His Impressive Looks

1901

Trumbull's cradle was in Connecticut. He came of the old Jonathan Trumbull breed. As a young man he went south to teach school, but he liked it not and dipped into law books. As soon as he was equal to his examination he was called to the Georgia bar, but he never paused to practice there. He migrated to Illinois, then the utter west and settled at Belleville, St. Clair county, in that part of the state known as Egypt.

There he at once took a leading place at the bar. He was always courtly, always carefully polite, what one might call a bit cold, yet he had great sway with the juries. He was a clear, cogent reasoner and had a trick of admonishing with his forefinger. Sometimes it would seem as if that potent forefinger wove a spell. I doubt not it has brought many a jury in its time to Trumbull's side of the question.

Such were the impressive looks of Trumbull that I recall what Governor Reynolds once said of him as he closed his argument in a law case. Trumbull was on the other side.

"And now, gentlemen," said Reynolds as he prepared to close: "I've answered his arguments. I've overturned his statement of facts. I've undone the fallacious law he has announced to you; but, gentlemen, the man never lived who can reply to his looks!" — Chicago Tribune.

Your Eyes and Others' Eyes

1900

Upturned eyes are typical of devotion.

Wide open eyes are indicative of rashness.

Small eyes are supposed to indicate cunning.

Side-glancing eyes are always to be distrusted.

Brown eyes are said by occulists to be the strongest.

The downcast eye has in all ages been typical of modesty.

People of melancholic temperament rarely have clear blue eyes.

The proper distance between the eyes is the width of one eye.

Eyes of which the whole iris is visible belong to erratic persons.

Eyes with long, sharp corners indicate great discernment and penetration.

The white of the eye showing beneath the iris is indicative of nobility of character.

Gray eyes turning green in anger or excitement are indicative of a choleric temperament.

An eye the upper lid of which passes horizontally across the pupil indicates mental ability.

When the upper lid cover half or more of the pupil the indication is of cool deliberation.

Unsteady eyes, rapidly jerking from side to side, are frequently indicative of an unsettled mind.

Eyes of any color with weak brows and long, concave lashes, are indicative of a weak constitution.

Eyes that are wide apart are said by physiognomists to indicate great intelligence and a tenacious memory.

Wide-open, staring eyes in weak countenances indicate jealousy, intemperance, and pertinacity, without firmness. — St. Louis Star.

Birds and Human Nature

1878

What is that legend of Mrs. Piatt's poem about the bird in the brain? Birds are perhaps the most human of creatures, and I should not be surprised if told we all carry more or less of them in our hearts and brains.

I have seen the hawk looking out of the human face many a time, and I think I have seen the eagle; I credit those who say they have seen the owl. Are not the buzzards and unclean birds terribly suggestive? The song-birds were surely all brooded and hatched in the human heart. They are typical of its highest aspirations, and nearly the whole gamut of human passion and emotion is expressed more or less in their varied songs.

Among our own birds there is the song of the hermit-thrush for devoutness and religious serenity, that of the wood-thrush for the musing, melodious thoughts of twilight, the song-sparrow's for simple faith and trust, the bobolink's for hilarity and glee, the mourning-dove's for hopeless sorrow, the vireo's for all-day and every-day contentment, and the nocturne of the mocking-bird for love. Then there are the plaintive singers, the soaring, ecstatic singers, the confident singers, the gushing and voluble singers, and the half-voiced, inarticulate singers. The note of the pewee is a human sigh, the piping of the chickadee unspeakable tenderness and fidelity. There is pride in the song of the tanager, and vanity in that of the cat-bird.

There is something distinctly human about the robin; his is the note of boyhood. I have thoughts that follow the migrating fowls northward and southward, and that go with the sea-birds into the desert of the ocean, lonely and tireless as they. I sympathize with the watchful crow perched yonder on that tree, or walking about the fields. I hurry outdoors when I hear the clarion of the wild gander; his comrade in my heart sends back the call. — John Burroughs, in Scribner's Magazine.

A Home For All Kinds of Cats, Some Talented Tabbys

1895

Our Boys and Girls

A Home For All Kinds of Cats in Tennessee

Some of the Talented Tabbys That Live There

In Knoxville, Tenn., there lives Mrs. Dangerfield, who has a most amusing and interesting family. It consists of twenty-seven cats. Mrs. Dangerfield was not at home but an obliging woman who helps her did the honors quite creditably. She showed us into the yard where cats reign supreme. It was very shady and had a high plank fence all around. In the center was a cute little drinking fountain, graceful plants surrounding its border.

In one corner of the yard was "the inn," a house eight feet high, and six feet wide with a passage way through the middle. The berths were arranged above each other, as in a sleeping car, each cat having his or her own appointed resting place, and never intruding upon others. A year ago "the inn" became too small, and the "annex" was built, not quite so large as "the inn," but a really nice, cozy hotel, with comfortable quarters. The woman rang the bell, and here came cats of all sizes, shades and colors over the fence, out of "the inn" and "annex," from under the house, out of the trees and everywhere. She gave them some bread and then proceeded to introduce them to us.

Grover Cleveland was presented; he is an immense Maltese, and does honor to the name, in size and demeanor. He rubbed his nose with his paw in acknowledgement of the introduction, then sat heavily down in perplexed thought.

Yankee Doodle was next called. He is a young, gray-striped, slim fellow, with a wide, white shirt-front, and when "Yankee Doodle" was whistled capered and grinned.

Uncle Remus is jet black. He, Miss Meaders and the gals are trained to go in company, and march in a comical way to "Ta-ra-boom-de-ay."

Buffalo Bill is tremendous and wears a collar bearing his name on it. He plays circus round and round in a ring with a troop o£ clever followers. Tippytail (a white tip on his gray tail giving him his name) is an adept in the leaping act and Ugly is the clown.

John L. Sullivan is entirely John L., as we had occasion to see from his overbearing manner during the lunch. We were informed, however, that when he becomes unmanageable Corbett, a splendid black and yellow fellow, who keeps much to himself, is called, and John slinks away in a resigned fashion.

Old Sleuth is trained to watch the others, and, if the proper "goings-on" are not observed, will pull a rope attached to a bell in the mistress' room and announce the fact.

One watches for the milkman, and notifies the servant. When the butcher comes in the morning with the fresh meat four guards escort him in, and not a "mew" is allowed. The servant feeds each in turn in the most systematic way. The nursery contained ten kittens found in a basket on the front gallery a few days ago, and are fed with oatmeal and milk in tender kindness.

Last, but not least, is Samaritan. She brings sick and wounded cats to the house and spends her time in affectionate attentions to those at home. When she returns from a day's outing the cats will run to meet her and hear the news and to welcome her. There are many other nice, fine cats, but these will serve to show what the home is like.

The cemetery is in a far corner of the large yard and many a grave marks a tabby's resting place. It is singular, indeed, the intelligence and affection animals possess and the possibility to reach them through our language. When we discover their language we will doubtless be amazed at how much animals know. — New Orleans Picayune.