The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-09-10
DOGS THAI TALK.
Remarkable Instances of yocalixatfen b.
-.t CANNES.

Is
In a recent number Of this paper,
says the Youths Companion, reference
was made to the experiments of 9
| FrenchElan of science in teaching a
dog TO articnlate certain sounds be-
! longing to human speech. A dog, it
was stated, had been found in Paris
which was able to utter a sound APP
preaching very nearly to the word
mamma. ..
A correspondent OF the Companion
writes that dog has been observed
aud carefully studied much nearer
home than Paris who pronounces the
word mamma" as nearly like the
sound OF humanspeech rs it is possible
for it to be uttered with the wido
mouth and loose lips of dog, and
who does this with conscious effort,
knowing that it is required of him.
This dog, a large black Newfound-
land, little more than year old, is
the property of person who lives at
Arlington Heights, village near Bos-
ton He has long head, a prominent
archcd forehead, and lips which are
full and Sarge, overhanging the lower
jaw y little.
Aie IVY wien Caiieu ny llS young
master and asked STANLEY, whom do
YOU love?" or simply told to "Say it"
showed that he is aware that some
thing is expected of him. He begins
to look around for the bit of cake or
other morsel of food which is to re-
ward him for his attempt. and it is
usually shown to him.
AS an Introductory performance
Stanley lies down upon the floor. He
never" talks" in any other attitude, but
when lying down he keeps his head
c.oar of the floor.
Now say it," says his master, snap
ping his fingers. The dog began to
work his mouth, opening and shutting
his great lips repeatedly. BY and by
he gives out sound which is half
way between growl and whine,
and which is continually interrupted
by the opening and shutting of the
lips.
The effect is much like "maw-maw-
maw-maw." The dog is told that this
will not do, and that he must saw
mamma" He resumes the workings
of his lips, and reduces the number Of
his syllables to three.
Once more told that this will not do,
he makes another attempt His voice
seems to fall, and the vocal sound to
be less broad, and at last he shortens
down his speech to two syllables and
utters sound which, heard from an
adjoining room, might easily be mis-
taken for a human voice speaking the
word "mamma
He is apparently proud of his
achievement and says his "mamma"
again and again. He is rewarded with
his bits of cake and is plainly clated
and somewhat excited.
Attimes he says his "mamma" with
out any preliminary experimenting
with larger number of syllables.
Occasionally he approaches very much
nearer the vocal sound "ah" in the
word than he does at other times, and
sometimes he whispers the word
rather than "speaks" it, emitting his
breath without any distinct vocal
sound.
His master says that the accomplish
ment had its beginning in what was
apparently an accident. When young
puppy the dog uttered whine, at the
same time closing his lips. 1t occur
red to the master that the sound could
be developed into the utterance of the
word "mamma, and he began from
time to time, rs occasion served, to
teach him to repeat the sound, reward
ing him when it was accomplished.