The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-06
Anecdotes of Dogs.

Many curious traits are exhibited BY
dogs, showing the highest order of in
stinct, if not of reason. Telesius relates
the following fact OF his own dog, to
which he was an eye witness: The ami.
NAL had been worried by another Of
greater strength; when he returned to
his home it wa observed that he alb
stained from half the quantity of the
food regularly given him, forming a kind
of store for his savings. After some
days he went out, brought back with him
several dogs OF the neighborhood, and
feasted them upon his horde of food.
This singular proceeding attracted his
masters attention, who, closely watch
ing the result, observed that they all
went ont together. Following them he
found they proceeded by several streets
to the outskirts of the town, where the
leader singled out q large dog, which
was Immediately set upon by all his
guests, and very severely punished.
A watch dog that was habitually
chained to his kennel found that his
collar was large enough to allow him to
withdrew his head from it whenever he
chose to do go. Rejecting, however,
that if he should attempt any such prac-
tice when his master or keeper were.
about they might 80 tighten his collar 9
TO prevent it's repetition, he always re-
Trained from the manenvre during the
day, but availed himself of the privilege
by night, roaming about the neighkor-
ing fields that were stocked with sheep
and lambs, some of which on sundry oc-
casions he wounded or killed. Bearing
on his mouth the marks of his mistleeds
he would go to ueighboring stream to
wash off the blood, having done which
he would return to his kennel, and, slip
ping his head into his collar, lie down
On his bed as though he had been there
all night.
Mr.. Jesse gives the following anecdote
of remarkable sagacity in dog belong
ing to farmer in Lincolnshire: If any
well dressed person goes into the farm
yard during the day the dog takes no
notice. If, however, beggar enter the
premises the dog instantly goes to him,
gently lays hold of his stick or clothes
and quietly leads him to the door of che
dwelling house, and sees him safe off
the premises under similar precautions.
But in the night the faithful animal will
apprehend all persons alike, and never
release gentle grasp until hidden by
his master or mistress. The latter has
sister living on an adjoining farm. In
order to make short cut between the
two house a single plank was thrown
across deep brook. The wife of the
owner of the dog constantly and fearless
ly intrusts her little children to his care
when on o visit to their aunt. The ami
NAL halts the little group OF children
when he comes to the narrow bridge,
and conducts them over one by one, al
ways taking firm hold of the child's gar
ments behind, and when he has safely
escorted one child he returns for another.
he then awaits their return and conveys
them home in q similar manner.
At Woolwich theatre during the per-
formance of "Jesse Vere," in the third
act, in which o terrific combat takes
place between mother and two assas-
sins for the possession of her child,
large Newfoundland dog that had man
aged to get into the pit along with his
owner Gan engineer of Steamship,
leaped over the heads of the musicians
in the orchestra and few to the rescue,
and Selling one of the rufins dragged
him to the floor. The dog was with
difficulty removed and dragged off the
stage. He had been accustomed to the
company of children and had on many
occasions evinced strong proofs of affec-
ton. The mimic life on the theatre
stage had all the appearance of reality
to the noble brute and he haster ed to
exhibit the promptings of his kindly in
stincts. ts.-English Paper.