The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-31

Proofs of sagacity involving what
would seem processes of Judgment, in
ference and generalization fairly equal
to those Of the average man, have been
made familiar to us by the reports of
natufalists without number, If not by
opportunities of personal observation.
Of what requirements animals of all
sorts are capable, under mans skillful
and patient tuition, all must be fairly
convinced. To this culture Of the intel
lect and the emotions we are taught
by DR.. Lindsay to superadd the de-
velopment of the religious feeling
in animals, whether in the form of
natural piety or of kind Of animal Kul-
turkampf. Not only does the dog, for
instance, worship his master and learn
from his example to display decorum in
kirk or chapel, but, in common with
many another species outside the pale of
humanity, he is capable Of religious feel
ing and action of direct and spontan-
eous character. The seemly behavior of
the Scottish collie in kirk is conspicuous
among the attributes which have given
that sagacious quadruped its high and
well-earned reputation.
Nor is devotional decorum, all impair
tial critics of the ways of animals will
learn with pleasure, confined to single
class of theological opinion. "In France,
a Catholic country, on the contrary, dogs
attend prayer or mass with their masters,
exhibiting in the grand cathedrals of that
beautiful land becoming behavior, in
cluding gravity of look and demeanor,
silence and motionless, an attitude Of
apparent attention or intentness,
and a probable feeling of awe,
produced, it may be, by the dim re-
iigious light of such edifces, or by the
varied impressive sights and sounds
that environ them" kind of conduct,
in short, only too instructive or sugges-
tive to irreverent man. Nay, a more
emphatic lesson still is taught by his
canine companion to many a lax Roman
Catholic, since we are taught, on the
authority of "Southey" whatever that
may be(, that "in Catholic countries
church-going dogs have been led to the
bIag0 VI ldbtluh.
Nor are dogs the only animals that
may claim occasionally to be pious
"While collies regularly attend church,
they can not be said, as a rule, to take
any active or intelligent part in the ser
vice; but in the case of the parrot, which
is not usually allowed to attend church,
the bird not infrequently takes promi-
nent and clearly intelligent part in the
private worship of its masters house
hold. Such parrots, for instance,
make responses at the proper time-an
exercise that implies a good deal more
than mere memory, mere attention to the
service. They have been taught, moreover,
or they have learned, to repeat mans
creeds, to recite prayers, and even, or
otherwise in certain sense, to act as do
mestic chaplains-as substitutes, in other
words, for man himself. As in 30 many
other cases, the behavior-nay, the very
speech-the remarks or conversation Of
the bird, are suitable to place, time and
other circumstances. Thus a certain
English bishop'sparrot is (or was) in the
habit Of saying sometimes quite devout-
lily and with becoming solemnity, at other
times sarcastically or ironically, but in
either case at proper seasons and appro-
priately to the circumstances-"Iet us
pray" Of another we are told that it
could sing in correct time and measure
"There is happy land"