Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-09
Can Aniils ais Talk

- lCaSselS Family MAGAZINE
Inc iangu OF animals, like MANY other
long neglected subjects, or subjects on which, In
past times only disconnected and occasional OBJ
SeIvatlons nave been made, has more recently
oeen tnougnt worthy or systematic scientific
inquiry. There are two principal lines of In
VeStlgat1On. These are: ~ What sounds does a
given animal produce? Have we to DO with a
cry, or q moan. or laugh, or note or a sony9
How are We to read it? What letter or coi1
Olnati0n o. letters OF an alphabet used by man
Say the English alphabeD Will represent it?
I h answers 10 these qIestions throw light upon
tne most interesting questions, to what extent
various species possess the power OF arrlcula-
tlon. ~ The second and still more Important
liLie oI investigation is simply defined by the
QUESTION:: now are We to understand or trans
.tte the language OF animals? Now il Is clear
mat We must have key to this (or these), as
10 every other foreign language We have
not FAR TO seek for the key. 1t is In ourselves.
Tue various sounds With which we are familiar
produced oy the human voice, and the burden
mnirn tney pear OF Joy or sorrow. or light
lactlOn or Its opposite, as well as of other feel
lngS-our knowledge OF these sounds, supple
mented by careful observation OF individual
animals, will furnish the required key. only In
the application OF the key lies the difficulty.
The most interesting question that arises at
this point Is that which regards the more intel
that they Will ever speak? In the course OF a
very able paper, the bishop Of Carlisle says:
"a dog sometimes looks as though he was
wonderful; but, after all. the cevereSt dog that
ever lived yet has never been able to get beyond
'bow-wow,' and we may safely predict that no
dog Will ever acquire even the simplest
| elements of human knowledge" But
what, let us ask, is the real barrier
between the dogs mind III the term may be
| uSed) and the simplest elements OF human
know ledge? 1t consists, l believe In this fact;
| that the vocal organs OF the dog are so con-
structed that 1t is impossible for him to artic-
| ulate word. His vocabulary, however already
| extends long way beyond "bow-woW." To be-
! gin with there are as many different meanings
| TO DOW-Wow" or to "wOW" Short and sharp)
| alone as some one said a lady could give to the
word dear" according TO its position In SEN
| tence and the emphasis with which 1t was pro-
| nounced. But besides saying ''bow-wOw," the
uog WINES. And there are many different
| meanings, (Which, however, we are sometimes
| TOO stupid 10 underStand) in the whining Of a
oOg. we nave no fear that dogs or any other of
Cne Drute species Will furnish competitors for
tne prizes 10 De attained by human knowledge;
10r we observe barrier between man and brute
liked. ana intentionally fixed, by creative power
| Where we find In the lower creation. as amongst
birds, the power OF articulation there tine Inlet
| ngence Is absent which could employ that poWer
| for its own development; and where. as In dogs.
| We find conspicuous tokens OF inteIlipence'
there the power OF articulation ia totally absent.
| At breakfast a remarkably light omelette
sOuff1e Is served, at moment when every one
| is engaged In deeply interesting conversation.
| The 0melette Is neglected and begins TO settle
| down from its appetiZtng airness TO the enOr.
nous disgust OF the little daughter Of the house.
| who exclaims: ''Oh ma, do hurryI The ONE
| lette Is eating ITSELF"