The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-15
OUR STORY TELLER
SOME SHORT STORIES ABOUT DOGS


Detroit Free Press.1
Not only dogs formerly used to pro
cure food by hunting other animals, but
they were used by the Romans and
Greeks in war; so that the phrase, dogs
of war;" is literal as well as fig.
urative. Caesar employed them in his
army, and SO did some of the wild tribes
which the Romans fought. When Ma.
RUS, the Roman general, had defeated
the Cimbri, the dogs and the women
defended their baggage so savagely that
he was forced to fight another battle in
order to get possession of it. The dogs
thus employed were very savage and not
only pursued the fugitives of defeated
armies but were sent after deserters.
The citadel of Corinth, when besieged,
was defended at night by band of
about fifty dogs. The garrison felt so
secure that one night they all went to
sleep, leaving the dogs on duty The
enemy attacked the canine sentinels.
Like Napoleon's old guard at Waterloo,
they fought until there was only one
survivor. Finding himself alone, this
animal retreated and alarmed the garri-
son, who came out and drove off the
enemy. The senate voted him a silver
collar with the inscription upon it, {" the
savior and deliverer of Corinth," and a
monument was erected to the dogs on
the spot where they fell, with the names
of all of them seulptured upon the
stones. In those times war dogs were
armed with spiked collars, and some.
times with coats of mail
DE- -.
paritively recent period. The Earl
of Essex, Queen Elizaheth's favorite,
had eight hundred of them during his
campaign in Ireland They were fire.
quently employed on the Scottish Dor
der to catch thieves, marauders, MUIR
derers and cattle stealers, and Robert
Bruce had fine one which his enemy,
Lord of Lorne, stole from him, and used
to track and betray his former master.
Bruce escaped by the well known device
OF crossing stream and breaking the
scent.
Action and his hounds are frequently
referred to, especially when politi-
clans want to show their opponents
schemes have destroyed those who
devised them. Action was a famous
hunter, and one day played " Peeping
Tom" when Diana was taking bath in
stream, and was not exactly prepared
to receive callers. So she prayed Jupi-
ter TO turn him into stag to pay him
for his impudence, and his own hounds
few at him, not recognizing him in his
new I" coat" and his additional horn; fer
they'd been in the habit of seeing him
carry only one when out hunting. They
made square meal of him. If we NAV
trust the Latin poet Ovid's description
of Acteon's pack, it would be despised
nowadays by breeders and masters of
the hounds. 1t was very mixed lot.
There were thirty-six in the pack,
6ome were barking dogs" some
quick-scented," some " strong" some
savage" of dozen different breeds
some "useful with their feet" some
with " their nostrils y one sprang from
wolf, another would spring at one, an.
other formerly followed cattle; one had
snow white hair, another was Jet black
some were shaggy and some were
smooth.
But modern breeders of dogs are not
the only people who put high price on
them. In Guiana the Tumura indiana
take great care with their dogs, and they
are extensively bought and sold. A
price OF good one is equal to that of a
wife. In South Africa the Damaras
will give two oxen for good dog. The
Fuegians will, when famished, kill their
old women for food rather than their
dogs" old women no use; dogs catch
offers" So that dogs may be said to
bring according to what thew can fetch.
climate modifies the character of dogs
as well as OF men. The English bull
dog On its arrival in India can pin down
an elephant by its trunk, but in two OF
three generations will fall of, lose his
pluck and ferocity, the form of his lower
Jaws will change, he will have a finer
muzzle and lighter body.
The jealousy of dogs is notorious.
Some OF them, especially household pets,
Will show great dislike for young
cnlldren who come in to share the
affection or caresses of their master or
mistress. One dog began dropping. upon
the advent OF baby, refused food and
died OF starvation, or, rather, suicide.
a herce dog in Paris sullenly endured
the presence of child six wears. and
then, IS IT his pent-up feelings could mo
longer endure the rage and envy within
him, he found his way to the bed room.
where the mother was undressing the
child, seized itand tore it to pieces he.
iore the unhappy woman could rescue It.
logs have been taught to speak. A
french Dog could call Ineligible words
ior tea coffee, chocolate, etc, and a dog
OF q young peasant boy in saxony was
Taught 70 repeat thirty words. Two
famous Italian dogs, Fidelio and
blanche, were taught to spell three hun.
dred words by means of printed
alphabet en- cards, to do sums in arith-
me.ic, and to play game of cards. to-
getner. Monsignore Capel, of England.
~ u said, has dog which will salute