The Potteries Examiner : — 1880-02-28 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

DISCONSOLATE DONKEY.  A suicide of an unusual character is reported from Calcutta. The scene of the tragedy was the Zoological Gardens, Wei the chief actor—or rather actress—was a wild ass of the gentler sex. Two years ago, by the liberality of Sir William Merewether, the gardens were enriched by a couple of wild asses from Seinde. These animals are valuable, as the breed is now very rare. Unfortunately, the male, transported to unwonted scenes, did not long survive the sluinge. It was not, it should be remembered, the patient drudge of our own dull climate, but nearer akin to that which under a more genial sky scorneth the multitude of the city." The faithful consort, bereft of her mate, found that life was not worth living, and committed suicide by dashing her head against the iron railing of the paddock until it gave way and a broken point entered her skull, and relieved the disconsolate creature from the burden of being. There can be no doubt that this self -destruction was as deliberate, if not more so, than the self -immolation of the Idincloo wives upon the farrend pyres of their husbands. Only half am hoer before death it had been noticed to be in perfect health, ho did the post-mortem examination reveal any trace of disease. It does not appear that this scrutiny extended to the brain, although human suicides generally show some tram of cerebral disorganisation. The occurrence, although rare, is not altogether without precedent. In that posthumous treatise which bears the name of Dr. ;John Donne, the learned and witty Dean of St. Paul's, he points out that self-preservation is not so particular a law of mitt& but that beasts naturally transgress it, and, though the examples he cites from St. Ambrose and others may not carry much weight now, his doctrine can be corroborated by more modern instances. There are numerous though often overlooked cases alike of birds and of reptiles, who when taken from their native habitat and imprisoned by man resolutely starve and the rather than endure the bonds of slavery. There are also instances of animals which have, like the Englishman in „the epigram, killed themselves pour cc lif1(111111yer. Dog's and horses alike have been known to complit suicide by drowning, and their behaviour and inetives have been elaborately discussed in scientific journals.  Mr. Allport's connection with the Midland Railway Company as general manager has ceased. He will be succeeded by Mr. John Noble, the present assistant general manager. • John Henry Newman, Dl)., who was created s Cardinal of the Church of Rome last year, has attained his 79th year, haying been born in London on February 21, 1801.  The nlited Sevier 6.4.-ate says the " purchase colonels" of regiments and battahons aro to be allowed a reasonahle time to retire upon half -pay, and receive certain staff appointments.  - • The tenantry on the estate of Mr. Trench Roscrea, County Tipperary have heen served with ejectment' for reins"! to pay their rents. A verdict of manslaughter boo been returned against Robert Daly. a hair-dresser in St. Luke's who is alleed to have killed his brother-in-law by knocking lam down and kneeling upon him. The Marquis of llartington says he has never been opposed in principle to the policy of conferring upon the ratepayers or their representatives some control over the issue and regulation of licenses in their own district. . .  A report hail been published to the effect that the body of the chief Moroi was horribly mutilated on the capture of the stronghold be the natives, mad it is expected that an official inquiry will be made into the matter.