330 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Septembek, 
A GRAND JMUSICAL 
Our artist attended a cat concert a few nights ago, 
and has given the above spirited sketch of tlie scene. It 
■was held on the roof of a shed near his window. He 
could not see the performers, for it was pitch dark, and 
so he was guided entiiely by sound in making the picture. 
He says they sang in a very feline manner, though he 
could not understand ihe words. That, however, is fiish- 
ionable — almost all opera suigers perform in the same 
way, so tliat nobody can tell what they are singing about, 
and it is only now aiid then that church choirs talk Eng- 
lish when they sing. Some may laugh at the idea of 
cats making music, but the cats themselves think it very 
fine ; they are quite like most other singers in this also. 
Spicy Ijetter about a Picture. 
To the Editor of the American Agriculturist : 
I was somewhat amused, but more vexed, to see the 
pictures of the " Unfortunate Boy," and the "Fortunate 
Girl," in the July number, of the Agriculturist, I am 
a boy myself, 12 years old ; have brothers and sisters— 
quite a number — and I attend a school, numbering sixty 
scholwrs, of all ages between six and fourteen,— boys and 
girls of course. I have observed that the girls as often 
have their faces drawn awry as the boys, notwithstanding 
we always give them the best places in the schoolroom, 
the smoothest part of the play-ground, and never go 
above them in spelling,— when we have a head and foot 
to the class, even if they miss all the words. In winter 
we draw them to and from school on our sleds, or shovel 
nice, broad paths for them. We are very happy to do all 
this and feel more than repaid when we receive a bright 
smile, or a pleasant *• thank you " from one of these lit- 
tle ladies. But. Mr. Editor, what vexes me is the con- 
struction that will be placed upon such pictures by those 
(COPYRIGHT SECUEED.) 
EKTERTAINMENT. 
Designed and engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
whose habits or tempers do not lead them to associate 
with children, and whose memory is so defective that 
they do not recollect when they were "Boys and Girls 
together." I am afraid Ihey will judge that boys are 
always so bad as to invite all the imps of mischief around 
them, while the dear little girls are so sweet, that it em- 
ploys all the angels to take charge of their goodness ! 
How can that little girl help smiling with so many bright 
beings hovering near to whisper happy thoughts? And 
how can the boy, who is just as pretty and good as the 
girl, — when they are both let alone,— help breaking his 
toys, and screaming with real pain, when so many little 
imps are tugging at his eyes, nose and mouth, and blow- 
ing fire and smoke in his face ? I believe they hurt liim 
worse than a rousing ear-aclie or a dozen whippings. I 
am sorry for him. If the boys were a little worse than 
girls it would be no wonder ; for they have so much more 
to vex them. But they are not. They are often sent to 
bed, in a dark room, when in the best part of their story ; 
they are made to wait when company comes, and if there 
is no pudding left for them, It is " no matter, they are 
only boys." They must run errands, give the sidewalk 
to any body, and if they have a pet in the shape of a dog 
or bantam rooster, whose attainments In vocal music are 
their especial pride, they are not allowed to exhibit them, 
but must put them'in a coop in some out-of-the-way cor- 
ner, while the girl can have her noisy canary or even a 
dirty kitten In the house. In short— the girls are pelted, 
— the boys are snubbed. If your pictures were both boys, 
or both girls, I would not have troubled you ;— as it is I 
am yours for Equal Rights. 
[Our young correspondent is more than welcome to 
our columns— we like those who can think for themselves, 
and will allow all to have their "siiy," (if we have room) 
if they can say it as well us this lad. By his own account 
of how he treats the girls, he acknowledges that he thinks 
a little more of them than of the boys, which is quite 
natural and pleasant, and he can hardly blame other 
people for doing the same thing— especially as boys have 
the best chance to push their own way through the world. 
Perhaps some of the girls, or some other boy would like 
to say a word on this question ; we promise fair play.] 
SometUing: Kesides ITloney IVautcd. 
A Frenchman of immense wealth fitted up a most 
gorgeous palace in Paris. A gentleman who obtained 
leave to visit it, relates, that upon entering the dinicig room 
he found a table magnificently laid out. " Your master," 
lie observed to the maitre d' hotel, '* makes wonderfully 
good cheer." " Alas, sir, my master never sits down to 
a regular dinner ; a single plate of vegetables is prepared 
for him." " Here, at least, is food for the eye," said the 
visitor, pointing to the pictures. "Alas, sir, my master 
is nearly blind," " Well," resumed the visitor on enter- 
ing another room, "he compensates himself by listening 
to good music." "Alas, sir, my master has never heard 
the music which is played here ; he goes to bed early in 
the hope of snatching a few minutes' sleep." "But at 
all events he enjoys the pleasure of walking in that mag- 
nificent garden." "Alas, sir, he can not walk." In a 
word ; for all purposes of enjoyment, the millionaire 
was the poorest of the poor. 
A LiTTLL GIRL, who made very frequent use of the 
word "guess," was told by her teacher to say "presume." 
Presently, one of Mary's little playmates coming up to 
her remarked : " I think your cape very pretty, and my 
mamma wantsyour mamma to lend the pattern, because 
she's going to make one like it." "Myn;:m)ma has no 
pattern," was the prompt reply, " slie cut il by presume." 
