The Washington times., 1894-06-17

ence OF sounds sweetly commingled been
confined to the hearts of the superior blped.
For does not history relate how one Orpheus
warbled SO meltingiy that wild beasts not
only forbore to rend him in choice bits but
lay down together in silent sympathy with
the singer, thus furnishing the first exemplf-
cation OF the happy family which Barnum
subsequently, used to cheer the budding mind
withal?
So 1t has ever been. Horses have pranced
gayly with arched necks and proud mien as
the welcome strains Of the band smote upon
their ears. Dogs have emitted mournful
walls Of slobber-mouthed delight to the music
OF lutte and pipe, but 1t remained for Logans-
port to give birth to a musical pussy cat, says
Logansport Qnd.) dispatch to the Chicago
Times. And such q cat! Unless history
proves false this particular pussy will take
rank with Listz, Rubinstein, and Paderewski.
This is no ordinary meek-faced black-and-
white tabby, with no soul above pan Of milk
and the rearing Of numerous progeny. Nor
yet is she-for She is lady-a gray or yellow
streaked animal with hot tooth for young
spring chicken on the wing. She is a beauti-
full tortoise shell, with a soul beyond mere
earthly considerations.
This kitty is the property Of Lyman Kilborn.
carpenter OF Logansport. Kilborn has
taken good care OF the kitty. He also owns
. pious and naxen-haired daughter Of ten
der years. Strange to relate, the kitty thinks
more Of the piano than the child. 1t was
while but al infant that pussy's soul burst its
bonds and SCARED upward On food Of mel
ody.
Mr.. Kilborn, possessing the dual blessings
OF daughter and piano. desired that the two
become better acquainted. Pussy declared
herself in ON the play. The services of a dis
tinguished past master in the art OF causing
piano to speak were secured, and the cat
reaped the benefit. At an early age she would
testify her appreciation of the professors ef-
forts by suhdry waggings of her head as one
in disgust when he essayed Belle Mahone,"
the "Maiden's Prayer" and other Hoosier
favortes.
At last the professor noticed her deepening
interest, and with a master hand he smote
the keys wandering softly into the strange,
sad melody OF Schumann's ''Troumerie-"
The effect was magical. Seated in a huge
armchair. pussy gasped deed, soulful gasp.
She ciasped one paw to her heart, swayed
gently with the melody while large, fat tears
Of ecstacy rolled down her cheeks. Anon,
thrus;ing her tongue from between her teeth,
she caught tear on the fly. swallowing it
with conyulsive gulp Of enjoyment.
The professor went forth. Pussy mounted
the stool and the result OF her studies became
apparent. With tail marking time with the
slow, stately motion Of a netronome, she
placed her hands gently on the keys. Music,
not discord, was the result. AS the action
grew hotter the tail beat compound time. a
feat of unsurpassed difficulty. Since this
debut it has been her custom to retire within
herself and commune with the angels at the
piano.
Not long ago "sweet Marie" burst forth in
Logansport. Miss Kiiborn resolved to master
it--or, rather mistress it. She did The cat
heard it. With howl OF more than mortal
anguish she sprang convulsively forward
through an open window and sought relief
from grief under the woodshed. There she
remained until the obnoxious song was torn
to shreds.
Verify. Pussy Kilborn has future.
Altogether about 10000 persons die each
year in India from the bites OF various
snakes, and it is no exaggeration to say that
some sixty OF Queen Victoria's subjects who
were alive and well yesterday are to-day be-
ing burnt or buried out here as a sequel to
.hese accidents, says a writer In McClure's
Magazine. The same will happen to morrow
and the next day: and at least one death from
similar causes may be expected to occur every
half hour between now and the time that the
readers OF McClure's Magazine peruse what 1
have written. Mortality of this magnitude is
a terrible thing. though the fact must be re-
membered that it is distributed among pop
ulation four times as large as that of the
United States, and thus passes to great e1-
tent unnoticed.
The casualties are confined almost entirely
to the poorer and more ignorant natives, who
habitually so about with bare feet. For. all
though creatures like the hamadryas and the
echis are occasionally spelling fog fight, as
a general rule snake is no more anxious to
be trodden upon than man is TO tread upon
it. The consequence is that people who wear
boots are hardly ever bitten. This is not SO
much because of the protection of the leather
as on account of the noise made by the boot
upon the ground, which warns the snake to
get out of the way. The ordinary native in
bare feet makes hardly any sound whatever
as he walks along and is consequently very
liable 20 surprise snake in the path. The
white man. on the other hand, In good pair
of creaky boots. is so safe that it is most ex-
ceptionai TO hear of an accident where he is
concerned.