Wichita eagle., 1888-08-08
NATURES FRIENDSHIPS.
THE STATE OF WAR NOT SO
BAD AS WE IMAGINE.
Animals Dread Of Human Befngs-Our
Slaughter of Birds and Beasts-Grief Of
Pets at Losing q Friend-Natura1 An
finafhies

Pets at Losing Friend-Natural An
tipathies.
There is deal Of love killed out or pre-
vented from manifesting itself. This is true
not only among human beings, but between
men and animals and birds. and even insects.
The state of war that is in existence in ma
ture is not by half as bad as we imagine.
The worst half Is caused by our own selfish
interference. On wild islands, when first
visited by men, it is always reported that
fowls and birds areso tame that they permit
the approach OF any one without the idea OF
fear. But this they soon lose. The same is
true OF seals and animals that have not been
hunted. But there grows up rapidly dread
Of man, SO that the scent OF human being
to an antelope, elk or buffalo is most abhor-
rent This becomes an inherited trait. Man,
after ell, is the great destroyer that Is
dreaded in all the realms Of nature. The fe-
line tribes rank next to him, together with
wolves, hawks end serpents. This is not a
pleasant fact to consider, but it is saddest OF
all that it is fact.
Nor does this begin to tell the full truth. 1t
is not wild animals alone that dread Us, but
as a rule there is little love for Us among aaEne
animals, the dog excepted The cat has an
occasional friend, but is compelled for the
most part to live on the defensive. Some
races, like the Bedouins, live on terms Of
familiarity with their horses and camels-
These exceptions show the possible friend
ship. In Quaker barnyard have seen such
rule of love that every animal was con-
scious friend. 1t is only because Of our
brutality, or indifference, that our animals
are not our lovers. Cows are by 10 means
aboard faced creatures" when gently handled
Trained up as pets, they become aifectionate
to a degree surpassed only by dogs. l have
owned horse that never allowed me to ap-
proach without placing her head affection
ately across my shoulder or her nose in my
bosom.
cannot think without anger Of the
slaughter Of birds and animals for no posi-
bic reason but sport The birds would take
to us" freely, if they dared; and, us it is,
few have managed to break down prejudice.
The friendship between mankind and robins
l can hardly comprehend, for this bird is far
less valuable than some others, and is also
less beautiful A writer in Vick's Magazine
relates how she formed a friendship with
humming bird 81 have had one brief little
friendship with bird during the present
summer which seems like tender dream, a
peep into fairyland" She had come upon
tiny young humming bird that had been
chilled by cool night, and, picking him up,
had warmed and fed him. He grew SO tame
that "when he was hungry he would fly
down to me from top of picture, and,
alighting On a twig in my fingers, would sit
and sip his sugar and water from teaspoon
or the end of my finger. These drops would
CIV T. md thar, of ha 40 Ia
lighted to be held over large spoonful Of
soft water, and dip in his beak and splash
water over his little body"
There Is no reason why this gentle accord
may not be established on all hands. Pris-
oners, as we know, have formed curious at
tachments for crickets and spiders, and thus
saved themselves from loss of reason during
solitary confinement Nor, even in such
cases, is the friendship altogether on one side.
Foxes, dogs, CATS horses, have been known
to die for grief over the death of special
friend. l have seen manifestations of in
tense grief in several cases. The cat is capa-
BILE of peculiarly strong attachments. l have
known one to be inconsolable for many
weeks after the departure Of q boy to whom
he specially devoted himself.
Natural antipathies form the other side Of
this question and the illustrations are all
about A stray dog came to my place last
summer He laid himself fiat on his belly as
l approached, only moving his eyes with tho
most intent watchfulness. | drew nearer,
not motion, but he drew still fiatter to the
soil He was Offering his services. Would
| accept himl He was beautiful cross of
shepherd and hunter. | said, Yes, you
may stay" He knew in moment the pur-
port of my words. Leaping up, he came
with eyes full of gladness and took my scent,
and at once was member of my household
But the friendship was ever first of ell for
myself.
Now came the question Of cat and dog for
had splendid cat that had had no dogs
about to annoy him. Here was the natural
antagonism OF the feline and canine races
But "Shep" understood perfectly that he was
an adopted resident, and must not crowd his
acquaintance. They could not become quite
friends, but learned 10 tolerate each other.
What is this natural antipathyi Traced far
enough back, the ancestry of the felines and
CANNES come out of q common stock. Bus
these terrible clawing creatures have been
outlaws from time immemorial. To bite is
allowable in the animal code; but TO scratch,
that is an innovation and indecent We havs
codes that allow DULLES to pound and kick,
but they must not scratch. 1t is easy to irra-
agine how the first that took to using their
nails were driven out of the tribe. l believe
the genuine ancestry to be canine; the feline
is spurious ofTshoot
There are intense hatreds, as we well know.
between birds Not one of them will form
an alliance with the English sparrow. So far
as I have observed the blackbird has no
friends and does not care for any. He works
in troops, steals in companies, and has his
bill agains. all other sorts of birds, and is de-
tested in turn An owl is q lonely creature,
only that it is said occasionally to make 4 pet
of a snake instead of eating it, which doubt
The friendship is probably ike that Of prai-
RE dogs and rattiesnakeS-an invasion OF
snakes that can not be prevented The owl
may not be able to digest some Of his saurian
acquaintances AS G. rule there is some one,
or two, members OF household, that had
better let the domestic cat alone-sometimes
also the dog or dogs. Why these are not
liked by the animals do not know, unless II
be something in the scent. Horses have
strong antipatbies to certain groouas, based,
/ should judge, at least in part, on smell
'E. p. Pr in Globe Democrat