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Show The Dogs Discuss Local Legislation Relating To Them. Editor Journal: - It is related of Pythagoras, we believe, that passing along the streets of Athens one day he observed a man beating a dog so cruelly that the poor brute actually shed tears. Moved at so unusual a sight, he rescued the animal from further punishment, and on being asked his reason for doing so, replied that in the voice of that dog, he recognized the accents of a very dear friend who had but recently died. This anecdote was frequently urged in those days as an argument favoring the doctrine of Transmigration oh souls. We do not wish to discuss the merits of this principle but simply to draw attention to the fact that dogs in emergencies have the power of communicating their sorrows to mankind. A friend of ours who believes in this gift, and claims that he can very readily understand their language, says that on many occasions he has stopped in his peregrinations to listen to their colloquies or disputes, when two or more of them have met by accident. In support of this belief he reports that walking past the Tabernacle Block one night last week about twelve o'clock when opposite Brown's Eating House, he suddenly heard a confused noise as of voices in earnest debate. The sounds proceeded from the space lying between the Tabernacle and the fence south of it where our friend was walking. He was inquisitive to know what sort of a convention was holding at so late an hour in so secluded a spot, and resolved that come what might of it he would investigate the matter. He began by climbing quietly over the fence and crawling on his hands and knees through the weeds to the place from whence the sounds proceeded. He crept along very curiously until having gained the shelter of one of the largest of the trees he raised himself to a sitting posture and saw before him an assembly of fifteen or twenty dogs, of different ages and colors. They were in a small circle on their hind legs, their forepaws hanging pathetically over their breasts, listening to one who, with his fore feet on a large stone and his hind ones in a ditch, was discoursing, it seemed, on a subject of great interest to all. In fact the congregation was so intent upon the words of the speaker, who illustrated his remarks by many eloquent flourishes of his tail that our friend approached without being heard and composed himself with his back to a tree, and prepared to listen. He soon found that the meeting was convened pursuant to appointment, in fact, that it was composed of delegates from the five wards appointed to discuss the present complexion of the legislation against dogs. It soon appeared that our friend had arrived too late to hear the body of the members speak, but he listened with extreme delight to the remarks of one or two who were called upon, and to a series of resolutions passed just before adjournment. From the first he gathered that much excitement had been created among the common dogs by the action of the City Council in passing ordinances against them, that many had favored an immediate emigration to Hyrum, where it is understood dogs are in no danger of their lives. Some favored a petition to the City Council praying that the law be rescinded. Others, of a more war-like disposition, thought it best to offer a stubborn resistance and to be induced by no cajolery to permit the putting on of a collar. All these things, it seemed, had been heard in their more public meetings a few weeks ago, but the thoughts expressed in this partook in no respect of these feelings. On the contrary a spirit of the utmost good feeling was manifest in their midst. They spoke of the clemency of the City Council, who forced against their will to pass the ordinance in relation to dogs, had yet taken great care that the law should not harm them by allowing its enforcement to rest in the hands of the present harmless Marshal. The meeting expressed itself warmly in favor of the city government and wished all kind eulogies upon Mr. Adams. He was termed the "friend and benefactor of dog-kind." At the close of the speeches, all of which our friend understood perfectly, a few resolutions were passed, one of which we give as nearly as we can remember it. "Resolved, that the members of the City Council and the Marshal of Logan receive the thanks and gratitude of the dogs of this city, for the leniency and good will displayed to them since the passing of an obnoxious ordinance law and, further, that a committee be appointed to wait upon them and inform them of this our resolution." After some discussion, it was moved that their meeting go into a Committee of the Whole, and wait upon the Council at its next sitting; also that we attend the Marshal in a body, at 8:30 p.m. next Tuesday evening. At this stage of the proceedings our friend gave a tremendous sneeze in spite of himself, and immediately the hair stood straight up on the backs of twenty dogs, and twenty pairs of eyes glared fiercely at him. He threw his hat into their midst, and during the excitement that followed sprung over the fence and dashed homewards. Statnomen Umuka. |