Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06
THE LOWER ANIMALS.
MAJOR STILES DISCUSSES THEIR
INFLUENCE ON HUMAN LIFE.
OUR SQUIRRELS OF GREAT VALUE.
They Delight the Little Folks,
Tighten the Cares of Durdencd
Minds, and Attract Strangers
Some of Their Smart Tricks.

The longer I live the more Importance
7 attach to the influence of what we are
pleased to term 1.-The lower animals
upon our human life. 1t is believed that
maltreatment and neglect of them con-
stitutes one of the greatest blemishes ana
reproaches upon our Christian ciyiliza-
ton; that cruelty to them is apt to
spread and communicate itself to our
treatment of our human fellows; that our
harassed and burned life would be
greatly lightened and softened and re-
freshed by wider and more sympathetic
intercourse with our dumb friends. In
deed, they can scarcely be called dumb
when their intelligence and affection are
appealed to and stimulated by friendly
and intimate association with their hu-
man masters.
A few years ago one Of the prize pic
lures of the Paris Salon was a painting
representing a servant girl standing at
an ironing-table, upon which stood a cat,
with back arched and tail waving, gazing
up yearnngly and affectionately into the
face of the girl, who glanced caressingly
down upon her. The picture was entitled
conversation" To a burdened, care
worn man, the refreshment of such con-
versation is like TO that which imparts
peculiar charm TO Intercourse with a
child. We are obliged to throw off our
heavy burdens in order TO get into SYM
pathetic touch with a soul that takes no
thought for the morrow" and is not
weighed down with the heavy, spirit-sap-
ping "cares of this life.''
ON nrrp cnrTIDDTTC
No observant citizen of this good city
who walks even occasionally through our
beautiful Capitol Square IN the early
spring can have failed TO note how 1.-The
stranger within our gates" dallies and
dawdles with the squirrels. or how bunny
goes for the stranger and the child. Even
the omnipresent tramp Is humanized-
pardon the solecism-by intercourse with
bunny. There is little doubt that the
squirrels have done as much as any
other one feature OF the city to scatter
pleasant impressions OF Richmond: in
deed, ii would not surprise the writer IL
these little creatures were really more
valuable to us-even I'm business way.
by attracting merchants and business
men from distance-than some Of our
schemes and investments far more pre-
tentious and costly.
TO our people. too, the squirrels are
worth much. by way OF refreshment, and
this not alone to the infant half Of the
community. / never walk through the
Square that l do not look for them-in
the springtime. ndulging in their inmita-
bic romps and pranks on the green grass,
or perched on the backs of benches close
beside some kind human commissary, en-
Joying the nuts his conslderate bounty
has provided-in the chilly autumnal eve-
ninSs, skurrying along the ground or up
tree. with mouth full Of soft paper or
dry leaves to serve as an extra blanket
on cold night-or, again, in the intense
heat OF summer after a shower, spread
out fiat on the moist bricks of the path
way, somewhere in the shadow and the
breeze, cooling on-and not deignng 10
move off-no. not so much as an inch,
even though the bottom of my pants
brush against them as | pass
l called the other day on our friend,
Major Ben. Richardson. In the fine old
mansion OF Jacquelin p. Taylor, corner
Capitol and Twelfth street. The dear Old
gentleman had just finished his midday
meal, and. with such a pure, happy smile
and chuckle, expressed his regret i had
not arrived In time for lunch. and to
meet a charming friend, who always took
that meal with him, but had Just left,
pointing TO fine squirrel, who, as he
spoke. sprang from the iron railing out
side the low-cut window 10 a tree hard
by. The Major laid his hand on the cor
ner OF the handsome old mahogany.
where some crumbs were scattered, say
ing as he did so: II lunch at the table
my friend lunches on it,
THEY FOOL ONE ANOTHER.
A few years ago. as I was walking on
my way TO court through the Square.
from Tenth and Bank streets. up the
hill to the Washington monument
little above the fountain--my eye was at
tracted by q broad-backed. bluff. burly