The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-09
C0tephObSQ,

CatephObta.
A well-known clergyman of Virginia
had one of those strange antipathies
which are independent of reason and
will-power. He had mortal dread Of
cats, whose presence threw him into a
painful nervous excitement. The Rich
mond Religious Herald says: At the
sight of cat he would tremble, turn
pale, and sometimes vomit. He would
certainly have gone into convulsions had
he come into close and inextricable con-
tact with one. His friends, knowing his
ave rsion to cats, were careful to keep
them from his presence. But this care
sometimes led to amusing incidents.
On one occasion the cats we're care
fully imprisoned at the head of stair
way. AS he was ascending the steps to
retire to rest, with a candle in his hand
and a servant following him, the cats
broke Jail and came bolting down the
stairway.
The doctor turned suddenly, fell, and,
knocking over his attendant, extin-
guished the light. The servant, escap-
ing from the confusion, alarmed the
family by reporting that the doctor had
been seized with fit.
A similar case once occurred under
our own eyes. We were attending an
association, and many guests were enter.
tanned by hospitable brother, among
them DIR. --. The family, knowing
his dread of cats, had duly confined them
in the meat-house. In the morning,
some one, not knowing of the imprison-
ment of the cats, had opened the door,
and they all rushed into the yard, and
neither cunning nor force could restore
them to their bondage. At breakfast
the doctor was behind most of the guests.
A grave minister was in the act of ask
ing blessing at the table. An unusual
noise was heard, and he unconsciously
opened his eyes, just in time to see the
doctor, with alarm depicted on his
countenance, turning and running at full
speed up the steps. A cat had met him
at the foot of the stairway, and he was
making his escape from the dreaded ami
NAL as if his life had been at stake. That
grace was never finished.
The Electoral Commission Judges.
Clifford is a man STEPPED in reverence
for the tribunal where he has passed SC
many years. This old man, colossal in
size, weighing about or above three hun
dred pounds, made treaty with Mexico
in 1S47. He was appointed by Demo
cratic administration, and is hardly eve,
heard to refer. to political questions.
Judge Miller is universally regarded
in Missouri by the ex-rebels, as well as
by the Republicans of Iowa, as the ablest
iurist west of the river Mississippi. By
birth he is Kentuckian, and was once a
doctor.
Judge Field is a man. of stupendous
reading and information, the ablest law
yer on the Pacific side, and the peer Of
anybody in the court. He is man Of
ready opinions, but as a judge his impair
tiality is unquestioned.
Judge Strong is the most judicial
looking man on the bench-of noble
head, with gray locks from his crown
His position in Pennsylvania was of the
highest.
I, Justice Bradley, selected to complete
the Tribunal of Arbitration. was ap
pointed to the Supreme Bench from New
Jersey, by President Grant, in March
1870. His judicial circuit comprises
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
Louisiana, and Texas. He was the writer
of the decision in the Grant-Parish cases
in which certain sections of the Force
Bill were first declared unconstitutional