American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-06-20

DR.. PRIME, in one of his " Irenpus Let
tiers in the New York Observer, relates sew
eral anecdotes of dogs that have exhibited
an intelligence almost human. Some of
these tales of dogs, it is remarked, are
quite well authenticated. The first is
about
RELIGIOUS DOG,
and is thus told:
DIR. S. S. Marcy, of Cape May City,
writes to me of one known to the summer
visitors as the Presbyterian dog" "He
was raised" said the doctor, land owned
ty one of my neighbors, living nearly
opposite the Methodist Church. The
Presbyterian being about four blocks dis
tant, on the ringing of the second bell on
Sabbath morning he would quietly and
orderly walk to the church, and after the
congregation had assembled and services
commenced he would quietly walk into
the middle aisle and lie down. When the
congregation arose for prayers he would
devoutly rise to his feet and remain until
the close, then recline to his humble posi-
ton At the close of the services he
would walk out of the church and quietly
return to his kennel. On funeral occa-
sion, near the close, he has been known to
follow the congregation up.to the coffin,
stand upon his hind feet, elevate himself
high enough to view the corpse for mo-
ment, and then quietly retire. These GER
emonies he. performed for several years,
as have often been an eyewitness.
"On one Sabbath the sexton, not having
the fear of the dog before his eyes, elected
the quiet and inOffensive animal from the
church with several kicks. The dog so
resented the ungentlemanly treatment
that he abandoned the church entirely
posite his home during the remainder of
his life"
DISC listed DOG.
Mr.. Walter Chester, of New York city,
writes to me that the following story was
related to him by DIR. S. b. Woodward,
formerly of Wetherstield, Conn, and after
ward principal physician of the Insane
Asylum at Worcester, Mass:
Dr. Woodward had a fine Newfoundland
dog, which always accompanied him
when driving his rounds, and frequently
rode on the boat as he crossed the river
to Glastonbury. AS the doctor settled his
ferriage on one occasion, he remarked:
"That makes our account square," to
which the ferryman replied: " Yes, unless
you pay fare for your dog" Instantly
the dog plunged into the river and would
never put his feet upon the boat after ward,
but swan the Connecticut whenever his
master crossed on the boat, which he did
for several years.
y
Deacon Henderson, of Berkshire
County, Mass, started on a journey with
a horse and carriage to visit his friends.
He soon discovered that his small dog
accompanied him. After staying at Il
hotel one night he resumed his journey
but missed his dog. One week later he
returned over the same route and stopped
at the hotel. Dr. Prime thus continues
the story:
He made inquiry for the dog, and the
landlord told him the first day after the
Deacon left the dog was running around
the pace, making every expression of
loneliness, and was several times attacked
and bitten by other dogs, and then disap-
peared.
Within day or two thereafter the little
dog made his second appearance, accom-
panied by much larger dog, and they
finally made furious attack upon every
resident dog in the neighborhood, and
gave them a thorough thrashing- When
that work was done bo;n dogs disap-
peared.
The good Deacon was delighted with
the landlords recital OF the affair, and
explained the matter by guessing that the
little dog went back home, some thirty
miles, procured the assistance of a large
dog that was his associate, and returned
to the tavern to punish his enemies; and
! when the worthy Deacon reached home he