Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-06

garding the brain power of the great
pachyderm. So the question practically
remains along the original lines, and the
debate regarding dog and horse will doubt
less continue until we can learn the canine
and equine languages and get the views of
the foremost of our so called dumb
friends" on the matter. Meanwhile, if re-
ports from various points are to be credit
ed, the dog is doing his best to show what
he knows, and also to show that he knows
good deal.
There's an unrivaled exhibition of canine
equestrianism to be seen ON the streets of
Chicago almost any day, which has fully as
much or even more real merit about it than
one will see in similar displays that are
made in any of the greatest shows on
searth." The performer is an exceptionally
intelligent water spaniel, and he is & rider
of skill His act consists in a word, of
riding delivery wagon horse whose driver
usually enforces a pellmell gait.
The spaniel sits his mount with his hind
feet on the horse's collar, or where the col
lar would come, and his front feet, one
ahead of the other, ON the narrow ridge of
the horses neck, his claws clutched in the
name. The faster the horse goes the better
the dog seems to like it, judging from the
many barks and the lively way in which
he wags his tail. The sudden rounding of
corner never catches the plucky little
animal off his guard but at such times he
will 'curve in" with apparently the intel
Hgence of the most accomplished circus
rider, and so never loses his balance. He
has fallen but once in the two years that
his owner says he has been riding, and that
was when the horse came near being killed
by u cable car.
The horse never goes so well as when
carrying the dog, and that of course means
that horse and dog are warm friends.
Woe to the person or animal who bothers
either of them when the other is around,
for between the kicking of the horse and
the biting of the dog the two old chums
make it exceedingly unpleasant for in
truders.
The spaniel learned his equestrian act in
novel manner. One day while playing
with him in their fathers barnyard, where
the horse happened to be, the children of
the owner climbed upon a shed that was in
the yard. The dog wanted to follow them,
but saw that the jump was too great for
him. AS he went chasing about looking
for some way in which to lessen the leap
he caught sight of the horse standing near
the shed. With an intelligence so good,
under the circumstances, as to be almost
human, he seemed to say to himself, "Why
not use the horse as big step toward get
ting on the shed?" Then with a bound he
sprang upon the horse's back The horse
took instant fright, however, at the auda-
cious liberty of the spaniel, and before the
latter could gather himself to spring to the
shed went tearing around the barnyard.
His canine rider stuck to him like cat for
several rounds, until finally the horse
slowed up and the dog dismounted.
Mutual explanations followed in dog and
horse language, which were supplemented,
it is supposed by the dog promising the
horse to keep other dogs from bothering
him if the latter would give him more
rides thereafter. The horse, it seems,
agreed, and he contract continues in force
to the entire satisfaction of both parties,
although it's question with the hundreds
rf people who daily gaze in establishment
:. the novel sight whether dog or horse has
best of it.
If anything could be more queer than
he Chicago case it is that of California
spaniel which chums with a long tailed
exile from Africa.
Better leave that monkey alone if you
don't want the dog to bite you. He won't
let anybody fool with his chum." The
speaker was twelve-year- old Charley Bur-
rell, of 1859 Post street, San Francisco, and
his remarks were addressed to crowd of
men and boys that crowded around him
and his two pets. The pets in question
were a fine looking, silky haired spaniel
and a diminutive monkey that was
perched on the dogs back and seemed
quite at home there. Most dogs would OBJ
ject to playing horse, but Rex not only
seemed to enjoy the fun, but also took it
upon himself to resent any undue familiar
ity with his rider.