Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-10-05
A Dog That Reasons.


knows Billy" He is very unpre-
tentious citizen, trotting around town
dressed in the same threadbare white
suit almost daily, but he had repu-
tation for being great fighter when
aroused, and those who know him
best say he is the cleverest as well as
the most rational dog in that part of
the country. He is an inmate of the
statePrison, being an assistant in the
medical department.. Some persons
intimate that Billy spends most of his
time in and about the medical depart
ment because, being dog, he finds
much entertainment in studying the
great variety of druggy odors there.
AS matter of fact Billy belongs to
DR.. G. F. Messer, the head of the
medical department, and is devoted to
his master, to whom he owes most of
his superior education.
When Billy first made the acquain-
tance OF the doctor he (the dog was
simply an uneducated, sprawl-legged
bull terrier with a certain pride of an
cestry that gave a superior tip to his
ears and an exceptional fineness to his
hair. Like other youngsters whom
might name, Billy, at this period of his
career, believed that life and happiness
did and OF right ought to consist in
chewing most anything that looked
like food, in chasing chickens and
other BIRDS till he was so tired that he
sunk to rest in the nearest sunny dust
heap and in appropriating the softest
| and cosiest cushioned chair in the
house. ~
Then came the troublesome ''going
, TO school, that youngsters usually
loathe in their secret hearts. First
| Billy was taught to sit up on his
launches. This used to make his
back ache, and always, at first, it
seemed as If a wiagess and curious
Insect would begin to move about at
the furthest extremity of his tail at
the critical moment when Billy was
straining every nerve to remain bal
anced. So the young dog would blink
and look almost fearful and at last
give yelp and start on wild race
for the end OF his tail, which lodged
him and darted from him in manner
most provoking. You see, his tail had
been bitten off in his infancy and was
bit too stubby for conve, ience.
Then came learning to jump through
and over arms to get piece of meat
or biscuit OF course this was fun
and easily learned.
And SO Billy's education went on.
He learned to ''speak" when told to
do so, and finally became SO proficient
in speaking that he adopted the habit
OF calling for his bed ian old coat
which was laid on the sofa) at night.
He has learned to act the part of
| Judge, and ''listens to the evidence"
and ''expouuds the law" very learned
ly. Sometimes when he is not given
enough attention to suit him he will
perform his tricks of his own accord
or climb into chair and play ''peek q.
boo" He has treadmill which he
enjoys running, and he takes keen de-
light in chasing the sort of cats that
like to steal upon dog, and, fur
pronging out in every direction, take
flying leap and land on his back.
At this c.itical moment most dogs
give fearful yelp and run for dear
life, but Billy sir'ply remains and
settles matters with the cat-if the
cat can be found. Billy is also an ex-
pert hunter and obeys sign signals as
we'll as spoken or whistled ones He
is great ratter and mouser and has
learned to adopt the cats methods
and wait for his prey to come out OF
its hole. Then he waits for his VIC
tim to get some distance away from
the hole before undertaking to make
capture. He learned this method
by sad experience, for at first he
would jump at the rat or mouse as
soon as it appeared and usually with
the result that the intended victim
escaped back into the hole.
DR.. Messer writes: "Billy showed
his ability to reason only day or two
ago. A cookie was laid down in front
of the cupboard to coax out the mice
from under meath. One came to the
cookie and Billy saw that it was too
close the cupboard, so he picked it
up and moved it about four feet further
out Then he went little way back
to watch for the mouse to come out,
certain that now he could get his prey
before it could get ont of his reach"
Billy is two and one-half years old,
weighs IA pounds aud seems to under
stand nearly all that is said in his
presence.