The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-19
1T IS FOUND THERE AS WELL AS
IN THE HUMAN ANIMAL.


One of the most delightful things about
our own species is its colossal but quite
unconscious conceit Until Within the
past few generations it would scarcely
have even occurred to us to doubt that
= we were the central figure of the uni
verse and that our fate was the chief
concern of the gods. With an, equally
naive self-satisfaction we have quietly
arrogated to ourselves the sole possess
sion of a moral sense. We cannot deny
to our animal cousins the possessions
of many, indeed nearly all, OF the print
tive virtues-affection, courage, loyalty
and faithfulness to the death; but we do
deny them the moral credit for them, on
the ground that they are the result Of
mere instinct .. ...,.+ H. 81
The position is one which for the sake
of our own peace Of mind it were best
not to pry into too curiously, as we
Should l fear, find ourselves face to
face with the discomforting fact that not
only are many Of the best and noblest
things Of which we are capable done
purely on instinct, but also some of our
worst and cruelest actions from a sense
of duty, or for conscience sake" So
that, before an impartial bar we might
we'll find difficulty in proving that the
practical conduct of many animals does
not somehow manage to reach as high
The attitude Of animals toward the,
young of their own species is, ] think, al.
NEST uniform, most of, us having probably
seen. instances ofrit. I was once the proud
pcssessor Of a fine English setter, a dog
Of handsome presence and one who took
most Hipernans delight in the 'tog O.
foht iy@' - 49,
degree Of Guarrelson1eness, of every rival
that came about, the place. He" woul1'
face any dog and, indeed, had thrashed
and been recognized as the master Of
most Of the neighborhocd, but if young
puppy or a kitten were. suddenly present
ed to him he would turn tail and; fee
in apparently abject terror: Upon several
occasions I tried the experiment Of hold
ing him with one hand by the collar and
presenting the sprawling and whining OBJ
ject with the other, and 1t was really
corrical to see how he would shrink and
shut his eyes, turn his face aside and
whinper, just as If / had been thrusting
burning brand into his face. If he
came. into the house, and found puppy
Z COT which there were usually one or two
in stock in those days. sprawling upon
the hearth rug, he would turn and bolt
as If he had seen a snake, and refuse
TO return until he thought the coast was
clear. And several of my hounds ap-
peared to possess this curious puppy
dread in less degrees. ~ -
1t might also be mentioned in this con-
necton that, as a rule, no dog Off size
or courage will condescend to attack a
smaller or obviously weaker dog, unless
the remarks and actions of, the latter
become insulting beyond endurance. The
little dog seems to realize this thorough
ly, so that 1t may almost be taken as a
general rule that the smaller the dog the
more Quarrelsome and abusive he is.
My little fox terrier would flv at halt
the dogs he met, apparently knowing that
the big ones would either pay little 1T
tention to him or let him off easily, with
- out making pursuit, and feeling a well
founded confidence that he could give a
good account Of most of the small or
medium-sized ones in rough-and- ready
street fight, which, as a rule, never lasts
more than one or two rounds. and In
which all the advantage is on the side OF
.. the aggressor. - III 81 81.
My bull terrier, on the other hand
would avoid almost every attack that was
made upon him, If it were possible tc
do so without displaying positive coward
ice. Even where he judged it necessary
to do something, instead Of trying to take
hold he would content himself with a sin.
gle wolf-like slash Of his great. CANNES
often without even slackening his stride
as he raced after my buggy, and thi.
was usually enough. >
A splendid Great Dane, Of, almost lio1
color and size, would usually absolutely
refuse to fight with small or even medium
sized dogs. or, 'if he did, would copten
himself with knocking them over an6
holding them down with his, huge paws
This by the way, was excellent policy
also, for his assailant was this not only
defeated, but made to look ridiculous as
we'll, a thing far more keenly dreaded and
wildly remembered by most dogs. But
even chivalry has its drawbacks. 1t is
not advisable. as rule, to go out walking
with dogs which vary widely in size, fol
if you do. the little dog will start the
quarrels and the big one, promptly !oir
in, to assist his friend, and YOU viii ha ve
from the combination. 1,7 E@
This sense of obligation to interfere
actively on behalfs3fof the younger o,
weaker members Of their species is widely
spread throughout the animal kingdom
In attempting to ca ptures young pigs
which have escaped from their pen, ane
are running at large among the herd OF
perhaps hfty#or sixty grown hogs, it is
necessary to be most circumspect in YOU
method of picking up a youngster, for i
Eonce his shrill squeal of distress is raised
you will have the entire herd down or
you at once bristles UP. tusks gnashins
| and fierce barking war-cry ringing. I,
would be most unwises to await the on
set for half wild pig. when his blood is
up and that danger cry is ringing in his
ferocious fighters that can be met with.
The only thing to be'done is to dash for
the nearest fence with your shrieking
& burden, or drop him before you reach it
if the herd is gaining on you.
Cattle have the same curious suscepti-
bility to the cry Of a frightened calf,
especially in their half-wild condition,
upon the range. To startle suddenly a
young calf from its nest in the long
grass or the sage bush upon the plains
is one of the riskiest experiences that
can fall to your lot. if on foot or at any
I distance from your horse or wagon. The
little goose is almost sure to do one of
two things, either to- trot confdingly to-
ward you and shamble along after you as
though he were your dog. which means
that he does you the compliment of mis-
IA taking you for his mother, or, with head
and tail erect and rigid with terror, he
win give voice to an appealing succession