Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
How . Dog Forms Opinions and judges
Mans Character.


Mans Character.
A mans sense of enjoyment and his
means of comprehension, though in
some ways vastly superior to those of
the lower animals, are in other direc-
tons immensely inferior. Take. for
instance, the sense of smelling; man,
says recent writer, may walk for miles
without once being actually conscious
that he possesses such a sense as smell
beyond the general sensation of being
in a pure and fresh atmosphere. Half
a dozen times, perhaps. in his walk he
wakes ND to it. A bean field in bloom,
or a bank of violets, or burning weeds,
or new-mowd nay, or some blossoming
woodbine, or the wallIlowers or fhignO-
nette in cottage Cumbersome one or
other of these may arrest his attention
at rare intervals by their fragrance, and
so steal into notice: but the man does
not look for them. and he is quite con-
tent to begin and finish his waikiki it so
happen-without any of them. How
different with the dog who has set ont
with him. and has been enjoying his
walk side by side with his master, re-
ceiving impressions from the same sur
roundings and under the same circum-
stances! What a completely different
aspect things have had for him! His
sense Of enjoyment has been-like his
master to his capacity; but
what different influences have appealed
to him! If, when they reach home, the
dog were able to make known his inn
pressions, and spread them out side by
side with his masters, they would prob
ably be as opposite as the poles-just as
unlike as if they had been received.
these on this earth, and the others
among the mountains of the moon.
Watch the dog for an instant, and see
what his interest is conferred in, what
sense it is that engrosses his attention
most. He has an exceedingly quick eye
and ear. and it would be difficult tor
even mouse of lightcst foot to emerge
from its hole and creep round the old
stump close by and in again without be-
ing detected. The faintest rustic OF leaf
, the slightest movement wouldsbe sut1i-
cient to betray its presence. Either
through eye or ear, very likely through
be made conscious of the interesting
little circumstance. But, quick As all
his senses are, it is to that of smell,
above all, that the dog trusts. This is
the final arbitaer-the test to which all
| difficult problems are subjected, and by
which an doubts are solved. 1t is in q
world of scents that a dog lives and
moves and has his being. What \ Gu
.ious scent this bramble leaf has! and
his spot in the road! and that last net
lie he passed-how interesting! How
nnlike all other nettles he ever met
with! He must return and investigate.
And, doing so, he becomes, for few
moments, so ensrossed that his master $
command can scarcely persuade him to
leave it. And then, as to Judging of
character, let reader who possesses a
dog say whether he knows of any test
that can be for one moment compared
with the test supplied by the bundle of
nerves that spread themselves out at the
tip of dogs nose. If a pun may be
pardOned, l would express my belief
| that by no other known means can so
correct diagnosis OF mans character
be obtained. At all events, all will
agree that dog depends upon it with
out any reserve whatever, and no
amount of lattcry will serve to alter
the opinion he has by such means ar
rived at. And who does not remember
how, when Ulysses returned home, af-
ter his many years absence, disguised
as beggar, neither length of time nor
change of appearance and clothing
served for moment to deceive his
faithful hound. While every other
member of the household was regard
ing him as stranger. his dog came up
and instantly discovered his identity
Christian Union.