Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-09-30
aylomth' q Column.
Animals as Actors.

Many animals have the dramatic
instinct; that is, they enjoy acting q
part and ssmaking believe as much
as some children do. An English
gentleman, who had once been in the
cavalry service, used to tell me a
great many anecdotes about a horse
that belonged to his regiment.
cold Sal," as she was called, had
innumerable tricks and devices of her
own, and was quite the practical jo-
ker Of the company. A very common
one with her was suddenly to nip
with her teeth the man who was
grooming her; and, when he looked
up angrily after such an unprovoked
attack, he would always find her ing
nocently gazing into the distance as
| if she had never dreamed of doing
such a thing. She knew how to turn
| her cleverness to her own advantage,
| too. The horses were fed from
long trough with swinging bar be-
tween each two to keep them apart,
and secure the proper division of the
oats. Old Sal would quietly blow
her own oats into the farthest corner,
and then, putting her, head over the
bar, blow her neighbours oats within
reach, eat them, and then return to
her own share.
Dogs are very fond of pretending.
[ know a little dog, the especial pet
of his mistress, who will assume five
or six different parts in the course of
a game. One of his favorite plays is
to rush at his mistress as if he were
going to make a furious attack upon
her with teeth and claws, but he takes
the greatest care never really to hurt
her. Then he will be exceedingly
mournful, and in an instant all life
and fun, changing quite as suddenly
into an air and attitude of resentful
indignation, and all these with the
same ease that comic actor on the
stage might show.
But the best acting [ ever heard of
was done by a dog of the kind called
"lurcher." He belonged to a IA
nous poacher, who is a man that
steals patridges, hares, and pheasants
from his rich neighbors. Many a
fine lot of game did this dog help his
master to secure. The laws in Eng
land are very severe against poach-
ing, or stealing game; for the gentle
men wish to preserve it for their own
pleasure. So great effort was made
to bring this man to trial and convict
him. Very little proof could be
brought against him, however. He
had never actually been seen with
game in his possession, although this
dog had, when, as the game-keepers
believed, he was carrying it to his
master who had trained him for this
purpose.
He denied stoutly that the dog was
his, or that he knew anything about
it. SO the judge had the dog brought
into the room, thinking he would i'm
mediately prove the falsehood of this
by a joyful recognition. But to
everybody's surprise, the dog did not
look at the man or notice him at all,
nor would he even come near him.
So the man was discharged as inno-
cent.
But the dog was his, and had only
been taught by his master to pretend
not to know him when anybody else
was present. If you have ever no.
ticed how instinctively a dogs tail
begins to wag and his ears to twitch
with pleasure when he hears his mass
ter's voice, you will understand what
fine piece of acting this was. 1t is
pity his cleverness should have
been used for such bad purposes
Exchange.