The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-08
An Object Lesson For HUI
man Kind.
The Birds of the Air and Beasts of
the Field Love and Protect Their
Young-Loyal and Affection
ate to Female Mates.

occurred 10 US 10 DOUBT that we were tNe
central figure of the universe and that our
fat was tho chief concern Of the gods
With an equally naive self-satisfaction we
have quietly arrogated to ourselves the
cole possession Of a moral sense. We can
not deny 10 our animal cousins the pcs
sessions Of many. indeed nearly all, OF the
primitive characterization. courage. loyal
~ and faithfulnea TO the death: but we
do deny them the moral credit for them,
on the ground that they are the result OF
mere instinct"
The position is one which, for the sake
OF our own peace Of mind IL were best not
10 pry into too curiously, as we should
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
slso some OF our worst and cruelest ac-
tons from a sense of duty. or for CON
ecience sake" 50 that. before an i'm
partial bar We might well find difficulty in
proving that the practical conduct OF many
animals does not somehow manage TO reach
as high an average as our own.
The attitude OF animals toward the young
OF their own species is. l think, almost
uniform. moet OF us having probably seen
instances OF n. | was once the proud pos
SCISSOR OF a fine English setter. dog OF
handsome presence ard one who took
most Hibernian delight In the fog o
fghtin'" and extremely Jealous, TO the de-
gree OF quarrelsomeness. Of every rival that
camo about the place. He would face any
dog. and indeed. had thrashed and been
recognized rs the master of most OF the
nelghborhood. but II young puppy or a
kitten were suddenly presented to him he
would turn tail and flee In apparent abject
terror Upon several occasions / tried the
experiment Of holding him with one hand
by the collar and presenting the sprawiing
tpt 4
wa. really oornical TO zee how he would
shrink and shut his eyes turn his face
aside and whimper, Just az IL had been
thrtsting a burning brand 'nto his face.
II he came into the house and found
mummy fof which there were usually one or
two in stock In those days. sprawling unon
the hearth rug. he would turn and bolt as
n no had seen n snake, and refuse to re-
turn until he thought the coast was clear.
And several OF my hounds appeared 10 pos
sess this curious ''puppy-dread' In less
degrees
n might also be mentioned In this con-
naction that. as a rule. no dog or size or
courage win condescend to attack small
or or obviously weaker dog unless the re-
marks and actions OF the latter become
Insulting beyond endurance. The little
dog seems 10 realize this thoroughly, so
that IL may almost be taken as general
rule that the smaller the dog the more
ouarrelsome and abusive he Is.
NV little fox terrier would fly at hair the
dogs he met. apparently knowing that the
big ones would either pay little attention
60 him or let him of easily. without max
Ing pursuit, and feeling well-founded
confidence that he could give n good ac-
count OF most OF the small or medium
sizad ones In n rough hand ready street
night which a. a rule. never lasts more
than one or two rounds. and In which all
the advantage Is on the side OF tho ag-
gressor
NV bull terrier. on the other hand.
would avoid almost every attack that was
made upon him. II It were possible TO do
so without displaying positive cowardce.
Even whore he Judged II necessary to do
something instead OF trying 20 take hold
10 would content himself with a single
wolf-like slash OF his great CANNES. often
without even slackenlng his stride as he
raced after my buggy. and this was usual
iy enough.
A splendid Great Dane, OF almost lion
color and size would usually absolutely
refuse 10 flght with small or even medium
sixcd dogs or # he did, would content
himself with knocking them over and
holding them down with his huge paws
This. by the way, was excellent policy
also for hts assailant was thus not only
defeated. but made to look ridiculous as
we'll. "a thing far more keenly dreaded and
NiVidly remembered by most dogs But
even chivalry has It's drawbacks. 1t is not
advisable as rule, 10 SO out walking
with doga which vary widely In sixe. for
n you DO tho little dog will start the quar-
rcls and tho his one promptly Join IN 10
assist his friend, and YOU with have no end
81 complications on your hands from tho
combination
This sense OF ohlRation to Interfere Ae-
lively OH behalf Of the younger or weaker
members az their species Is widely sprcad
gHsss.F hon h. Il LII
tempting % capture young pigs. which
have escaped from their pen and are run
ning AZ large among tho herd OF perhaps
nifty Or RiNty grown hogs ~ Is necessary
60 he most circumspevt In your method OF
picking up a youngstcr. Tor u once his
shriu slueai OF distress IA raised You viii
have tha entire herd down on YOU az once
hristles up tusks Euashlng and nerce,
barking wRrcry ringing II would he mont
unwiSc 90 await tho oOsat, for "a hAlf-Nid
pig. when his blood i up and that dauger
ery II rinEipg IN His ears Is one OF tha
most reckless aud ferocious fighters that
can Dec mot Win The only thing 20 DO
done is to dash for the nearest fencc With
year shrteking burden. or drop him before
Yup reach 10 n the herd iH gaining ca you
cattle have the same curious Fuarapti-
btiity 20 the CRY ~ = frightened calf ss-
peciaiY ip their halt-wild condition upon
the range To stRUtlo suddenly a vol1rs
tho SAGE bush upon rho plains Is cuc 81
the r,skiest experiences that can tam to
your lot n cu foot or az any distance
from your horse or wagon The utuc
Eoose Ia aimpat sure 60 de one of two
things, either 70 trot oouadinEly toward
sou and shamble sleng after You as
though DO were your dos which noans
that he does you the compliment ~ mis-.
taking you Tor his mother. OF. with head
ard tail erect. and ylsid with terror. he
VIII give voice 60 an appealing success
sion ~ barking "blarts. totally unliks
his ordinary dinner cry SO his mother
Then every horned creature within
three quarters of a mlle viii 49, nEhunR
naaa at once and come charging ana boil.
lowing down upon you. And woe bctide
yea unless you can reach your horse or
wagon before they arrive on tho scene II
the youugsfcr chooses the former attsrua-
tive and hauors you with his confidence
he IS simply adding 10 your csnbagr,,ss-
ment and postponins your calamity. TOR
even though 10 remains perfectly salts
fed with his adopted protector. yet Il
his mother happens to hsava in sight 50
the course OF your nttle promenade across