The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-02
Pussy and Her Friend.
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~" - 'tCfSOtee
A valuable Newfoundland dog
named Major, having strayed from
his owners house, was claimed in all
good faith by another gentleman who
recognized the dog as his own lost
Newfoundland. Argument and per-
suasion failing, suit was brought to
recover Major, and the case was regu-
Iarly brought into court and came to
trial about Christmas time before a
judge and a jury.
Witnesses testified that it was Major,
and that it vas not Major-the animal
meanwhile, going freely to either of
his claimants, seeming quite indiffer-
ent as to which might finally secure
him, A week was taken up with con-
flicting testimony, and neither the
Judge nor jury were the wiser, or bet
ter prepared to render a decision.
AT this point O woman living in the
same house with Majors owner de-
clared that her cat could settle the
question, since the cat and Major were
on terms of great friendship, eating
and playing together, and sleeping on
sworn foe of all other CANNES, and
had worsted many in fair fight.
Here was a solution by which all
parties to the controversy were will
ing to abide, and O formal writ was
accordingly issued in the name of the
people of the State, commanding "all
and singular, the owner or owners of
a certain Maltese cat to produce the
living body of the said animal before
the Hon. So-and-so, a justice duly and
legally commissioned by the people of
the Commonwealth aforesaid, at a
given time and place duly specified in
the writ, and thereof to fail not at
their OWL proper peril"
AT the time appointed the mo-
mentous cat was duly produced be-
fore the honorable Court. The record
does not state whether Puss was duly
sworn to tell 1.-The truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth"
nor whether his owner was required
to act as proxy for him in this re-
spect.
However this may have been, he
proceeded to vindicate his mistress
assertions, first, with regard to his
fighting qualities, for, on the intro
duction of some strange ami
mails of the canine species.
brought by direction of the dignified
Court, he dilated his tail to most ma
iestic proportions, arched his back in
monumental style, and gave battle,
to the satisfaction of the spectators, if
not to that of his a~dversaries, clearing
the room in fine style, and in an ex-
ceedingly brief space of time. Next
Major was brought in, whereupon
Pussy's warlike mood and demeanor
were speedily changed to demonstra-
tions of acquaintance and good fellow
ship, the animals recognizing each
other to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned, and Immediately terminating
by this conclusive evidence a suit
which, except for the shrewd thought
of a woman, might have dragged on
unfortunately and led to rancor and
strife.
The Old Lady Knew 1t All,
A traveller once put up for the
night with a simple minded old couple
in a lonely farm house. AS he rode up
to the door he heard the old woman
say, in a tone of deep conviction
s'Therei ! knowed somebody'd
come before night, for / dropped my
fork on the floor this morning and il
stuck straight up. Then l dropped
the dishcloth at noon-another sure
sign of company In entering the
house the visitor carelessly struck his
foot against the step and caine neal
falling.
"Ahln said the old lady, quickly,
(which toe did you stub, the right OF
left?n
s'The right was the reply.
"That's good; it's a sure sign you're
going where YOU are wanted. Pa,