San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-19

| when. he spoke of the whole creation
groaning and waiting for the redemp-
ton of flesh, it is a fact that the
world has never been without its be-
levers in the possession of souls by
the lower animals, always accepting
for the sake of the argument that man
is higher animal. John Wesley, the
founder of the great Methodist de-
nomination, was a firm believer in the
theory that animals possessed souls.
Certain it is if they do not, some men
must be possessed of only rudimen-
tary guards. But waving all such
speculations, even denying the soul
endowment to any but two-legged an
imals who wear clothes, the forceful-
ness of the demands of the law of
kindness are not lessened in any way
thereby. The obligation to kindness
is as great as if it were so.
Viewed in one light, the obligation
is even greater, for if these animals
that serve us so well and are under
our power so completely and without
which life would be so burdensOme, if
for them there is no hereafter no
heaven in which to reward their noble
service and faithfulness and unselfish
labors for us, then should their life
in this present be made as comfort
able as possible. There is not men,
Der of the Light congregation who
ever owned q bird or a dog or horse
or cat or even a pig or cow or
hen or duck, who does not know
that these were far happier for kind
word. Never was there horse hitched
that did not do his work better and
more willingly because of a kind
word. and kind looks and actions. He
not only worked better, but he ate
better, slept better, and was all round
n better horse. .
Pussy knows just as well as Collie
does whether she is well treated or
not. She emphasizes her gratitude
and good feeling with purr, and her
displeasure with an ominous growl.
The lines of likeness between the cat
and the little girl are as marked as
those between the dog and her little
brother. They are all animals to-
gether, and at times it is hard to say
which has the most sense.
1t is not so long ago that the Light
preacher was going along Alamo
street, and witnessed the effort of a
great Collie dog to keep his little two
year-Old charge off the street car track
until the car had passed. He did it
too. The little girl, evidently a truant
from home, was trying to cross the
car track, and the car was coming
about two blocks away. The dog
knew that there was danger, so he
lined up against the side of the child,
between her and the track, pushed her
persistently away, and did not allow
utI W tOlne Nltnlu tulee ltcl VI tiic
track until that car had passed. Then
he allowed her to 90 on her way, wag-
ging his dear old tail as he walked
alongside. Do you tell me that dog
had no sense, no reason. | happened
to know the dog, and when the whole
performance was over went up and
patted him and he knew what / did
it for. His tail said as plain rs words
could that was all right
That dog had been kindly treated
and in him the law of kindness had
wrought to good effect. This is only
one of thouslnd instances that have
happened right here in san AntOoiO,
of the wisdom and faithfulness and
good service performed by dogs.
Many mans life has been saved by
the sagacity of his horse, when his
own was at fault. There is reflex
influence growing out Of all this life
of kindness 20 animals that comes
back TO bless us. Not only because
the Eorses, cats, dogs, cows and all
other dumb animals will return kind
ness for kindness, but because it edu-
Gates us into a greater kindness so
that our impatience at the unkindness
of others is put under restraint. Love
is the highest of all feelings, and its
universal expression is kinEneSs Is
not the young man excessively kind
to his best girl? Does not he offer her
the big end of everything and takes
out his pleasure in seeing her pleased?
That there is needed new preach
ing and new practicing of this law
of Kindness to the lower animals, no
one will deny. Go up and down these
streets, see how animals are over