National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-29
Natinual gspnbIifsn
DOGS AND OTHER 4gzMALS As ORA,

MATIC ARTISTS.
Mr.. John D. Stockton the abe dramit Critic Oh
the Philadelphia Sunday DfsPGfeh, furnishes tae
following interesting sketch Of quadrupeds -
dramatic artists:
When we recently saw at one Of our theatrss
trained dogs, our surprise was not that they did
so much as that they did not do more; and yes,
these animals were unusually Intelligent and -,
appeared to be principally poodles or spaniels-
breeds Of dogs which seem to be extremely doefie
and initiative. Each dog had his OWL stool, upon
which he sat when not performing, and all seemed
ready and eager to obey the least sign OF their
master. Walking on their hind legs and waltslng
oO eS.S SsTs sss 81 tsPer cE and
these were made more amusing by eomieal little
clown, who burlesqued all that his companions
intelligenee-for he not only brought ne Fspaper
from table when requested, but, sitting up In
chair, undertook to read II, initiating In ludt-
erous put Tondrously natural way the tones Oh
In like manifestations Of intellect these charm
Ing little animals differed more from others Of
their species than they did from men. Indeed
the distinction between one man and another
between Shakespeare and Probst, for instances
greater than the difference between the lower
grades OF humanity and these cultivated dogs.
Inc extremes OF human nature seem to be sepe-
rated Dy an almost infinite distance. gravttat1ng
70 the abyss In one direction and in the other
aspiring TO the heavens. This higher orders OF
INFERIOR animals come into rivalry with humanity
A. degree unquestlonably above its lowest point,
and we DO not doubt that there were men In tho
theatre who were surpassed by these dogs In the
moral qualities Of fidelity, reverence and JON
scientiousness, in sensitiveness and Imagination,
and In an intellectual temperament. There are
dogs which we respect more than We do some
men, and Lord Byrop expressed himself With
temporary sincerity At least when he wrote in
tomb:
81 only had one friend, and here he lies" ~
The remarkable intelligence which animals Of.
much fiiqstration We must speak Of than here
only IN their capacity as actors, as unassuming
but respectable members Of the dramatic profess
sion- They are not without honorable mention In
the annals Of the stage. Two monkeys some years
ago Secured an engagement at one OF our theatres
Eas s s9' Ins wnG me town aaghpg Their sssns
possessed no Dramatic aotlity, and these animals
had plenty, They danced fenced, performed the
a. last. Some persons objected that these mon
seys were NOT "legttimats." But how could they
held the immoral conduct Of their parentsf Now,
what delightful thing 1t was to see these little
apes so usefully employed and earning a respect
able living Il is said that Hayden, the celebrated
painter, killed himself because Tom Thumb drew
larger crowds in London than his pictures ana bnk
no true actor could be jealous Of the success Of
these little rivals.
example Of theatrieal genius In animals He issa
living proof that pig Is nt for something better
than pork, and that sausage is not the only roll
what Is known on the stage as . ssHam Fat traeel
dian" We will not attempt to describe ali his
accomplishment, but, as public card player he
Hermann. With hand Of cards dealt out before
him be con not only play euehrs with amazing
skili, PIT be can cheat At II II you DO not watch
players are said 10 be roaming over the continent
Of Europe because they were afraid to lead
with reckless suchre.piaysrs who would be-
against this pig. II Is hardly necessary TO aild
that this Intelligent quadruped is great on "sif
Further proof Of the Importance of animals to
the drama 10 furnished BY The Forest Of Hopdy;
To leave him out Of It would be like playing
Hamlet" without the Prince. He is the chsrac-
ter who Puni,ess yiiiainy and rewards virtue.
Dumb Girl Of Genoa" So that we see that dogs
not only act In tricks, like those OF Prof. DayIs,
sSem Doc. Ie.grSS to- bas p psf .ssn n ne
drama, are numerous; and one immortal speeI-
men Is that cur Of low degree which Launcs so
Fersns," Then there Is Rip Van Wrinkles dog
Schneider, which, We are sorry TO say, AIr. Nc
Wade introducss upon the stage-for Il Is - i'm
possible 10 realize Sehneideras lt would be to pre-
sent in proper person the SnsrieyoW OF Captain
describe dog he saw at Rome. In the reign OF tho
Emperor Vespasian, At the theatre Of MHrcellus.
dsass ~ el dgu9 he va, suDnossd 10 est aSSsr
he had swallowed piece OF bread, which passed
for the DR. ug, he began AFTER awhile to trembl6
and stagger, a. IL he was taken gtddy: at last,
stretching himself out rs II dead be suffered him
sell to be drawn and dragged from place to place,
as II was his part to do; and sfterward, whom be
knew II to be time, he began nrst gently to stir,
as 10 awakening out Of 2 profound Sleep, and.
lifting up his head, looked about him after such
manner as astonished the spectators" Elephants,
in the spectaces at Rome, were also taught to
dance. as indeed they now are, ''and some have
been known so intent upon their lesson az Pri-
Vately 70 practice it By themselves that they
might not be chldden or beaten BY their asters."
Other examples OF animals who were distin-
gutshed on the ancient Stage Ne might mention,
but viii not. We do not propose 70 write the his
Nor shall we undertake even to speak Of those
eminent animal performers upon the stage which
In our own times We have seen and honored. But
beasts OF histronlc genius-circus horses In thsfr
complex evolutlons. Dan Rlce's trick mules, the
poodles Of Prof. Davis, the educated hog, 1--WE do
not refer TO the politician thus knowu,l the MILL
tsry monkeys the innocent little goat In the opera
Of "Dlnorah, the performing elephants, lions and
leopards-and reflect upon the fact that they are
all taught empirically and without system, can
fau to agree with rs that the true cause for sur
prise is not that animals do SO much, but that
they are not made TO do more. Many OF them are
not only Intelligent, but ambitious, and seem not
only to consent to Instruction, but to desire IL.
II, instead Of neglectng these near relations Of
mankind, we gave them systematic education,
suited to their natural capacities how much moro
useful they might become. In the future 1t may
be that common schools will be established for
dogs, and that IL will be an ordinary matter to
| see the poodlcs aud pointers trotting along with
their sarehels around their necks. Instead Of
| this, we allow this large qundruped population
to grow up in idle ignorance, whom they might be
taught various and valuable employments. Il 10
the stage, but neither do We advise all men to do
| So We cannot all be heroes.