at the conduct of his pet, the miner took up by the hind legs with the intention of killing him, for his capital being gone his visit to the States was impos- sible, and as his frog having proved at the outset unreliable, certainly unad- visable. But fancy his astonishment when out rolled from the gaping mouth of the poor reptile at least two pounds ofhalf-ouncc leaden bullets. Themys- tery was explained: the Yankees had employed their time while the miner was looking for the other frog, in toss ing bullets to him, which he among his other accomplishments, had been taught to catch and swallow. Of course he could not jump; hc carried too much l weight.
 "Well," continued my friend, Grant is in the same fix. The Yankees East and West, have tossed hip platform
 which he was frog enough to swallow, and ever since he has been speeches. from repletion. It is too much for the
 stomach of even the General of our
 Armies and he can only pour down
 the STIMULATES with hope, of assist
 ing digestion or at least stupcfying his
 nerves. His trainers will lose their
 money soon.'
 \ SGNever chase your hat when il
 blows offin gale of wind just stand ] sill and vnu will nresentlv see half |