National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE ROOSTER,
He Is sontimontaily Considered by an Ex-
change Correspondent.


change Correspondent.
To say that cock is vain, to call him con-
ceited fellow, coxcomb, is libel on the bird.
do not believe there Is more than proper de-
gree of pride in the family. What we see in
tho cock to lead us to q contrary opinion is an
honest expression of confidence in his ability
to protect his own. If he holds out an as
surance of this, he never bellies IL. Tho turkey
puffs out his breast, drops his waffle, bursting
red, spreads his tail, and puts on airs,
only to BIO scared by poodle. The
peacock is never happier than when
challenging the admiration of tho world. He
delights to squat on the top of a fence on the
ridge Of the house-anywhere whore he can
hide his feet and bring into relief his wondrous
tail but he has no moro vaor than the turkey.
They are both arrant cowards-braggarts that
love to display their plumage,bu with nothing
to back their claim to notice. But the cock
enters our presence with Il firm stop--a con-
scious ability to take care of himself He is
always ready for fight and comes out of one
melee with an itching desire to engage in an.
other. His air is lordly He likes to stretch
out his neck and take in at glance every cor
ncr of his domain-to answer with an APPROX
ing note the faintcst cuck OF his mates and to
scratch for them ALL as well as for himself
What could have given rise to the expression
10 luuTO lndu Cdu ltlI, lDI nO
cock that ever came under my observation
was ever open to the imputation. 1t is unjust
alike to the hen and her mate. She may be
oxacting and sometimes querulous, but no
views her foibles with n lenient eye, and is as
ready to do the agreeable to the most irritable
of danes rs to the most engaging of pullets,
treating her vagaries not as the ebullition OF
virago, but as ''the tender fierceness of the
dove" But he will permit no indiscretion OH
the part of his wives, and If perchance one of
them brings of brood of ducks, he will turn
n deaf ear to her distress when the ducklngs
take to the water, telling her as plainly as
words can speak, "as she has sown so must she
reap" But to those that are constant he is
tender and sympathetic, responding most
heartily when Dame Partlett makes known
that she has increased her store during her
brief seclusop.
That the language of the cock is ineligible
to his family there can be no doubt. Let II
stranger draw near or q hawk sweep overhead,
and how different Is the sound of his voice from
the call to his favortes to partake of some
dainty bit that he has brought to light. He
has pleasant word at family gathering,
warning voice at the approach of danger, and
plucky challenge to all cockdom for the
championship Of the world.
Cocks love to fight, and when they cannot
fight themselves they love to see others fight
At the battle Of Trafalgar one added his notes
to tho din and on board the Saratoga and tho
Eagle, at the battle on Lake Champlain, the
cocks crowed Justify. Other instances might
be adduced. During the bombardmont of Fort
McHenry, in the thickest of the fight, cock
mounted the parapet, looked over toward the
enemy and crowed with all his might. A
soldier within the walls, worn down with
fatigue and too i'll to work, declared that if
he lived to see Baltimore again the cock should
be treated with pound-cake. Not being able
to leave the fort, the day after the lombard.
ment he sent TO the city, procured the cake and
had a fine time treating his favorite rooster.