The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-02-20
DOG STORIES.
A Acorrespondent of tho London Spectator
Tells of Britain's CANNES.

Acorrespondent of tho London Spectator
Tells OF Britain's CANNES.
About fortnight ago was given
hox-terrier, on condition that if it did
not suit me l should return it to the
donor. Last Sunday evening | was sit
ting in the drawing room with my wife,
the dog lying on his mat by the fire. l
said that was dissatisfied with the dog
and should write an order to return
him. My wife urged me to do so then
and there, and after discussing the mat
ter for short time l got up to pen the
letter As | did SO, the servant came
to take the dog for a run prior to turn
ing in for the night. No sooner was the
garden door opened than off went the
dog, full speed, into the darkness, and
has not been heard of since He had al
ways been taken out in the same way
before, and had always come in on
being called. Whether he understood
the conversation l cannot tell. All l
can say is that can offer no other ex-
PLANTATION for his disappearance. My
wife and the servant who let the dog
out can vouch for the truth of these
particulars. The letter which l wrote
Offering to return him lies before me
unposted, ito witness if lie."
have two dogs, spaniel and lit
tie Highland terrier, also a 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 suspicious Of being moved
about, for on Saturday last her hamper
was put in the yard while the floor of
the washhouse 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 it. AT last
returned to the dining where the
two dogs were lying before the fire,
and l said casually to the terrier. do
show me where the kitten isr' never
really thinking she understood me, when
she suddenly got up, walked round me,
under the table and came to my side,
then stood looking at small cupboard,
wagging her tail. l opened the cup
hoard, and there lay the kitten on tea
cosy. at once called to my cousin,
who had by this time given up the hunt,
and was in her own room. She called
30 know where it was found, and /
said, "Go down to the dining room and
ask the dogs to show you" She went,
and said, Dear dogs, do show me
where the kitty isl" and Immediately
the spaniel got up and went to the cup
board, looking at the door and wagging
her tail. They certainly both under
stood what was wanted of them. The
spaniel was born in 1887, and has been
in my possession since she was about
six months old. The terrier is about
che same age, but have only had her
since December, 1850.
Apropos of your interesting article on
"Recent Ratlore" in the Spectator, the
incidents named from H. G.. Barkley's
Studies of Ratcatching," suggest my
writing to narrate clever exploit of a
retriever dog belonging to the house
keeper of a weli-known newspaper
Office in the Strand. Rats are constant
y N"uSiu VA thc pi 'iliStS, anu Iut uOS,
fully aware of their habits, evinces
such ability that his intelligence is
quite worthy of record. Last Sunday
he was heard barking loudly, calling
fnr assistance, in the compositors'
nom, where there is a rathole in the
floor. The dog had watched two fine
rats come up through their hole, and
immediately they were fairly away from
their point of entry he rushed up and
sat ON the hole to cut off their means of
retreat, barking forthwith for help.
Nothing would induce him to bulge
till board was brought and placed
over the hole, when he started in pur-
suit and soon dispatched the intruders.
His master assures me that the dog Or
iginated this ingenious method of pro-
cedure. and that he has practiced ii
with like success on several other oc-
casions.