The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-23

MIMETIC POWER OF ANIMALS.
Pets Often Initiate the Actions of Their
Owners

EelS OllSu Initiate the ACIlOIlS Ol l. IlGlE
Owners.
Monkeys, Of course, will initiate any
one or anything if they feel so inclined,
but most animals initiate their masters
more or less, often without intention,
says the Boston Traveller. Dogs are
great imitators, so are goats aud cats.
Even guineapigs indulge in a little
minicry sometimes. If you have dog
the chances are that he initiates your
ways to a good extent, though it is not
likely that you have noticed his eff
forts.
If a puppy Is looking at you in the
absentminded way that most puppies
affect, and you happen to stroke your
nose, for instance, in most cases the
doggy atom will lift one paw and stroke
his own small face. Then, with a start
he may recollect himself and try to APP
pear as if nothing Of the sort had hap
pened.
The owner of bright Irish setter in
variably comes home at 7 p. m. in IA
tigued state, and throws himself Ian
guidly into an easy chair, in token of
his hard days work. The terrier did
not seem to notice this for a few
months; but now that dog never enters
his room without lolling up to his own
bed of mats and casting himself down
with weary yawn. He win even at
times throw one paw over the edge of
the basket and let it hang Imply, after
the manner of his master.
He was an active pet at one time
| never tired of cat hunts and street
! fighting-but now he loafs about in a
very unterrierlike manner. Since the
owner took to cycling the dog has wan
dered round uneasily while his master
| was out for an evening spin, but when
the rider came home, and threw him
self down more tired than ever, the
| dog would roll into his basket with an
air of unutterable fatigue.
A pet must be very fond of his mas
| ter, and understand him thoroughly, to
| do this Cats are less demonstrative
than doge; but know an elderly man
who attempts-rather vainly, be it said
| Ito keep his proportions within limits
| by trotting gravely round and round
| before dinner every night The family
cat, which was very much attached to
| him, was disturbed by this innovation
when it began, but of late puss trots
around at the exerciser's heels when
the times arrives, and, moreover does
| the same thing by herself at intervals
| during the day always at the same
solemn pace, retiring into the same cor
ner when the round is done. The fam
| lily was distressed and alarmed at first,
| thinking the eat had developed rabies,
| but the owner, who we'll knows the
ways Of pets, Gained their fears. The
cat refuses to perform thus before a
stranger until she has been accustomed
| to his visits.
| Ponies are very sympathetic some
times, and one once knew belonged to
a young woman who possessed q very
white and perfect set of teeth. She
was, there Is no denying it, quite con-
| seious of the perfection of those teeth.
and spiteful relatives used to declare
that she smiled much more often than
was necessary in order to bring them
| into prominence. 1 can hardly believe
| that such was the case, but there Is no
doubt that she smiled a good deal, and
the aforesaid pony which, besides being
her favorite driving and riding animal,
was devoted pet, following her every
where, developed an unfortunate trick
of constantly showing his own teeth.
Not with an intention Of biting-for he
had a sweetly patient temper-but, SO
the relatives said, in imitation of his
mistress.
A man who Is victim to the disfig-
urement known as "squinting' once
bought a very highly bred retriever
pup, which became greatly attached to
him. All who knew the two were great
ly astonished, and the owner anything
but gratified, to perceive that the dog
contracted habit of squirting when ii
grew up. 1t had the straightest OF
eyes when he bought it, but undoubted-
ly it developed a cast in one eye, which
appeared to be a fac-simile of the own.
er's unfortunate case, and the dog be-
came unalterably affected.
Watch your pets, and il they really
are fond of you they will almost GER
tainly prove to initiate you in some
way, either in large matters or small
and such observation is very interest
ing.-Boston Traveller.