The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-05
DOG PETE's COMMON SENSE.
No Pedigree and no RepertOry of
Tricks, But He Knew a Good Deal.

No Pedigree and no Repertory of
Tricks, But He Knew a Good Deal.
From the Hartford Courant.
He was not thoroughbred, heightened
dog, with an ancestry that made him a
canine aristocrat. He was a plebian
hound, democratic and homespun in his
ways, with a degree of intelligence and
common sense that would do credit to
man. the speaking animal His name was
Pete and for fourteen years he was
member of the family of n. NJ. Wright of
East Hartland. He had a good head on
him for a dog, and many of his feats of
mind power. so to speak, are traditions
in the family. He knew all the members
of the family when their various names
were called and would approach the moth
er or the aunt whenever told to do so, and
never made a mistake. One instance of
Pete's sagacity is worth noting as show
ing the quality of the dog.
1t was during the period of heavy snow
and impossible roads Immediately sue
ceeding the March blizzard of 1888. One
member of the family was away from
home six miles and half and sick. There
was no way to get any word 10 or from
the roads. Pete was familiar with the
place where the sick person was and how
to get there. He also appeared very ner-
vous and evidently missed the sick one
from the house. One day it occurred that
communication might be established by
Pete. note was tied about his neck and
he was told to go and find the sick one.
He plunged into the snow. made his way
six miles and a half, gained entrance to
the house, rushed into the sick room and
jumped upon the bed. The note was read,
an answer tied to Petes collar aud he was
sent back. He made the round trip in
two hours and half and each day for
two weeks made the same trip, varying
scarcely a minute from two hours and
half on any trip.
Well, Pete grew old. He was weak. his
teeth were gone, and 1t was hard lines for
the old hound Mr.. Wright, although he
has shot many animals in his capacity as
agent for the Humane Society, could not
bring himself to part company with
friend that had done such faithful service
and been so worthy a member of his
family. So it happened that one day this
week Dwight w. Thrall, the general agent
of the society," was out in Hartland and
he was called upon to perform the sad Of
fee Pete was sent across the Styx pain
lessly at the muZzle Of Mr.. Thralfs re-
solver. His body was put in a new pine
box and he was accorded decent burial;
and there were real tears from those who
loved him.
The Garner. idea of monkey language
and general humanlike intelligence is
to be given thorough test at Calcutta,
says the st. Louis Republic At that
place a college for the cultivation Of the
higher senses of precocious monkeys has
been established. and some wonderful
results are confidently anticipated. The
"school'' is the result of an agitation on
the part of some very advanced evolu-
tionsts and naturalists, who know
enough concerning the monkeys chafac-
terstlcs to firmly believe that he can be
taught to talk in a way, enough, at
least, to express wants. The method to
be employed is known by the name of
the letter block system" A block al
phabet in which the letters are highly
colored is arranged before the monkey
student. With these he will be taught
to arrange come simple word. such as
pie" and as soon as the word is COM
pieted he will be given a piece Of pie as
a prize. The promoters of the scheme
are confident of success.