Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-02-05
Dogs.

TONS Is no lOnRer uispuleu. NOT only
do they show the ordinary brutal feel
| ings of fear, anger and delight, when
their sppetites are affected in any way.
but they show human feelings-of
pleasure for approval, fear OF reproef,
gratitude, jealousy, and aff-ctionate
memory. Many of the dogs habits,
according to Darwin, are relies of his
wild state. Probably many have wcn-
dered why dog turns round two or
three times, and scratches the ground
with his fore paws before he lies down.
Darwin explains it as a relic or remem-
brancs of their wild ancestors that
trampled down the grass and seoOped
out hollow in the grassy plains and
in the woods. The lowering of the
head and sometimes the crOuching
which dogs exhibit when they approach
each other from distance in q hostile
pirlt is, he thi nks, another "relic of
barbsrism," for many wild fish-eating
animals CROUCH and crawl toward their
prey. So when watching their prey
they will frequently keep one of their
forelegs doubled up, ready TO take a
long cautious step, and hence, now
from habit, civilized dogs do it merely
when their attention is aroused. He
says he has seen dog at the foot OF a
high wall, listening attentively to a
sound on the opposite side, with one leg
doubled up, where there could have
been no purpose Of approaching eau
tiously. Dogs and other fish-esting
animals draw back their ears when they
are aroused to the fighting point, in or
der that the ears may not be seize1 by
their antagonists, but Mr.. Darwin does
not think that dog puts his tail be-
tween his legs when he is pursued or
is to he struck, because he is afraid his
pursuer will grab it, but in order to
withdraw his whole hindquarters out
Of reach Of the blow or bite he is about
to suffer. G.atiOlet, French physiOg
nomist, explains the wagging of dogs
tail when he is pleased by saying, that
his joyful emotions run along the whole
length of the stiff spinal column, and
when they come to the flexible tail they
bend it and shake it. so when the dogs
feel affecsionate, they lower their ears
to exclude sounds, in order that their
whole attention may be fixed upon the
csresses of their master.
Not only were dogs formerly used TO
procure 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 we'll as ig-
urative. CH.ar emploged them in his
army, and so did some OF the wild
tribes the Romans fought. When Mar
ius, the Roman General, had defeated
the Cimbri, the dogs aud the women de-
Tended the baggage so savagely, that he
was forced to tight another battle in or
der to get possession of it, The dogs
thus employed were very savage, and
no, only pnrsued the fugitives of de-
feated armies, but were sent after de.
serters. The citadel of Corinth, when
besieged, was defended at night By a
band Of fifty dogs. The garrison felt
so secure, tina. one night they ali went
to sleep, leaving the dogs on duty.
The enemy attacked the canine sentl-
nels. Like NapOleon's Old Guard at
Waterloo, they fought until there a
only one survivor. Finding himself
alone, this animal retreated and alarm
ed the garrison, who came out and
drove off the enemy. The Senate votei
him a silver collar. with the ins criptiOn
on il, "The savior and deliyerer of
Corinth." and a monument was erected
to the dogs on the spot where they fell
with the names of all of them sculD-
tured upon the stones. In those times
war dogs were armed with
spiked collars, and sometimes with
coats of mail. Hounds were used In az
mics until comparatively recent peri
cd. The Earl of Essex, Queen Eliza
beth g favorite, had 800 OF them dur
ing his campaign in Ireland. They
were frequently employed on the
Scottish border TO catch thieves,
maradders, murderers and cattle-steal-
ers; and Robert Bruce had a fine one
which his enemy, ord Of Lorne, stole
from him, and used to track and betray
his former master. Rruce escaped by
the well known advice Of crossing a
stream and breaking the scent