Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-26
ANECDOTES OF DOGS, &c.
From the Library of Useful knowledge

Many stories If the sagacity &c. Of dogs are
new and illustrative Of the extraordinary char
acter Of that animal. improved as it has been
by its compa nionsbip with man. We copy
Two or three examples.
"In London, within these few years, the use
of dogs in dragging light vehicles has become
very general;-and though their strength is
rarely employed in combination, as is the case
with tie Esquimaux sledge dogs, their energy
makes them capable Of moving very eonsldera>
Die weights. There is scarcely baker in the
more populous parts Of London, who has not
his travelling shop upon wheels, drawn ny one
| or TWO mastiffs or bull dogs. But the vendors
If CATS neat appear to have derived The isrg>
est benefit from this application OF animal pow.
er. The passenger through The narrow streets
and lanes Of London, is often amused oy the
scenes between the consumers of the commod,
| i,y and those who bring it 10 the houses. AT
the well known cry Of the dealer, the cats of a
whole tislric, are in activity, anxlously peeping
OUT Of The doors for the expected meal, and
sometimes fearl, ssly appr oaching the little cart,
without app ehension oftheir supposed enemy
who draws it. The dogs attached 10 these
carts appear to have no disposition TO modest
| the impatient groups of CATS who gather around
them. The haLi, OF considering dogs aud cats
| a, natural enemies has tended to the produc
ton of erea, deal Of cruelty. 1t is true that
dogs will, BY instinct, pursue any thing which
flies from them; and puppies will thus run after
and f.. quenlly kill chickens. Bu' dogs, by
chas,isemen,, my be made TO comprehend that
nothing domestic mast br moleSied Beckford,
a writer on hunting, aludes 10 The circumstance
Of buck hounds, playing with deer on lawn,
within an hour OF two after chase OF he same
species There is al present tame doe in the
streets Of London, belonging to some person
near S.. Clements Church yard, which the pas
sing dogs never sFrorr; and we have seen some
wears ago, at Goodwood, the seat OF the Duke
OF Richmond pack Of fox. hounds, en- their
way to cover, go close TO fox chained at The
outer gate Of their kennel, without taking The
slightest notice Of Inn. This, at any rate
she US tina, dogs have their Instincts under SUBJ
ie, t,or TO the commands OF their friend and
master, man,
GAN dogs can swim, although some dislike
the water, sud take to il with difficulty al the
bidding Of their masters. The buII dog would
sppear the least likely 10 combat with heavy
s. a, as the Newfoundland dogs often do; aud
and yet ,he following Circumstance is well au-
thenticated:- board ship, which struck
upon rock near the shore during gale, there
we're three dogs, two Of the Newfoundland va
riely, and an English bul dog, rather small 10
growth. bu, firmly built aud strong 1t was
important to have rope carried ashore; and as
no boat bould lie for an ins ant in the break
ers towards ,he land, il wss thought that one oil
the Newfoundland dogs migr succeed but he
was no, able to struggle with the waves, anG
prrished The other Newfoundland dog, up
on being thrown over board with The rope, shar'
led a similar fate Blu, the bulldog, though
not habi uatpd 10 the wa'er, swan triumphant
" TO lane, and ,hus saved the lives Of The per
sons on board. Among them was his master
a military officer, who still has the dog in hi:
possession
Many # he mirror animals have dis
tine; knoml dge Of time Tne sun appears "a
regulate the mo, ions e those who leave their
homes in br morning, to return at particula
hours uf toe evcnng;!the Kam' sc hatka dogs az,
probably Influenced in their autumnal return
to then homes by change Of temperature -
But -. noe animals possessing the readies
conceptions, as in the case Of dogs in a highl,
civilized "ountry, the exercise of ,his facult,
is strikingly remarkable. Mr.. Sou hey, in hi
Omnisna, relates two instances Of dogs VIII,
, had acquired such knowledge Of tine as woule
, enable them 10 count the days Of the week -
He says: My grandfather had one which
uudged two miles every Saturday TO cater fol
himself In the shamhles. | know another NOR,
extraordinary and well authenticated example
A dog which had belonged to an lrishman
and was sold by him in England, woulc neve
I touch morsel of food upon Friday Tn,
same faculty of recollec,ine intervals Of time ex
, lists, though in more limited extent, 10 III,
horse. We knew a horse land have witnessed
the circumstance which, being accustomed Il
be employed once week on a journey will
, the newsman Of provincial paper, Away.
. stopped al the houses of the several customer, $
, although they were sixty or seventy in number
, Blu, further, there were two persons on ,h,
route who took one paper between them, ane
each claimed the privilege of having it first OF
the alternate Sunday. The horse soon became
p accustomed TO this regulation, and although
, the parties lived Two miles distant, he stopped
once fortnight at the door ofthe half-cus,ome
a, Thorpe, and once a fortnight, at that Of tn.
/ other half>cus,omer at Chertsey, and neve
| did he forget this arrangement, which las,ee