The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-08-28
HISTORItAL ANIMALS.
BY GEORGE BANCROFT GRIFFITH.

of his cat Cardinal Richelieu was
much addicted to cats, and had an Ar
CORA, his constant companion, on which
| he laviShed the tcndercSt careSseS. while
| Colbert had half Il dozen around him.
In Turkey the people, mindful Of Mo
| hammeds pronounced partialitv for the
animal, have ever since treated cats
with distinguished consideration. Rous-
seal. Petrarch, Johnson. Cowper. and
we know not how many other illus
trious men, were among the admirers
Of the sleek and gentle cat. Cowper
| has also left most circumstantial ac-
| rinev. Madame Helvetius had IA
| vorite cat, which. at the death of her
mistress, wandered about her chamber
mewing most piteously: after her body
was consigned to the grave. the cat
was found stretched upon the tomb.
lifeless, having expired from excess of
grief The earl of southampton, com
panion of Essex in the fatal insurrec-
ton, having been confined some time
in the Tower, was one day surprised
by visit from his pet cat, which is
said to have reached its master by de-
scendine the chimney ofhis apartment.
A story is recorded of Cecco d'Ascoli
and Dante on the subject Of natural
and acquired genius. Cecco maintain
ed that nature was more potent than
art, while Dante asserted the contrary.
To prove his principle, the great ltal-
ian bard referred to his cat, which, by
repeated practice, he had taught to
hold a candle in its paw while he sup
| ped or read. Cecco desired to witness
the experiment, and came not unpre-
pared for his purpose. When Dante s
cat was performing its part, Cecco lift
ed up the lid of a pot which he had fill
ed with mice, whereupon the creature
of art instantly showed the weakness
of talent merely acquired, and, drop
ping the candle, flew Oh the mice with
all its instructive propensity. Dante
was himself Disconnected, and it was
adiudged that Cecco had gained his
cause.
The ancient hermits were great low
ers of animals, and the fawn of st.
Giles and the robin that built in the
head of st. karilef have been remem-
bered in their legends. Even practi-
cal Benjamin Franklin did not disdain
to write an eptaph for the pet squirrel
of his friend, and the instances of IA
nous men who have loved pet dogs are
well nigh countless. "'rhe wisest dog
ever had" says Sir Walter Scott,
"was what is called the bulldog terrier.
taught him to understand a great
many words, insomuch that am posi-
tive that the communication betwiNt
the canine species and ourselves mi ght
be greatly enlarged Sir Walter, on
being asked to sit for his portrait, for
Terry. the comedian, said that both he
and his dog, Maida were tired of that
sort of thing, Mazda particularly so,
for she had been so often sketched that,
paper and arrange his brushes, she got
up and walked off with dignity and
an expression of loathing almost hui
man. During one of the last of John
G. Whittier's birthday celebrations he
was visited, among others, by Mrs.
Julia Houston West, one of America 5
most celebrated oratorio singers. Af-
ter dinner, Mrs. West was asked to
sing. Seating herself at the piano, she
began the beautiful ballad of ''Robin
Adair." singing it with all the longing
ana ntaTl-Dfc.th ol tllt "oltS itn't iHuSit
in her voice. She had hardly begun
before Mr.. Whittiers pet dog cam in
to the room, and, seating himself by
his side, watched her as if fascinated.
and listened with Il delight unusual in
an animal When she finished, he came
and put his paw very gravely into her
hand and licked her cheek.
"Robin takes that as Il tribute to
himself" said Mr. Whittier, she also is
Robin Adair.''
1t was true. That was the dog 5
name. and he evidently considered that
he was the hero of the song. From
that moment, during Mrs. West visit,
he was her devoted attendant. He
kept bv her side when she was indoors.
and accompanied her when she went
out to walk. When she went away. he
! carried her satchel in his mouth to the
gate, and saw her depart with every
evidence of reluctance and distress.
There is in the museum ut Bcrnc an
| object which attracts universal atten-
ton. 1t is only the skin of Il rough,
hairy dog, stuffed and set up, so as to
| look as natural as life But that dog
/ had a history. His homr was the con
vent of St Bernard. away ON the AL
pine summit. There, in pleasant wealth
er, he was wont to roll about and play
| in the porch with his fellows, as jolly
as anv dog. But when the storm came
on, and the rough weather set in Barry