The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-04-01
Animal Mind.

Do animals commit suicide? 1t is not
generally so believed; but that they do
is an evident fact. Animals are not, by
most people, credited with the capability
of exerting the mental faculties suAi-
GENTLY to conclude that death will end,
forever, their trials and fluctuations
for they have their grievances and hard
ships as we have ours, at least many
people think so. A great deal Of suffering
might be spared our "domestics" if We
would investigate the cause of their
distress and endeayor to serve them for
their relief, as We wouldreadily do were
it one of our fellowmen.
But no; We are too apt to think the
brute has gone mad. Hydrophobia
suggests itself to lis. Let the poor
sufferer gaze beseechingly upon us and
in wonderment at our %unkindness, and
we flee in fear of immediate destruction,
scarcely breathing freely until the door
is securely fastened behind us.
For much of our comfort and progress
in life we are indebted to the domestic
animal-to the horse for the labor adapt
ed to him; to the dog for his vigilance
and promptness in signaling the APP
proach of intruders, ETC., etc. Not, by
half, are we as grateful to them as we
should be; neither are we as kind, some
times, to the brute creation as we think
we are. Many persons imagine it not
worth the while to note the manpuvers
of their interiors in intellect. A truer
idea of justice toward them can, however,
be comprehended by closely observing
the tolls and numerous disappointments,
v%exations, griefs and pleasures, of their
daily life. Though we scarcely know
it, seldom has the dusk of evening
gathered about us without, during the
day, our having witnessed deeds in
which the feelings of mind and body of
the animal subject were imposed upon,
and that merely to satisfy the cravings
of some worthless person who delights
in his sport Of torturing, and takes that
degrading means of showing to the
world his superiority to his victim. l
say feelings of mind" for, put to the
test the brute's-ofttimes wonderful
patience, is but to be convinced that
their temper assumes a very similar state
to that of a vexed and angry person in
times Of trial. 1t is just as painful for
one to hurt our mental feelings as it
would be for them to hurt us bodily. 1t
is then to be concluded that it is Just as
much a wrong to wantonly hurt the
feelings of a "beast of burden" as it
would be to infict upon him bodily
injury. The evincing of sense by them
is often enormously called instinct by
those who will not be convinced other
wise.
Animals, whether wild or tame, have
their "family jars" struggles for the
necessaries to keep soul and body
together; parental bereavements, ETC.,
etc. Also among them we find friendly,
afTectionate, morose, playful and melan-
choly temperaments, proving that the
dispositions of a whole class of one
species Of animals cannot be judged by
a specimen any more than those of a
nation could be judged by a single
representative. Here is a true story in
evidence that they can also reason, and
for relief-when in great distress--de-
liberately take their own lives.
A certain blacksmith in Ruby Hill,
Nevada, owned a cat which had made
the shop his home since he was but a
month old-now three years ago. He
was very much attached to his owner,
and was seldom missing from his home,
wen for an hour. Several occasions of
serious illness had he weathered, which
were caused by the coal fumes and
smoke ~pervading the atmosphere,
Continually failing to gain relief by
purring at his masters feet, Tommy
decided to put an end to his sutferings,
and committed suicide in November
last. A water tank near by wa the
scene of his self'destruction, and to the
execution there were two silent witnesses
the blacksmith andhis helper. Tommy
did not plunge madly into the tank, but,
more courageously and with most
wonderful determination, stood on its
edge, thrust his head down under the
water and held it there until drowned.
This may seem al unreasonable story,
but can be vouched for by affidavit of
the two men mentioned, - Wacerly
Magazine for March.
Envelopes.
Years ago, an enterprising English
- - q