The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-05-27
STORIES OF THE DAY.
A GOOD PLAIN WASH.

STORIE8 OF THE DA1.
A GOOD PLAIN WASH.
An amusing snecdote is told by
an old inhabitant of Kinderhook,
of Thomas H. Benton when the
guest of Mr.. Van Buren at one OF
those famous dinner parties for
which "Lindenwaldn was noted in
its palmy days. After the dessert
had been served. finger-bowls we're
brought in and were viewed with
some suspicion by one or two OF the
guests. When dinner was over Mr..
Benton said to a friend: Il observed
Mr.. Van Buren immerse the tips OF
his fingers in one Of those little glass
bowls and wipe them daintily on
his napkin, but i Just rolled back
NV sleeves and took a good. plain,
republican wash. ."-Brookiyn Mag
dzlae.
ABALL OF BLUE.
Sparrows may be cross, unamiable
little brutes, but they are intelligent
enough TO know on which side their
bread is buttered. The other morn
ing a lady was walked by mourn
full noise, and, looking up from her
pillow, beheld two sparrows on the
sill of the open winnow, tugglng
away at a ball of blue wool that
had been used for some fancy work
and left on the table the previous
night. The object of the sparrows
was burglary, for they bad not only
entered the room, but had dragged
their plunder nearly out of the win
dow before being discovered. The
lady looked on the performance
with breathless interest, and finally
had the satisfaction of seeing the
fattest burglar fly away with the
spoils, closely followed by his pal
Boston Beacon.
A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.
One day my housecat rushed into
my room having in its mouth spar
row caught in the neighboring gar
den. Scarcely had Puss entered the
room when she let the bird free, evil
IDENTIFY with the purpose of playing
with it, as is the custom of cats with
mice before devouring them. The
sparrow having one OF its wings
injured could not escape by flying,
but boldly began to attack It's huge
enemy by fierce blows on the nose
with its beak. The cat seemed as
tonished at the attack, and beat a
retreat. From that moment the two
seemed to forget their natural in
stincts and came TO a mutual under
standing. The truce continued, and
gradually grew to fraternal friend
ship. They ate, played, and slept
together. Often they ran about the
house the sparrow perched upon the
cat, and sometimes carried gently
in the cats mouth from which 1t
was released on the first wish TO be
free.
When feeding together Puss nev-
er touched a morsel till her friend
had first partaken. Many of my
friends came to see the strange sight
and were much amused at the pro-
ceedings of the friendly pair. One
morning the sparrow seeing the win
dow open, and its wings being now
in good order, took It's fight and /
saw it no more. Whether it ever
remembered its captivity with regret
/ can not know, but | am bound to
add that Puss did not die of grief
on account of losing its companion.
-Rerue Scientific.
A DOGS MEMORY.
Professor Bouley, of Paris, gives
the following remarkable instance of
memory in animals. A watchdog,
belonging to the General Omnibus
Company, named Jupiter, was al
ways spoken of as ''ferocious" ami
NAL, its instincts and habits being
exceptionally savage and sullen.
Only one of the men in the yard ev-
er ventured within his reach. The
dog one day got kick from an om-
nibus horse, which broke its front
leg. The bandage which was APP
piled was too tight, and caused in
flammation, which threatened to turn
to gangrene. As it was suffering
intense pain, il was taken 10 NJ. Va
tel, surgeon, and NJ. Bouley applied
an anesthetic of ether before it un-
derwent an operation by NJ. Vatel.
About a month aiterward NJ. Bouley
had occasion to accompany Nj. Va
tel to the omnibus establishment
at Montrouge. at which place he was
the veterinary surgeon. The mo-
ment Jupiter saw M. Bouley he
manifested the most demonstrative
signs of pleasure. All present were
astonished when M. Bouley patted
his head, while the poor dog showed
unmistakable signs of recognition
and sympathy. M. Bouley remarks
that the most singular point in the
case was the short time in which he
had been en- rapport with the dog,
the application of the ether being
effected in few moments. The in
tensity of the pain at the time and
the sudden relief must have mad e
the deepest impression on the suffer
ing animal. and we know the memo