Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-16


mastiff; and stating that the latter had re-
mained away three or four days, during
which they had searched in vain for him,
and had just then returned home again. It
then, Of course, became quite clear that the
little dog, finding himself unable TO pun
ish the town bully, had thought of his "big
brother" in the country, had Travelled over
the sixty miles which separated them in
order to gain his assistance, and had re-
counted to him his grievance; it was plain
also that the mastiff had consented to come
and avenge his old friend, had travelled
with him to London, and having fulfilled
his promise had returned home, leaving
the little fellow free from all annoyance for
the future.
The following well-known story is
strong example OF great intelligence which
may be developed in dog by careful train
ing. A fashionably y-dressed Englishman
was one day crossing one of the bridges
over the Seine at Paris, when he felt some
thing knock against his legs, and looking
down, LIE found that small poodle dog
had rubbed against him, and covered his
boots with mud. He was, of course, much
annoyed, and execrated tie little brute
pretty freely; but when he got to the other
side of the bridge, he had the boots cleaned
at stand for the purpose, and thought no
more about the matter. Some days after
this occurrence, however, he had occasion
again 10 cross that bridge, and the same lit
lie incident occurred. Thinking this some
what odd, he resolved TO watch where the
little dog went to and leaning against the
bridge be followed with his eye the move
ments of his dirty little friend. He saw
him rub against the feet of one gentleman
after another, till he had exhausted all the
mud off his once white skin, then rush of
down the bank of the river, and there roll
himself in the mud collected at the side.
Having thus got a new supply of dirt, the
little animal ran up 10 the bridge again,
and proceeded 10 transfer it TO the boots of
the passers-by, as before. Having watched
his movements for sometime, the gentle
man noticed on one occasion, instead of
RUM ing down 10 the river, he went off 10
the proprietor of the stand for cleaning
boots, at the other end Of the bridge, who
received him very cordially. The truth for
the first time then dawned on him, thatthe
little animal belonged TO the man who
clea ned the boots, ard was trained by him
to perform these mschevous deeds for the
purpose of bringing in custom. Being
very fond of dogs, the Englishman resolv-
ed to purchase this clever little fellow, and
bring him back 10 England with him.
When, however, be went TO the dogs mas
ter, that person at first denied any connec-
tion with him, and only admitted the own
ership when he was perfectly satisfied that
his interrogation had no connection with the
police. For some time also he refused 10
part with the little poodle, saying that no
money could pay him for the loss of his
dog, who really made his living for him.
Tempted, however, by very high price,
he at last consented to sell the dog and
the gentleman, few days allerward,
brought him over TO England, travelling via
Bo ulogne 10 Folkstone. His residence in
En- gland was some thirty or forty miles
from Folkstone, and TO this place he brought
his little purchase. He had not been many
days in his new home, however, when the
little French poodle suddenly disappeared.
Search was made for him everywhere, but
TO no effect. His new master offered re-
ward for him, but with the same result !;
and he had at last made up his mind that
the little fellow had been either poisoned
or stolen, when one morning, about six
weeks after his mysterious disappearance,
the gentleman received a letter from a
friend in Paris telling him that his dog was
harl- of HE old frada nf
soiling boots in the interest of his former
master. The little fellow not liking the
dullness of a country life, had resolved to
return to his former home, and had made
his way 10 Folk stone; there, as the gentle
man alterward ascertained, he had got on
board steamer going TO Boulogne, and
from Boulogne had found his way back to
Paris.
or the foregoing three stories. the first
two are probably even more remarkable
than the last. The last Except as to the dogs
finding its way back 10 Paris) illustrates
only the possibility of developing in a dog,
by the training OF its natural intelligence,
an almost human ingenuity. But it is by
instilling into the dog the intelligence of a
higher being that this skill is engendered.
The spring of the intelligence is in the
trainer, and it is TO attain an object which
the higher being, and not the lower, has in
view. But in the first two cases, the whole
process is the dog's the object TO be Sc
cured, namely, revenge, is what the dog
himself seeks, and the means by which
that object is to be attained are devised and
carried out by the instinct of the dog. That
a dog should harbor revenge is, of course,
not very wonderful fact; but there is a
calm reflection and cool calculation dis
played in the first two cases above given
which make them somewhat peculiar. II
what we call instinct in these animals en-
braces powers so very like reason; if they
are swayed by the same passions and affec-
tions which move us, and they are able to
communicate to their fellows the feelings
which stir them, and the external clrcum-
stances which bring those feelings into
play, the border-line between mans men
tai territory and theirs becomes little Bit
indefnite.-C Chambers Journal.