Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-30
Interesting Dog Stories.

Interesting Dog Stories.
May 1 add my testimony TO the
intelligence of dogs in the matter OF
understanding what is said in their
hearing? asks writer in the Lon
don Spectator. Several years ago l
had beloved mongrel fox-terrier
named Joe. We were staying some
months in Penzance, and the dog
went everywhere with us, and knew
the place we'll. One day we were
as usual in the afternoon on the club
tennis ground, when the secretary
came up and warned me that on the
following day, as there was to be a
tournament, no dogs would be adj
mitted to the inclosure. promised
to shut Joe up at home. That even
ing we missed the dog, and in the
morning also he was not to be seen.
When we went to look on at the
tournament in the afternoon we
found Joe waiting for us; the
groundman told us that the dog had
been there all night, and would not
allow himself to be caught. He had
never slept out before, and he must
have understood what was said. =.
| We often used to say, ave will
drive to such place to-day, but
Joe must stay at home;" and al
most invariably, in whatever direc-
ton it might be, before we had
driven mile we would find Joe
waiting for us by the roadside. He
always grinned when we came up
with him.
Thirty years ago / was living in
st. Georges Square, Pimlico, and
near me-in Denbigh street, at a
distance ofabout ten minutes walk
resided well-known Journalist,
Percy Gregg. He had little
black-and-tan dog, for which I found
home when its master was about
to leave London. 1t was reported
to me that Jimmie always left my
house after breakfast. At first
some alarm was felt that he would
stray; but as he invariably returned
after an hours stroll, l took him to
| be one of those "vagrom" animals
who cannot live without a prowl in
the streets, and / felt no anxiety.
But l ascertained that whenever he
went away, he carried off bone or
something edible with him. |
watched him one or two mornings,
and saw him squeeze through the
area railings, on each occasion carry
ing big bone, which he had great
difficulty in steering through the
iron bars.
Being curious about the destina-
tion of the food, 1 made up my
mind to follow. I tracked him to
an empty house, next to that in
which his former owner had lived.
In celler in the area there lived a
half-starved, ownerless terrier, who
l suppose, had once been friend of
Jimmie's, and whom my dog in his
days of prosperity never forgot
Regularly the good little fellow
trotted of to the empty cellar and
divided his mornings meal with his
poor friend. The story is told of the
great Napoleon riding over one
of his battlefields-I don't know
whether it was Wagram or Auster-
htz-and pointing to faithful dog
watching the body of his dead master,
with the words, "That dog teaches
us all lesson in humanity 20 So
| ulu y ln ME.
The London Spectator gives an
instance of the power that dogs seem
to possess of understanding what ia
said in their presence. We have a
black.and-tan terrier called Jack,
who has rooted objection to spend
ing night alone, and is, therefore,
allowed to sleep with one of my
brothers. A short time ago they
were all from home, and an order
was given early in the evening Jack
being presently that he was to sIeep
with the groom away from the house
Jack, who always remains in the
room until the rest of the household
retire, disappeared this particular
evening very soon after the order
was given, and was not seen again
When we went up stairs, however
there he was curled up In an arm chair
In my youngest sisters bedroom
evidently settled for the night, and
as we entered he looked up and
wagged his tail, as if he were beg
ging to be allowed to stay. AS he
had never been known to 90 to bee
early by himself, or in that particu
lar room, we all felt sure he had un
derstood tho order, snd hoped b,
these means to escape.