The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-11-03
MANS FRIEND THE DOG.

Leading characteristics of the Various
Breeds-The Sagacity of the ST. Ber-
nard-The Bulldogs Rowdy Traits
and the Shepherds Generosity-As to
the Limit of Reasoning in Various
Kinds of Lower Animals.
1t has always been a difficult ques-
ton to determine where instinct ends
and reason begins. The miraculous sa-
gacity so often found in the dog has
added more to this perplexity than that
of all the lower order of animals put
together.
Most people are familiar with the ex-
perience of John Randolph, one of the
ablest of metaphysicians, with his dog.
1t is a peculiar illustration with philo-
sophical writer's on the subject. The
dog lost sight of his master. He came
to place where three roads met. He
ran down one road carefully seeming
the way, then ran down the second
and anxiously scented it. Without
further ado he rapidly took the third
road without putting his nose to the
. sal III, anu lOullQ hio iilootSi' AN
argument, said Randolph, in the dogs
mind was as follows: My master when
he came to these forks did not take
either of the two roads | examined,
therefore he must have taken the
third" This is purely a syilogism, an
example of absolute Induction. the
highest effort of the human mind. An
old dog in bear hunt is as cautious Of
the bears teeth as an old broker is of
suspicious stocks, both act on the same
principle, the recollection of being bit
ten in a previous transaction.
He often displays more common sense
than that enjoyed by some of the hui
man race. The term instinct Is vague
and unsatisfactory; 1t is the dark hid
ing place Of all who do not or care not
to think
The reason of. animals is limited to
memory, enlightened by experience.
The intelligence OF man comprehends
the properties Of matter, and by induc-
ton as well as experience provides for
the necessities of life, as we'll as the
means for the pursuit of happiness.
If dog desires to jump on high ta-
/ piN dtid a. IiA1i iNSlp llCtil LIZ S6pANt iiV
will first jump on the chair, then on the
table, but IL the chair is not near the
table he viii not push 1t over to ac-
complish his purpose. Hence it may
be said that the quality of mind in man
and the lower order of animals is the
same, 1t differs only in extent.
The dog Is grateful, chivalrous, pa
tient In adversely and the truest Of
friends. He is specially fitted as the
friend and servant of man, inasmuch
as he cares more for the society of his
human friends than he does Tor that of
his own species In the history of
/ dogs the st. Bernard, perh Fps, Is the
4 most remarkable for his reasoning
| powers.
This magnificent breed of dogs is Pc
culiar to the Alps and that portion of
/ the country between Switzerland and
! Savoy 1t would seem that nature Is
! ever careful and true to her instincts
1 In preserving and consecrating all
! things to human use. The passes over
| these mountains are exceedingly dan
| gerous; often precipices of many thou
sand feet are or one side and perpen-
dicular lodges of rock on the other A
narrow path covered with ice and
snow winds around those rocky promon
| tories. Not infrequently an avalanche
of snow slides down on the belated
| traveller.
On the top of Mount St. Bernard, near
which was one of those dangerous
passes, was a monastery which kept
a breed of large dogs trained to pre-
serve and save the lives of benighted
/ wanderers. On stormy nights these
faithful guardians were sent out, and
by their keen sense of SMELL scented
out the hapless and perhaps snow-bur-
led traveller. With their huge paws
they would clear away the snow, and
their constant howl and loud bark
! would echo through the mountains I'M
til 1t would reach the ears of the
monks, who were always ready to has
! ten toward the sound and perhaps
reach in time to rekindle the vita
| spark before it had been extinguished
forever.
History teens with pathetic stories
of those canine rescuers, and many wei
remember the painting still celebrated
of a noble st. Bernard licking the face
of dead man he had just dug from the
shroud of an avalanche.
Since the ST.. Bernard is perhaps the
most intelligent, the bulldog Is the
least intelligent Of the species. His
low, depressed forehead, his heavy
jaws, and bloodshot eyes, give every
impression of the savage and vicious
Although he frequently gives some ev-
idence of attachment, he has never
been looked upon as real true
friend. The mastiff is widely known
as the popular watch dog. He j:
large and strong. and while he is re-
markably devoted to his master, ism
placable to strangers. Let it be hear.
ing or smell, he can instantly detect the
step of the household from intruders
and his keen, sharp bark is the terror
of the burglar and thief the momen
they set foot on the premises, let theil
caution be what it may. If treated
| with kindness he becomes affectionatt
and intelligent, without losing any o
his attributes of being valuable
guardian of property.
The much-feared bloodhound has tEt
keenest smell of them all. He is les:
particular of the object of his prey, bu
has special preference for human be
ings. A couple of centuries ago tht
bloodhound was much used in England
and Scotland, not only to track felons
but also to pursue the victims of pc
I e..