The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-08-12
Curiosities of Music.

and powerful strains OF the organ"
Cats as rule" says Mr.. Gordon
Stables, do not like music, although if
brought up in a musical family they learn
to tolerate it. Mr.. J. G.. Wood tells of
cat which disliked music of all kinds,
but bore a special antipathy to barrel
organs. The same writer mentions an
exceptional cat of artistic taste which
touched with her paw the lips of those
who whistled a tune, as if pleased with
the sound. Mr.. Stables, however, speak
ing of a similar instance, draws a diff
terent conclusion, and SAYS that pussy
no doubt fancied the whistler was in
some sort of anguish.
Rats have an ear for music, and have
been taught to dance IN cadence on a
rope to the sound of instruments. The
tondness OF mice for music is well known; ;
1t sometimes amounts to ecstasy, and gives
rise to frantic action, ending even in
death.
Horses are certainly musical-a fact
Lorenzo reminds Jessica of when the
musicians interrupt them as they sit in
the moonlight and watch the star-span-
gled sky,
JeS. am never merry when I hear sweet
music
Lor. The reason is your spirits are attentive ::
For do but note wild and wanton herd,
Or race of useful and unhandled colts.
Fetching mad bounds, believing, and neghing
loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood
II they but hear perchance trumpet sound
Or any air of music touch their ears
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand
Their savage eyes turned to modest gaze,
By the sweet power of music.
The horse can distinguish between
musical notes. "There was a work
horse of my own" says Mr.. Stephens,
in his Book of the farm" when even
at his corn would desist eating and listen
attentively, with pricked and moving
ears and steady eyes, the instant he heard
the note low G sounded, and would
continue to listen so long as it was sus-
tanned; and another that was similarly
affected by a particularly high note. The
recognition of the bugle by trooper,
and the excitement occasioned in the
hunter when the pack give tongue, are
familiar instances of the power of horses
to discriminate between different sounds;
Wy AAS'SA AHAouoHAO OIO Gail iOI duObuSI.
The educated horse of t. circus owes
a great deal to the influence of music :;
ne marches, trots, gallops, advances, re-
tires, and even dances To the lively
strains of the orchestra. He can also
be taught to perform music on his own
account, and to beat a kettledrum with
his fore feet.
Recognizing the love of horses for
music, wealthy enthusiast in the latter
part of the seventeenth century had
regular concerts provided for the benefit
of his stud. Jacques Bonnet, when in
Holland in 1888, visited the stable, and
saw there the raised orchestra, from
which, once week, selection of favorite
airs was played to cheer up the spirits
OF the listening animals.
Even lions and bears come under the
charm. Sir John Hawkins, in his His
tory of Music" quotes al author who
speaks OF lion he had seen in London
that would forsake his food to listen to
a tune. Bears too have from the earliest
times been taught to dance to the sound
of music.
Monkeys have keen ear for rhythm,
and have been taught to dance to music
on the tightrope. Bourdelot speaks of
a monkey, whom all Paris at one time
went to see, who, dressed as a woman,
danced minuet in cadence with his
master.
Seals are very fond of music, and have
been known to follow a boat for a long
distance in which some one was PLAYING.
Their taste in this direction was we'll
known to the ancients, and is often taken
advantage Of by hunters at the present
day. According to some authorities,
seal shooters should always be accompa-
MED by piper in order to entice the
animals to destruction, and they assert
that the seal prefers the sound Of the
bagpipe to that of any other instrument
We come now to speak of music in
connection with serpents Few things
are more extraordinary than the calming
influence exerted over the cobra capello
and other poisonous snakes by the shrill.
monotonous ditties of the serpent charm
ers Of India. 1t has been said that the
snakes exhibited by the snake-charmers
have had their fangs extracted, but this
is not invariably the case; and observa.
tions worthy of credit have been recorded,
not only in India but in other parts of
the world, Of serpents, untamed and in
possession of the most deadly powers be-
coming docile and harmless whilst there
was music in the air. They have even
allowed themselves to be played with.
and have nestled peaceably for days in