The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-19
A LEARNED LIZARD.
Remarkable Intelligence Of a
Priests Pot Saurlan.
iTho Littlo Creature's LILO Sacrificed 10
Its Effort to Remain with Its
4 Well-Belovcd Dead
Master.

Upon the Office table of prominent
physician of this city, says n New Or
leans correspondent of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, lies little green
lizard with bright bead eyes, which
guards the papers on the desk and is
the subject of n little story the doctor
Us very fond of telling. That tiny
creature the doctor said, (which is
tho object of one of the siilicst and
most groundlcss prcjudiccs the human
race chcrishcs from generation to gen
Ieration, was the devoted and solitary
friend of dying man, showing an i'll
telligcncc and love which would be con
sidcrcd remarkable in u dog.
est was while spending Il month in
hhc little town in Las Cruces. n. NJ.
that l made the acquaintance of
Catholic priest, Father NIinter, who
was dying of consumption and no
longer in service, but lingering i'll that
warm climate hoping to so prolong his
life. He had no relatives in this coun
TRY. He was n man of intelligence and
wide information, and / found his
society most pleasant. Visiting him
onc day, | was startled to see n little
green head popping at me from under
tho priests pillow Following my gaze,
the father held ont his hand to the
lizard, which Struggled in it like Il kitten.
" My only friend, he said, and tho
Learned and accomplished NJ. Vert
MIR. Green. Now you must show the
gentleman what YOU can do. Mr.. Green
''lIe here produced little ladder
madc of straw, which the lizard
mounted at word of command and
Hhnr, IacoorIol 1T L. IL
on its back to the box in which it was
kept. Then, being hidden, it brought
Iout Il miniature wine glass. M. Vert
has bad habits said the father. He is
n topper, at which che little creature
pretended to drain the glass, and when
its master continued: 'Hc can't walk
lstraight,' began to wobble from side to
side in a way that made me laugh most
heartily. There is but one end for
ldrun,Sards' produced n sudden flounce
over on its back, stiffcning of the
iquccr little feet, and the poor topper
was presumably dead. Only one twink
ling eye kept watch on us to see what
EFFECT the scene would have. Father
Minter pretended to weep, when NJ
Vert jumped up, and, running to him,
crept into his hand.
Now, you must tell us the dearest
country in the world said the priest.
One rap of the tail shall mean ''No"
and moro than one Eyes" Now, then,
,Gernany?' The tail gave vigorous
rap. No? Then perhaps Turscy?'
Another single rap. We'll, say France?
No? Then perhaps England?' At this
the lizard rolled over and repeated the
Lying dead performance, but when its
master called: How about Ireland?
1t turned again and beat Il regular tat
too with its tail. so that's it, NJ. Vert
But what have you to say of the United
States" The lizard expressed it's en-
thusiasm by turning slow and most
Impressive somersault. That ended the
performance. Had not witnessed it
should not have credited it, but Father
Mintcr assured me that it had not been
the trouble to train the little creature
that it was to teach tricks to dog.
s.The lizard made it's home some
where outside the priests window, but
spent most of it's time running or sleep
hng on its ledge and would often be for
hours watching its friend. When he
grew too weak to play with it, it would
creep into his hand and never stir until
Inc would command it to go home, when
1T would start perhaps a dozen times,
only to return and try to steal back to
him. The day the priest died it could
mot be induced to leave him for n mo-
mcnt, and when he had brcathcd his
last had to remove the poor thing
from his cold fingers. meant to adopt
the lizard for my own, but it fell Il vic
tim on the day of its masters funeral
ITO the foolish prejudice spoke Of An
attendant, seeing the little creature
crawling about the couch where it's
dead friend lay, knocked it Off and
Killed it with n broom. but had it pre-
scrvcd."