The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-09
A CANINE PRODIGY.
This DOG Must Have Been Able 10 In
derstand Language.

At a meeting of small close communion
private literary club in New York city last
week the dog, his intelligence and the pos
sibility of his having an immortal soul. and
thus being able TO inherit eternal life with
bis master. which many Of the tribes OF
touched upon. One OF those present told
the following story. the truth of which she
''rhe incident 1 am about to tell you OF
happened some time ago. The dogs master
is dead, and IL all reasonable probability the
dog is too. The late Captain Alden, an
officer stationed at West Point Military
Academy, owned a small pet dog OF the
go to Piattsburg. 1t was before the rail-
road was built, and, of course, he went by
boat. The dog gently. bat firmly, insisted
some good-natured protestations. the mas
ter gave in and the dog trotted along at
his heels down to the steamer landing ana
After several days-it might have been a
week.-Mrs.. Alden was one day astonished TO
was sitting reading. Although she did not
expect her husband IN soon, she assumed
that some uneSpeeted event Nth nae her r nroHga.
simply stopping q few seconds 10 pat the
dog on the head and bid him welcome.
but the dog would have none OF this. He
had an important message to deliver and
there was no time for an exchange OF COM
pliments. He did not seem able to make his
grew impatient, barked snappishly and
tugged at his mistress's dress. Finally. Mrs.
Alden SAID, w nat DO you WantE anu aroSc
from her chair.
"ThIs was evidently a start In the right
| line, but the dog kept on barking. whining
den said, I presume. sir. that you have some
gOoa reason for a b e 70 aS DO no I
on eTat and viii follow The dog trotted brisk
iy out OF the house. and headed toward the
postofrce. nut keeping a good eye on his
AT the general delivery window Mrs AL
den asked for their mail, and got one letter
that had just arrived. IL was written ana
husband who said that he quite i'll and
wished her 10 come to him at once. Now
the most remarkable part OF the whole anar
| denly and dangerously i'll. had said that un-
| less he could get his wife at his bedside be-
at the same time commanding the person
| who wrote the letter not TO put IL too strong,
| because he knew that in this case MS wire
| would suffer such great anxiety on the jour-
ney.
him and although ne Is dead now, r am nap
| Will you believe me, that sagacious dog had
| started on the journey back to West Point
| who saw him. assuming that he belonged
| to some one else But the greatest wonder
of all is that the dog had to change boats.
at Albany, / think. At any rate, he made
the change all right and proudly ushered
| his mistress into the presence of her sick
| husband.
"If that dog did net understand that his
master was dangerously I'll and wanted TO
| see his wife; IL he was not charged with
! anxiety that something might prevent his
| mistress getting the letter as soon as IL ar
| rived. how do you account for his taking
charge of the affair himself? OF course the
dog had gone TO the postoffice many a time
| with his master, and / haven't any doubt
| that when he heard these letters read aloud
| he condemned. severely as his loving.
| loyal, dog heart would let him, the worries
| that mortals give themselves over the
| gauds and vanfties of life. and congratu-
| lated himself upon being dog and having
| the good sense TO enjoy gnawing bone.
| There can be no question about dog UNI
Outstanding a great deal of the language
| that he hears daily spoken about him. You
can bid a Frenchman's dog Go out" till
| doomsday and he won't mind you even a
| little bit but just you say to him va ten,
| vite! and watch him do the sneak act"