The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
REMARKABLE noes.
Stories OF Intelligent Animals that !
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qucntly needed of animals, and in,the
hour of temptation they have not sue
cnmbed. Quite recently the Canadian
papers reported an aDecdote OF canine
fidelity which, had it been told Of Ro.
man soldier or Hindu nurse, would
have been bruite3 throughout the civil,
ized world as an instance of humauity's
snpremess devotion to duty. The story
as told to us is, when nearing Montreal,
the engine driver of q train saw great
dog standing on the track and barking
fusiously. The driver blew his whistle,
yet the hound did not bulge, but crouch
ing lew was struck by the locomotive
and killed. Some pieces of white mus
lin on the engine attracted the drivers
notice he stopped the train and went
back. Beside the dead dog was dead
child, which, it is supposed, had wan
dered on to the track and had gone to
sleep. The poor, watchful guardian had
given its signal for the train to stop,but,
unheeded, had died at its post, 6 victim
to. duty.
This is no solitary specimen of canine
integrity. The author Of "Salad for the
Social' tells Of a dog whose master de-
posted abag in one of the narrow streets
OF Southampton, and left his dog to
guard it, with strict injunctions not to
ieave it, The faithful creature was so
stanch in the fulfllment of duty, that,
rather than forsake its trust, it actually
allowed a heavy cart to drive over it and
crush it to death.
1t is not merely momentary impulse or
ignorance of the effects of this stead
fastness-as some may imagine-that
prompts animals to act thus faithfully.
There are numerous cases on record to
prove that they will sustain hunger, en-
dure pain and fatigue, and Withstand
temptation at the dictates of duty as gal
lantly as any human being. Youatt is
the authority for the following remarks
BILE instance Of canine integrity:
An officer returning from a days
shooting deposited his spoil in certain
room, in the custody of his dogs. He
locked the door, put the key in his pock-
ct and departed. Soon afterward he
was called away upon urgent business,
and during his absence of several days
forgot ali about his big game and dogs.
When he returned home he hastened to
his room and there found both dogs
dead of hunger. Not only had they
refraired from touching the game, but
they had also kept quiet, having neither
barked nor cried, evidently fearing to
betray the trust they deemed thei. mas
fer had confided to them.
In his interesting "African Travels, :"
lie Valiant details how he missed his
favorite setter. After fruitless search
and the repeated firing of his gun to
guide the animal, he sent IN attendant
back by the way they had travelled to
try and discover the lost favorite.
About two leagues back the dog was
found keeping guard over chair and a
basket which had been dropped rnper-
ceived from the wagon. But for this
fortunate discovery the dog must have
perished by hunger or from beasts of
prey.
In Taylor's General Character of the
Dog" is given on account of one these
faithful animals which daily carried to a
laborer in the Portsmouth dockyard his
dinner. Trusty, as the dog was rightly
named, had to take the basket contain
ing his masters midday meal upward of
q mile, so that he had frequently to rest
on the journey. He was very careful as
to where he deposited his load, and
would not allow anyone to come near it.
When, he reached the dock gates he
often had to wait until they were opened
for the admission or egress of anyone,
but the instant he could effect an en-
trance he ran in with his charge and car
ried it to his master, who, after he had
-partallen of his dinner. re-delivered the
empty basket to his faithful servitor to
carry home again.
/, In his "Essay on Instinct" Hancock
tells of dog belonging to Glasgow
tap-room keeper that was accustomed to
carry its masters breakfast to him in
tin can between its teeth. When the
family removed the dog changed his
route and never went wrong. 1t could
not be induced to accept favor when
or its masters errands, and carefully
avoided any of its own species. This
incorruptible servant, which, by the
way, understood Gaelic as we'll as Eng.
Ish, often carried home meat to the
weight Of half stone, but never at
tempted to touch it. Dogs, indeed,
rarely attempt to touch food belonging
to their owners. One very remarkable
instance is recorded by Jessie of dog
that accompanied its mistress when re-
turning from market with basket of
provisions.
They were overwhelmed by a snow
storm, and not discovered for three days;
the woman was found to be dead. but
the dog, which was lying by her side,
was &ariRc. The honest creature, how
ever, had not touched the catablcs in his
mistress basket, but, es ncighboring vii
layers remembered, when too late, had
been endeaYoring, on the evening of the
storm, by whining and signs they could
not comprehend, to induce them to fol
low it to where its mistress was.
In his "AnecdOtes of Dogs" Captain
Brown speaks of a mastitf that was
locked up by mistake an entire day in a
pantry where milk, butter, and meat
were within reach. The hungry dog did
not touch any of these things, though it
ate voraciously as soon as food was given
to it.
Colonel Hamilton Smith is our au-
thority for the enecdote of a dog that
followed its owner, who was on horse
back and who contrived to drop some
cakes from his basket as ne cartered
home. On his arrival he found that his
trusty follower had gathered up some of
the lost cakes and carried them home,
and had gone for the remainder, which
it duly returned with untasted.
"Dogs," says Colonel Smith, "have an
instructive comprehension of the nature
of property" and it is really most re-
considering that they have not
human speech, how frequently and how
we'll they make us understand their views
on this point. The colonel alludes to the
case of a lady at Bath, who was some
what alarmed by the behavior Of
strange mastiff that seemed anxious to
prevent her going on. Finding she had
lost her veil, she turned back, the dog
going before her until she came to the
missing article and picked it up. AS
soon as the dog saw she had regaincd
her property it scampered of to its mas
ter.
A Japanese Village.