The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-04
MANS FRIEND is THE DOG.
LEADING CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE VARIOUS BREEDS.

the Limit of Reasoning in various
Kinds of Lower AnimaIs-The
Truest of All Friends.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
1t has always been a difficult question
to determine where instinct ends and
reason begins. The miraculous sagacity
so often found in the dog has added moro
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 popular illustration with philosoph-
zeal writers 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 scent
ed it, Without further ado he rapidly
took the third road without putting his
nose. to the earth, and found his mas
ter. The 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 I examined.
therefore he must have taken the third"
This is purify a syllogism, an example
of absolute induction, the highest effort
of the human mind. An old dog in "a bear
hunt is as cautious of the bears teeth
as an old broker is of suspicious stocks,
both acting on the same principle, the
recollection Of being bitten in a previous
transaction.
He often displays more common sense
tran that enjoyed by some of the human
race. The term instinct is vague and un-
satisfactory; it is the dark hiding place
oi Oh " no do not or care not to think
The reason Of animals is limited to mem
Dry enlightened by experience. The intelli-
gence OF man comprehends the properties
OF matter, and by induction as well as ex-
Derience provides for the necessities of
HE as well as the means for the pursuit
OF happiness.
If dog desires to jump on a high ia
bic and chair rests near the table, he
Will first jump on the chair, then on the
table, but if the chair is not near the ia
BILE he will not push it over to accomplish
his purpose Hence it may. be said that
the quality of nina in man and the lower
order of animals is the same, il differs only
in extent
The dog is grateful. chivalrous, patient
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 for that Of his own species In the
history of dogs the St. Bernard, perhaps,
Is the most remarkable for his reasoning
powers.
This magnificent breed of dogs is pecu-
liar to the Alps and that portion of the
country between Switzerland and Savoy
IT would seem that nature is ever careful
and true to her instinct in preserving and
consecrating all things 20 human use. The
passes over these mountains are exceed
ingly dangerous; often precpices of many
thousand feet are on one side and perpen-
dicular lodges Of rock on the other. A mar
row path covered with ice and snow winds
around these rocky promontories. Not in
frequently 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 monastery which kept a breed or
large dogs, trained to preserve 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 per-
haps snow-buried traveller, With their
huge paws they would clear away the
snow and their constant howl and Oud
bark would echo through the mountains.
until it would reach the ears of the monks.
who were always ready to hasten toward
the sound and perhaps reach in time to
rekindle the vital spark before it had been
extinguished forever.
History teens with pathetic stories OF
those canine rescuers, and many well re-
member the painting still celebrated Of Il
noble st. Bernard licking the face of a
dead man he had just dug from the shroud
of an avalanche.
Since the St Bernard is nerhans the
most intelligent, the bulldog is the leas,
intelligent of the species. His low, de-
pressed forehead, his heavy Jaws ana
OloodShot eyes, give every impression or
the savage and vicious. Although he fire.
quently gives some evidence of attacn-
Ineht, ne mas never been looked upon az
real true friend. The mastiff Is widely
known as the popular watch dog. He 4
large and strong, and while he is remark.
aDly devoted to his master, is unplacahie
10 strangers. Let it be hearing or smeir.
ne can instantly detect the step Of Tie
household from intruders, and his keen
Sharp bark is the terror of the burglar
and thief the moment they set foot on the
premises, let their caution be what it NAV
II treated with kindness he becomes ar
1ectlonate and intelligent without losing
any OF his attributes of being a valuabIe
guardian Of property.
The much-feared bloodhound has the
keenest smell of them all He is less. par
ticular Of the object of his prey. but has
special preference for human beings. A
couple Of centuries ago the bloodhounds
was much used in England and Scotland.
not only TO track felons, but also to pur-
sue the victims of political offenses, moss
troopers and fugitive royalty.
Among the larger breed of dogs the New
foundland is one of the most favorite. He
Is said 10 have his origin in the country
which bears his name, though this is dis
puted and not without reason. He is
faithful and kind and perhaps the most
useful of ALL especially in the seaport
towns, where he is used for hauling fish
IN summer and sleds loaded with wood in
the winter. As a life-saver he vies with
the ST. Bernard, but in a different sphere.
well-authenticated anecdote of his use
fulness In this respect is told of a vessel
that was driven to the beach at Lydd. in
Kent. The surf was rolling furiously.
ana no boat could live in its efforts to
reach the eight poor fellows who were
crying for help. A gentleman with a
Newfoundland dog happened to stroll
along at this critical moment. He took
In the situation at once and directed the
attention of the intelligent brute to the
vessel, and put a short stick in his mouth.
The great big, black. curly, good-natured
fellow plunged into the bOisterous ocean