Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-09

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS -EIvISECTION.
Richmond Wing OF December has the fol-
lowing humane article on the subject OF cruelty
TO animals, an article having with us an apt
local significance -.
Many persons have no sort of appreciation
of the claims of the brute creation to humane
treatment They appear to think that dumb
creatures were made only to be kicked, cuHed,
starved, and otherwise prosecuted. 1t is Just
here that iuhumanity finds its first school -
Children learn their first lessons in it. Begln-
ming with cruelty to animals-with total dis
regard of all their wants and caims-they end
with the same indifference to human sutfcrlngs.
Many people who consider themselves, and are
generally considered, plous never think OF ln-
Guiding kindness to dumb creatures in the
range Of their good works. When Coleridge
said
''He prayeth best who loyeth best
All things, both great and small. -
he uttered great religious truth.
Cowper wrote that he would not number
among his friends the man who exhibited cruel
ty to animals Shakespeare tell US that
''The poor worm we tread upon
In corporal sutferanCe feels Il pang ~ great
AS when giant dies.
In addition to the maltrcatment experienced
by dumb creatures from people general y, there
is enc kind Of torture Inflicted upon them bty
scientific cxperimenterS which is peculiarly
shocking. The cruel practice of vivisection
has long been common in France, and has
within the past few years been introduced into
this country. We learn from the Philadelphia
Press that a proposition Is now before the
Councils of that city to allow dogs to be tai Ken
from the pound to be used as subjects OF vlvl-
section. The process IS one OF the EXTREMIST
cruelty, and it is doubtful if science has gained
ANYTHING by it, Those whose duties require
them to be near where vivisectlon Is carried on
say that the howls and means of the poor AMI
mails are 50 heartrendlng as to render 1t almost
impossible to remain near the dlsSecung rooms
4 REAL GENTLEMAN.-A writer In the
Chld's World tells of an incident that We be-
heve will please our boys and girls L was
passing through pleasant street, he says:
where some bows we're playing at base ball.
Among their number was little lame fellow,
seemingly about twelve years old-a pale, sick
" looking child, supported on two crutches'
and who evidently found much difficulty III
walking, even with such assistance.
The lame boy wished to join the game, tor
he did not seem to see how much his lnhrmlty
would be in his own way. and how much 1t
would hinder the progress OF such an active
sport as base ball.
His companions good -naturedly enough
tried to persuade him to stand one side and
let another take his place; and | was glad to
notice that none of them limited that he would
be in the way, but they all objected for fear he
would hurt himself. >,
Why, Jenny, said one at last you can
run, you know.
"'Oh hush, said another, the talest boy
i'll the party. Never mind; LII run TOR h',m'
and you can count it for him, aud he took ms
place by Jimmys side, prepared te act. II
you were like him, he said aside to the other
boys, you wouldn't want to be told OF it all
the time.
That boy was true little gentleman.