The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-29
DOG STORIES.
Instances of the Intelligence shown
by These Faithful Brutcs.

From the London Spectator.
About a fortnight ago l was given
fox terrier. on condition that If il did not
suit me l should return 1t to the donor.
Last Sunday evening / was sitting in the
drawing room with my wife, the dog ly-
ing on his mat by the fire. 1 said that 1
was dissatisfied with the dog, and should
write and offer to return him. My wife
urged me to do so then and there, and,
after discussing the matter for a short
time, l got up to pen the letter As / did
so. the servant came to take the dog
for a run prior to turning in for the
night. No sooner was the garden door
opened than off went the dog, fun speed,
into the darkness, and has not been heard
of since. He had always been taken out
In the same way before, and had always
come in on being called. Whether he un-
derstood the conversation, l cannot tell.
All / can say Is that / can offer no ex-
PLANTATION for his disappearance. My wife
and the servant who let the dog out can
youch for the truth of these particulars.
The letter which l wrote Offering to re-
turn him lies before me unposted, ito
witness II l lie"
/ had two dogs, a spaniel and little
Highland terrier also cat. The latter
has a kitten. born last Monday week. All
the rest OF her family were drowned and
this. ] suppose, has made her rather sus-
piciOus of being moved about, for on Sat
urday last her hamper was put out in the
yard while the floor of the wash house
was scrubbed. 1t was put back again in
the usual place and the cat seemed quite
happy. However. some hours after the
kitten was found to be missing, and the
cat was sitting contentedly on a chair in
the little hall. We all hunted high and
low for the kitten, but could not find 1t.
At last l returned to the dining ROOM
where the two dogs were lying before
the fire, and ! said casually to the ter,
never really thinking she understood me.
when she solemnly got up, walked around
me, under the table and came to my side
then stood looking at a small cupboard,
wagging her tail. ! opened the cupboard
and there lay the kitten on tea-cozyl l
at once called to my cousin, who had by
this time given up the hunt and was in
her own room. She called to know where
II was found, and / said: GO down to
the dining room and ask the dogs to show
YOU" She then went, and said: Dear
dogs, do show me where the kitty isl!
and Immediately the spaniel got up and
went to the cupboard looking at the door
and wagging his tail. They certainly both
understood what was wanted of them
The spaniel was born In 1887 and has been
in my possession since she was about
weeks old The terrier is about the same
age. but have only had her since Decem-
Der, 1890.
Apropos of your interesting article on
Recent RatlOre," in the Spectator OF
Nov. g. the Incidents named from II. g.
Barkley's graphic Studies on Rat Catch
ing" suggest my writing to narrate
clever exploit of a retriever dog belong
ing to the housekeeper Of a well-known
newspaper office i'm the Strand. Rats are
constantly caught on the premises, and
the dog. fully aware of their habits,
evinces such ability that his intelligence
is quite worthy Of record. Last Sunday
he was heard barking loudly, calling for
assistance, in the compostors room,
where there is rat hole in the floor. The
dog had watched two fine rats come
up through their hole, and Immediately
they were fairly away from the point of
cd md unf on fl,a hnf,
to cut off their means of retreat, bark
ing forthwith for help. Nothing would
induce him to bulge till a board was
brought and placed over the hole, when
he started in pursuit and soon dispatched
the intruders His master assures me that
the dog originated this ingenious method
OF procedure and that he has practiced
II with like success on several other oc-
casions.