The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-12


i morning. 80 that while the photographic
] Gould not, on account Of physical disabilities
engage in the sport of leapfng over ehairs
we are not Ia the least surprised that such
wise ana frolicsDtns man should invent
game which combined the physical exercises
Of base Dall and the mental labor Ut chess
and, having Invented 1t, should regularly
practice 1t.
/ A very different man was Shelley, who de
rived great amusement from sailing paper
bOatS on the 5eTpentlne and tho lakes ln H ydt
Park. Long practice had made the poet al
adept In the construction OF these toys, and
when they braved the winds and waves Shell.
ley would run round with eager delight to the
opposite shore. and receive into harber his
| brave little craft.
| Jean jacques Rollsseaus was q nature In
many respects resembling that of Shelley.
and he had tho same love Of simple and nntll-
ral amusements. Jean jacques when he was
~ the country, would carry huge stones as
| big a. no could Garry--up to some high cliff,
and there he would dispose them Iii d pile.
Then laying himself securely upon the cliff,
he cautiously advanced his face till he could
see clearly the foaming waters below, and
one after the other tho stones were hurled
over tho deelivtty by the philosopher, who
| watched with delight the heavy mass as il
rolled and bounded before 1t reached the bot
tom.
The poet Cowpers amusement was thor
oughy practical one, and is thus humorously
referred to by him in letter to his friend
Unwin:
"Amico milo, be pleased to buy me o glazler's
diamond pencil. | have glazed the two frames
designed to receive my pine plants. But
cRpnut mend the kitchen windows till by the
help OF that implement can reduce the glass
to It's proper dimensions. II | we're plumber
! should be- y completes gazer; and possibly
the happy time may come when l shall be
seen tru.gng away to the neighboring towns
with shelf Of glass hanging at my back If
government should impose another tax upon
that commodity. hardly know q business in
which a gentleman might more successfully
employ himself. A Chinese OF ton times my
fortune would avail himself of such an oppor-
tunlty without scruple, and why should not l,
who want money rs much as any mandarin in
Gilman While the cloud which had long ob-
scured his faculties WAS slowly rising from
the poet mind, 1t will be- remembered how he
al eaded human intercourse. but delighted III,
the company Of his two tame haree.
When ut Iength one Of the hares became
care, and the animal upon It's recovery
thanked it, protector In most unmistakabls
and singular manner. mo creature" says
the post. could be more grateful than my pa
tient, a. sentiment which he most signi fieant ly
expressed by licking my hand; fiat Tho back
OF It, then the pain, thon every finger sep
arataly, then between oil tho tlngera, as II
anxious TO leave no part utsalnted.' What Is
remarkable IN this episode Is the fact that
never before nor after did the creature behave
In a similar fashion, except once when 1t was
attacked u second time with sickness. The
gentle poet nursed 1t rs on the first occasion
and upon recovery the second time the iisnti-
cal ceremony OF thanks was repeated by the
grateful animal.
Having touched upon the attachment be-
tween Cowper aud his hares, we may best
conclude these remarks by reference To
Dante and his cat. This creature was not
only aulaCe to the poet during his hours of
relaxation, but was an humble servant to him
while he was dining or reuding, for, having
been taught to sit with q lighted candle bn-
tween its paws puss acted as faithful torch
bearer upon these pccnsiOns. And yet the fol- |
lowing anecdoto shows that the cat remained
wonderfully cat-ike still. Dante maintained
In an argument with Ceccio that art was more
potent than nature. and referred to the accom-
ptshtnant Of his cat as u demonstration Of the |
correctness OF his views. An appointment
was made in order that Cecco might see for
himself the conduct ef grimskin, aud the |
disputant came, well prepared, with test
which should try the thoroughness of tho
change Id the feline nature. For while the
cat was sitting with the candle between it's
paws Ceccio emptted the contents of bag, |
which he had filled with mice, upon the floor. |
ls 1t necessary to add thnt the candle was III
once dropped and thnt puss flew after her
natural prey2