Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-01
OhdItics OF Grcnt Won.

Octavius Augustus had a mortal dread
Of thunder ana whenever a storm came
on he retired 10 an underground vault.
built for protection.
Richter was fond OF pets. ami NJ one
time kept a great spider IN a paper-box.
carefully feeding and tending the creature
FOR many months.
Philip. the Duke OF Burgundy. spent
much time In contriying trap-doors w his
house and grounds 10 souse unwary
strangers I'm water beneath.
Spinoza's favorite amusement was 70
set spiders 10 lighting and be would
laugh immoderately at beholj'ug their
ferocbus struggles.
julius Caesar was ashamed ~ his bald
head. and when 10 became shiny. he CON
stantly wore a laurel wreath In the hope
Of concealing the deformlty.
Seneca, when tired writing his treatises
on morals found amusement I'm going
over his accounts and calculating how
much interest VAS due him.
Burton when out OF spirits. would 20
10 thu Thames, sit or the steps leading
To the water. and llnd pleasure In listen
ing TO the stories of the bargemen.
Next 10 money Rembrandt loved nothing
so well as his monkey. He shed tears
when the ape died, and painted portrait
Of his pet from memory.
Adam Smith. the author Of the wealth
Of Nations" when tired OF study would
go into a neighSoring blacksmith shop
and watch the smith at work.
Hersche. the astronomer, had been a
player In Prussian reglmcntal band.
and often IN hts old age set his neigh
boris teeth on edge with a hautboy.
Both Pope and Campbell were accus-
toned 10 ring for pens. ink. and tea at
unreasonable hours Of the night. that
they might record tho thoughts that oc-
CURED 10 them.
COwper loved pets. and hal az one time
Ave rabbits. three hares. two guinea-plgs.
a maybe, Jay, u starting. two canary
birds. two dogs, u retired cat" and a
squirrel
Colerldge found solace for his troubles
In the fOrsetfulness induced by opium,
and when under its influence would slt
for hours threading the dreamy macs OF
his own mind.
Mozart always kept his notebook IN hts
pocket. and while walking or playing bill
lizards. his fayoIite amusement. would
often stop 10 jot down melody that oc-
CURED 10 him.
Macauley took his Sunday dinner alone
at u colfee-house. After dinner he souh
Guild pyramid OF wine-glasses. which
Usually toppled over. lie would pay for
the broken glass, and go.
Dlocletian. after his abdlcation. spent
his leisure In gardening III you could
see the cabbages l raise" ne said to IL
deputatlon. you would not ask me 10 re-
sumo the crown"
Kant. the German philosopher, was fond
OF walking. but was so fearful OF con-
tracing some infectious disease that he
always walked with his lips closed snd 4
handkerchief over his nose.
Sheridan spent his leisure IN rnanufnc-
turing clever repartees and funny savings.
and after going into company would lead
up the conversation 90 a point az which
they could be worked on as luipromptu.
David. the artist. when not painting.
amused himself by scraplug an old eddie.
which he did abominally lie would h.
sist on playing for every visitor and ofts-,
exclaimed; "Oh. II had only been bort.
volinist!'
Byron's household according 10 Shelley.
consisted. besides servants, or ten horses.
eight enormous dogs, thrcc mOnkeys. fiye
cats. an eagle, crow and falcon, and
all except the horses went % and PRO IA
the house at their pleasure.