Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-18
WISE DOGS. 4 MULES.
A MAsTIFF THAT GOULD COUNT
AND ALSO DISTINGUISH COLORs.
One Dog With n Memory for Friends
ana Foes md Another With a
Sense of Humor-Dogs that Car
ricd Messages.
(New York SUM-


The beasts which perish are mighty
interesting lot. IL only the observer looks
at them through sympathetic eyes. Such
an observer can no more doubt their
possession OF what are called the higher
faculties than he can doubt the sun
shining or the growth Of grass. In proof
take n few stories here set down. For
the most part they came within the
writer's knowledge. In the few cases
given as second hand the source was
trustworthy.
Take first the story Of Dash, a big,
white, shaggy, mongrel mastih' who
stood almost four feet at the shoulder,
and could pull down an OK. Yet he was
the gentlest Of four-footed things; Ike
wise the most faithful His master ran
a big farm; had pastures 20 acres In
extent. and kept sheep, hogs. and cattle
by the hundred, not to mention SOME
twenty-five head OF horses ana mules. lie
could take Dash into the clover-held'
where all were grazing, show him the
track Of one particular beast-sheep, hog,
or COW. It made no difference-say TO the
dog. Fetch" and then 80 about his
business and be certain Dash would sepa-
rate and bring out that particular animal
II he had 10 follow 1t all day, and, FUR
Their. II the track were crossed by
hundred different hOofs. But that was
less wonderful than Dash's ability TO
count and distinguish col0rs. If the order
was. Fetch two" or three, OF five. he
obeycd II accurately. He would drive UP
the mules. If told to do it, paying no
attention to the horses grazing beside
them. Conversely. IL horses were ordered
no took no heed OF the long ears. lie
would fetch the gray mare, or the bay
according TO direction and knew tho riding
horses-Sonny. Silver Tail. and BlaZes-
by name as well as all the men on the
place The time he was about tho house
he was the most yigilant and discrimi-
mating Of watch-dogs. Familiar friends
and neighbors he met at the gate. bark
ing, frolicking, and caperins about
Strangers OF good appearance he escorted
sedately to the front door, keeping httie
way behind and never taking his eyes
from them til they had been spoken to
by some Of the family. But TO the sham
bling. seedy. or Unlocking he was
terror on four feet, barking growing,
Ieaping violently upright against the Sate,
and showing his teeth savagely II they
made To pass
Dash died full Of years and honors. leav-
ing Watch, his son, TO reign in ms stead
Outwardly Watch wac his counterpart
but through his mother owned brinlle
bull cross which cropped out IN the
fercest savagery. His master had by ms
time removed into the country town,
but lived in the outskirts. and had gar
den. orchard and paddock. besides his
house plot. Though tramps and light
fingered darkies abOunded. everything
within his enclosure went untouch-
ed so long as Watch was out Of his ken
mel, though he was never freed OF block
and chain.
One day. as n visitor came In from
the street. the dog growled and frightened
her TO the point Of screaming. His mas
ter raped him lightly across the nose
and babe him begone, telling him Ii was
disgraceful thus 70 annoy a lady. Watch
skunk away. still growing. Two days
later he espied the woman about whom
he had been scolded passing along the
pavement outside his owners gate. lie
at once leaped the fence with force
that broke his chain, sprang upon her,
threw her down, and would have mangled
her had not his master run to her res
cue Always afterward the sight OF her
sent him into a crazy rage.
y GOOD MEMORY.
Watch had n good memory for kind
ness as we'll as for hurts. Another yisi-
tor to the house saw him thirsty and
painting beside his kennel. and ran out TO
him with big basin Of water He Tapped
languidly, with no sign Of satisfaction,
but always thereafter the water-bearer
could come into the house In the alb
sence Of all the family and be greeted
with a silent, friendly, wag Of the tail
This was the more remarkable, because
no other person could lift the gate latch
without finding Watch dashine down the
front walk, ready to attack him. Yet
even 10 his favored one he permitted no
approach 10 familiarity. If she had ven
tured upon caressing pat, he would have
flown at her throat.
Jack was a dog Of another tempar-the
dearest. wiry black-and-tan terrier that
ever chased butterflies or burrowed after
moles. The yelvet-coated gentry were his
chosen prey. No matter where he found
a run at once he fell to furious digging
one day. In the course of 1t. he found him
self stopped by a biggish shallow-growing
root. directly across the mole-hill. Tie
tried first TO dig beyond II, but It impedei
his flying paws. lie stopped short, and
dropped his head. as one In deep thought
then caught the offending root between
his teeth and gnawed IL in two. After
that he began digging afresh, but the pro-
jecting root-ends were nearly as trouble
some as before they were severed. Crouch
ing a little at one side. he. seized an end
fast IN his mouth and gave a backward
spring or two, which pulled the root out
of the earth for a space of perhaps a
foot Then he caught the other end and
jerked IL out like distance, the while
looking reproachfully up at his young
mistress. Her father, Jacks usual COM
rade. had n habit Of cutting roots In two
and pulling them out thus for him. Pos
sibly Jack had recognized and resented
the indubitable fact that womenkind rarely
carry pocket-knives.
WERE GREAT FRIENDS.
Jack and Tipsy. the tortoise-shell kitten
were great friends. Neither had the least
goodwill toward other cats and dogs. But
they ate often from the same platter, and
always when Jack lay curled in front of
the big open fireplace Tipsys chosen
resting place was the round Of his side.
one chilly evening when a roaring fire
made fierce draft over the rug Jack
lay down at full length. prone and
straight. as though he were dead Tipsy
came tip-toeing in little later. and tined
TO establish herself comfortably on the
side of him next the fire. For perhaps
three minutes she twirlei and turned.
curled herself now this way. now that, but
could not adapt herself TO his altered pose.
Presently she got up. walked around 10
his head, and began TO give him dainty
hlhps on the nose with d soft forepaw.
Twice, thrice she struck, and he did not
stir. Then the watchers saw her claws I'M
sheathe, and smart scratch planted upon
Master Jacks nose. 1t brought him TO
terms. He sat up. blinked u minute at
Tipsy, then laid himself down in his usual