The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-02-15
Stories of Dogs and Horses.


Few persons are aware of the great
effect which quiet speech exercises
upon the most savage dog. A distin-
guished English poet told me that be
was once walking in the country with
Canon Kingsley. when they passed a
lodge where an immense and fierce
mastiff, confined by long chain, rushed
outupon them. They were just beyond
his reach, but the chain did not seem
secure. The poet would have hurried
past, but Kingsley, laying hand upon
his arm, said, "Wait moment, and
see me subdue hint" Thereupon he
walked up to the dog, who, erect upon
his hind feet, with open jaws and glar-
ing eyes, was the embodiment of ami
NAL fury. Kingsley lifted his hand, and
quietly said, "You are wrong! You
have made q mistake: you must go
back to your kennel' The dog sank
down upon his four-feet, but still growl-
ed angrily; the Canon repeated his
words in firm voice, advancing step by
step as the dog gave way. He continued
speaking grave reproof, as to human
being, until he had forced the mastiff
back into his kennel, where the latter
silently, and perhaps remorsefully, lay
down. .F ..I ...
Lean not now tell whether / remem-
bered this story, or acted simply from
a sudden instinct, in a very similar
case. L was in San Francisco, and
went to call upon gentleman of my
acquaintance, who lived upon Rincon
Point. The house stood little distance
back from the street, in beautiful gar
den. l walked up between clumps Of
myrtle and fuchsia to the door, and
rang the bell. Instead of answer, there
was a savage bay; giant dog sprang
around the corner of the house, and
rushed at me with every sign of furious
attack. l faced him, stood still, and
said: 81 am friend of Mr.. -, and
have come to visit him. You must not
suppose that mean any harm. Ishall
wait to see if the bell is answered; you
may stay and watch me. am not
afraid of you" The animal paused,
listened intently, but was evidently not
entirely convinced; he still growled,
and showed his teeth in rather an
alarming manner. Then l said: al
shall ring once more; if there is no an
swer, | shall go away" He followed
me up the steps to the door, glared
fiercely while l rang, and would un-
doubtedly have dashed at my throat
had 1 made suspicious gesture. As no
one came to the door, l finally said: al
see there is nobody at home, so shall.
go, as | told you l would" His
growing ceased; side by side we went
down the walk, and when had closed
the gate he turned away with a single
dignified wave of the tail, which l I'M
derstood as combined apology and
farewell. 1 presume it is a very COM
mon observation of persons who own
intelligent dogs, that if they happen to
describe to visitor some fault for
which the animal has been scolded or
punished, in the latter's presence, he
will exhibit an uneasy
CONSCIOUSNESS OF WHAT is SAID,
even sometimes quietly stink away.
But the extent to which a horse, also,
may be taught to understand speech, is
not so generally known. The simple
fact that he likes to be talked to makes
him attentive to the sounds, and l am
convinced that in great many cases he
has an impression of the meaning. |
have at present horse who served his
country during the War, and came to
me only after its close. His experience
while on scouting service made him
very suspicious of any gray object, asI
soon discovered; he would shy at
fallen log in q thicket, glimpse of
messy rock, or laborer's coat left in
fence-corner. By stopping him when
ever this happened, and telling him, in
an assuring tone, that there was moth
ing to fear, he was very soon complete
ly cured of the habit. But he still lifts
up his head, and would, if he could,
cry "Ha! hal" when he hears the
sound of the trImpet.
THE AFFECTION AND FIDELITY
of the horse have always been admitted.
My first acquaintance with these quail
ties was singular enough to be related.
When boy of IA, was walking along
a lonely country road with a compan-
ion of the same age, and came upon an
old gray horse, standing in the middle
of the track over q man who was lying
upon his back. We FASTENED up to give
but presently saw that the
man, instead of being injured, was SIM
ply dead drunk. He had tumbled off,
on his way home from the tavern, and
a full bottle of whisky, iolted out of his
pocket in falling, lay side by side. The
fore feet Of the horse were firmly plant
ed on each side of his neck, and the
hind feet on each side of his legs. This
position seeming to US dangerous for
the man, we took the animal by the bri-
die and attempted to draw him away;
but he resisted with all his strength,
snorting, laying back his ears, and Civ
ing every other sign of anger. 1t was
apparent that he had carefully planted
himself so as completely to protect his
master against any passing vehicle. We
assisted the faithful creature in the on
y possible way-by pouring the whis-
zy into the dust-and left him until
help could be summoned. His act in
aicated not only affection, involving
sense of duty, but also more than one
process of reasoning m haF I
Darwin, as understand him, is still
doubtful whether there is moral sense
n animals. We can judge only from
- "a oo,,,-so b,.t ouY INSTRUMENTATION |