Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-12-25
THE ST. BERNARD Doc.

Noble Brutes which Have Exceptiosa
Claims Upon the Regard OF Human he
lngs-
To speak of St. Bernard dog as an
'-exhibIt" seems somewhat derogatory
TO such a noble creature. Even rs COM
pared with other dogs. they have ex-
septional claims upon the regard of
human beings superiority which only
the Newfoundland and the true shep-
herd dog can in any way be said tc
share with them. The instinct of the
Newfoundland to save life and the
amazing intelligence which 1t shows
whenever It attempts 10 rescue the
drowning have suggested to the Conf
mental River Police the formation Of q
brigade of these brave animals to Co
operate with the regular '-Humane So
ciety." and the experiments. ss rcP1fsd
by our emotional neighbOrs the French.
gave some surprising results II was
apparently proved that the dogs dis
covered at once for themselves the ac-
tual degree Of danger of the immersed
person. and acted accordingly II a
man pretended to fail out OF boat
they pricKed up their ears and
wagged their tails But nothing
they looked much puzzled. but still re-
Trained from Offering assistance They
saw that he was within arm : length OF
the boat; that the other man in il did
nothing to help his unfortunate com
rade. 80 thev put their sagaciOus black
heads together and said one TO the
other: That dr0wner there i either 4
fool of the largest size or else he i an
inpOstcr. In either case we had better
let him alone" And shsv did. But no
experiment when the acciden: happened
10 a man in woman's clothes failed 10
send the dogs splashing in at once. and
If the object was n child the competi-
ton TO save il was immed atelv furious.
Ordinary property failed 10 attract their
interest. but 3 hat floating down the
s.ream made them at once uneasy. and
the older dogs woald 20 in aud paddle
up current and '-quaricr'' TIE water. as
If the association Of mans bat with
his head were too strong for the New
foandland mind TO discolnect the two.
aad as if the animal thought that If the
one was there the other wOuli probably
be not far of
With the sht~ ~p-dog. again. there Is ar
analogous discrimina, ion Of eircun-
stances. II n sudden storm comes
on il first se,s about herding those
sheep which ruu the greatest risk and
securing the places where peril Is most
likely to be fatal For the sake - a
single strasgler which Il Knows to have
gone of il leaves the lock. aud as ~oon
~ it has got the whole number COM
plete the tone Of its voice. its gestures
change so significantly that the shep-
herd knows that all his charges are safe.
On the hOmeward way the cOlley de-
votes all his best attention 10 TIE lame
and weaklings. urging them on with a
benevolent fenocity which the sheep
thoroughly understands, and bestow-
ing upon the rest only n perfunctOry
care. Arrived NJ the fold il imme-
diately suTrenders all responsibilities.
1t says to the shepherd: Il know YOU are
not good for much as q shepherd with
o,it me. but at aay rate YOU cal surely
Shut the sheep up for the night and
count them by yourself l ain going 10
have my supper.
The Intelligence OF the St Bernard
moves in the same arc Il Is OF the
same degree. No dog Is less frivolous
less addicted to canine Fanities. Even
rs puppies they find out their strength
and weight, and the natural generosity
Of their character. so amply expressed
IN the broad. deep set OF the forehead.
the expression of thoughtful diglity in
the eve. makes them far more tolerant
OF trivial alfronts. more patient under
small prOtncatiORs. than their interiors
in size and siaew. When they grow up
they carrv themselves admirably in any
'.scene" with which they may happen
10 ges mixed up. Their presence often
sufiic ss 20 put 4 stop to street-brawL
The gravity with which they approach
the cause of quarrel. the ponderOus air
Of ju licial impariialify with which they
seem % investigate II. are too much for
the lisile dogs OF low degree or the vul-
gar types. Sueh dignity of bearing is
intoleralile to the canaille. They sink
OF in various directions, overpOwered
by ths ssIavity of the giants address.
the iTaps rturbable courtesy of his man
ners- london Telegraph.