Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-16
INTELLIGENT ANIMALS.

Sunday Sun, Mayo w. Haseltine dis
cusses in an article five columns in length.
the question: animals reason and
language?' That horses and dogs have
reason, at least, most persons will readily
admit, and that they have language,
though limited vocabulary, might be
easily demonstrated. The dog expresses
impatience by short, sharp barks; delight
by the wagging of his tail, and has other
ways of making understood his feelings
and emotions. which need not be emu
merated here. Mention was recently
made in these columns of the intelligence
of mare owned in this city, which went
to the blacksmith shop of her own accord
to be sharp shod, the going being Slippery
at the time and her shoes smooth. The
same animal when left near the sidewalk
il she hears snow slide coming moves
out into the middle of the street and
stands there quietly. That shows reason,
certainly. Another illustration. Howard
Murphy owned colt, which had been a
good deal petted. While in the pasture
stone got wedged in one hoof, and what
does the colt do but leap the fence and
come up to the house. 1t was seen that
something was wrong, and on examina-
ton tho stone was found and removed.
Then the colt started off and jumped the
fence again, this time into the pasture,
where it remained. DR.. Murray, prac-
ticing physician in Machias, twenty-five
or thirty years ago, kept his horse at the
livery stable some distance from his resi-
dence. On returning from visit if he
had no immediate use for the horse, he
would on getting out Of the buggy say,
"Go to the stable" and the animal would
turn and walk quietly off to his quarters.
When the horse was needed again word
would be sent to the stable, and when
harnessed it would walk to the doctors
door and wait there until the doctor came
out. 1t was a curious sight to strangers
to see horse quietly drawing an empty
buggy through the streets. 1t would be
an easy matter to fiji this paper with sim
liar evidences of the sagacity, reason, or
whatever it may be called, in what are
known as the dumb animals. Probably
the most remarkable dog ever known
here was one owned by Capt. Isaac Clark,
who kept saloon on Main street some
thirty years ago. 1t was not prepos-
sessing animal in appearance, and as to
breed must be classed among mongrels
He was large, ungainly looking ''yallar
dog, and yet his master was at one time
offered and refused $4,000 for him. If
recollection serves right his name was
Peter-Pete for short Pete used to go
to butchers near the foot of Main street
to buy meat for himself, carrying the
pennies given him for that purpose in his
mouth. One day his master gave him a
written order, which was duly honored.
The next time Pete was given piece OF
blank paper, and to his great disgust, no
doubt, received no meat. After that he
would not take a piece Of paper, unless 1t
was WIlllcH Oil uclotS " was 81" w.
him. Pete was always on hand when
the steamers came in. recognizing each by
their whistle, and often reaped quite
number of pennies. Then he would re-
sort to the saloon on the wharf, and plac-
ing his fore paws on the counter drop the
pennies out of his mouth and receive GIN
ger cakes in return. When he did not
happento be particularly hungry he would
retain some of bis pennies and go to sleep
with them In his mouth, and after COM
Portable nap he would again invest in GIN
ger cakes. Pete was often sent home,
evenings, with ladies who were alone, and
a most gallant beau was he. Woe to the
man who would dare insult woman
while Pete was at her side. When ne
became aged his owner, for fear ne might
bite some of the children, had him put
ashore from vessel at Deer Isle, which
was the last known Of Pete.-Be!fdst
Journal