The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-27
AN INTELLECTUAL DOG.
A Story Of Canine ieverncss-rindinG the
Way Home.

-
Way Home.
Carriage dogs arc seldom good look
ing; |. for my part, have a dislike Ia
their spotty appearance, but ! must
confess 10 weakness for Spot, who II
really quite one Of the clcyorcst dogs
, fhay6 ever known, and though some
! of the siofits told OF him sound alto
gether improbable the truth Of them
can he vouched for without hesitation.
Part Of his life lie lived at Cambridge,
and Us hc had great deal OF spare
time on his hands (hls master being
( much engrosscd by his literary work.,
he took to paying visits 10 neighbor
ing police station and taking hls exer'
else with members Of the stall. lbs
master knew but little Of his move
menis. rs Spot was dog Of lndepend..
cnt habits and well able. TO take care OF
himself On some occasions he ab-
scented himself for n few days together,
but always turned up safe and sound
NJ the end Of that time, no anxiety
being meantime felt about him, al
though nobody knew what he did with
himself
Enlightenment on this point was
brought home 10 his master III the fol
| lowing fashion: He had been giving
himself little more relaxation OF late,
and Spot had been, in consequence,
more with him, and less abroad on his
own devices One evening, as master
and dog were sitting over the fire
together, there came knock at the
door, followed by the entrance Of a
police constable, whose appearance
Spot hailed by Hopping his tail upon
the floor IF you please, SIR, began
the man, civilly, I've come TO ask II
Won can kindly spare the dog fora bitf
'Tho dog replied the master, in sur
prise my dog, do you meani What
do you want hum forp We've got a
new man on the beat sir" was the
answer as if that could explain every
thing.
Much pcrplexed, the dogs master
proceeded TO mako inquiries, and
elected the information that Spot, from
ACCOMPANYING the different men on
their rounds, had learned every beat
with the greatest precision, and was
quito q qualified adept at instructing
the now man. The constable simply
Started the dog on amy given round
and babe the new man follow Mm
and sure enough Spot would show him
his beat, take him accurately round It,
and never make mistake. Night OF
day he would boat the service of any
new man, and would constitute him
self his protector until he had fsfnil-
iarized himself with his now duties.
1T saves us telling Off man to in
struct q new conner, you sec, sir, con
cluded the constable. "And if so be
assyou can spare the dog you'll be
doingus kindness. Taught him, siri
Bless you, he taught his own self.
Nobody ever taught him nothing.
Dogs ike that don't want no teaching.
lie Just keeps his eyes and ears open,
and takes it III like human creature
that lie dor ii really seemed some
times as if the policemans words were
true.
One CT the sons Of the house where
he lived, who was going TO live III
Dublin, pctitioned TO take Spot with
him, us lie was such companion.
This was agreed to, and Spot was taken
from the Manor house, where his lat
ter years had been passed. and trans
| planted to Dublin. Letters brought
| the news that he did not seem TO settle
down Gt all comfortably; and one
morning, as the family were assembled
at breakfast, what was their sur
prisc to sec Spot walk calmly IN, with
an ar Of the utmost assurance, and Inc
quietly down, with q SIGH of content
| rnent, upon favoritc black mat of his
i'll front Of one Of the French windows.
! He was tired and rather shabby look
ing, but quite composed and self con
tanned, showing 10 elusive excite
mcnt, but a sort OF calm satisfaction,
! which was quite as eloquent IN its way.
At first It was supposed that the dog
master must be on the road, asst was
considered impossible that the dog
could have crossed the water alone but
no master came, only "a letter an
nouncing the loss Of Spot Partly out
Of curiosity, | believe though II
seemed rather shame, / thought,
! poor Spot was sent back 10 Dublin.
But what q doc can do once. he cal &c
again, and very soon ho was back IN
his Old home, from which 10 further
attempt was made 10 move linn. Ii
was then | made his acquaintance, and
though | never witnessed any facts Of
extraordinary sagacity, he always had
| 80 q Nfflf
awake and intelligent dog. He had
odd likes and dislikes among the
horses, With whom lac spent most Of
his time. There were some among
them with whom he positively de
cIined TO run, whoever rode or drove
them, while it was aPerfect delight TO
90 With others. Altogether he was q
curious dog, and decidedly an original.
-Cassells Magazine.