Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-09-05
" owes and Dogs.

How is il that the wclf of Russia is so
much more formidable an enemy to the
human race than his French OF German
brother? Writers and novelists of all
ages have accused this Ubiquitous quad
ruped OF treachery, stealIhiness and
ferocity, until children, WHO take their
impressions from books and not from
experience, have come TO regard hirl as
the ncalnatioh of that Is mean, blood
thirsty, tricky. and dangerous. Truth
compels me, however" says Lieutenant
Colonel Richard living Dodge, of the
United States Army, so affirm that oi
all the carniyoTous animals OF equal size
and strength he is the most harmless to
beast and the least dangerous to man.
He will not even attack when wounded; ;
and though he will snap at pursuing
dogs IN seif-defense. he never follows up
the advantage gwen hun by his sharp
teeth and powerful Jaws, INT takes to
Il ght as fast as he can" These words,
written about the buffalo wof of the
American plains, tail, gaunt. lean and
hungry looking, may W tn equal truth
be applied TO Lis congener Ill Brittany
and Pultou. In the former province
wolves are rarely seen, although tbey
commit terrible nocturnal depredations
among sheep, calves and dogs. Such,
however, is Their cowardice, that every
Breton tanner Is in the habit OF sending
his flock OF sheep out to pasturage dur
ing the day with little child, often a
girl not more than 6 or years of age.
IN charge OF them, and nothing Is more
uncommon than for the hungry Darau-
der, who lies licking his chops on the
edge OF The adjoining IhicKet, to issue
forth from his fastness and pcunce upon
a sheep SO long as the lnfantile repre-
sentative of the lord of creation is close
at hand. At night, however, the woli
Is bolder, and will scale walls and
scratch his way through the matched
roof of the sheepfold to get at his prey,
Strange as 1t may seem, the dog-es-
pecially If he be OF the smooth-halred
breed, like the pointer or fox terrler-I
has more attractions for the ''canls
lupus" whose relative or descendant he
is generally believed to be, than the
woolly sheep. when a wolf is hungry"
writes an English gentleman who has
long resided III Brittany, 'and smells
an appetlzlng deg, he aIlI spring upon
hum and carry him off, even under the
nose of his master. 1t is certain, Ill
fact, tLat the wolf prefers dog to any
other prey. When was at Hne goei
three Years since wolf iunpel oveI
the wall of the hotel yard and carried
off dog whose piteous howls awoke
the entire village. An empty collar,
suspended at the end of the chain, and
covered with blood, bore testimony tc
the untlmeIy fate of its late vearer."
Tue lively author of "Wolf-huntlpg in |
Brittany relates that Breton peasant
named Antoine hved some years since
with his wife In the Forest OF Dualt or |
"BIack Rock" A heavy snow-s,orm |
had fallen to the mountains, and for
several nights III succession Antoine |
found 1t necessary to protect his there |
sheep by admitting them TO his hut |
SIX or seven wolves paced around his |
dwelling All night, utiering the most
dismal howls; but large wood-tire and
the presence Uf man kept off the fam
ished besieges. AT last the peasant
and his wife fell asleep. and the fire
burnt low. A sudden lash was made |
at the roof, and five jaunt wolves Ieaped
down into the hut. Before Antoine
could strike a light the three sheep were
devoured and iavorite little dog was
swallowed at q gulp, and then the in
vaders sprang upon an old oaken cup
board and disappeared through the
roof.