The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-08-23
A TALKING
Dog Knows What He Wants and Talks
Until &c Gets II.

hsm noroneofthose strangelyhuman
creatures which believers in the
transmigration Of the soul might
suppose possessed by the spirit Of
some dear friend. He is an emf
nently normal dog, with all his ca
nine attributes fully developed, and,
as he only laid puppyhood aside with
the celebration of his recent first
birthday, has still the playful habits
that appertain to extreme youth.
Petit talks because he cannot help
it, and into his limited vocabulary
puts more meaning than all the
wordy eloquence of half a hundred
orators. He does not concern him
self with the parts of speech, but he
has grasped the three cardinal prin-
ciples of existence-he knows what
he wants, knows how to ask for it,
and never gives up till he gets it.
Petit is an English grayhounda and
a seventh son. To the latter fact he
aseribes his unusual gifts, though he
is properly modest in their exploita-
ton, for he is devoted brother. He
is the property Of Mrs. @. S. Blum,
and first saw the light in the base
ment Of No. 3 Abingdon square, one
of the old-fashioned houses that
front chat quaint oasis in the desert
of streets in old New York. His
mother, Daisy, is a lady Of high de-
gree, and his father, Dewey, boasts
a lengthy pedigree to prove his
worth.
The dominance of the seven in
the fate Of the dogs is remarkable.
Daisy's seven children were born
June u, 1901. One died seven days
later. On the 9th Of July they
opened their eyes. One was given
away, two we're later poisoned
through malice and three brothers
alone remain. These are Sir James,
Collaret $50 called because he came
into the world with a complete white
collar joined by a Y at the back of
the neek) and Petit, the last and
smallest Of the litter.
Her stalwart sons, as clean limbed
and handsome a trio as is to be found
in the country, are taller than their
mild-eyed mother. Collaret and Sir
james mingle white generously with
their splendid gray coats on breast
and legs, but Petit has only four tiny
white socls and a touch Of white on
the end Of his tail.
They have been cared for like
babies, and the constant reiteration
from Mrs. Blum that Mamma"
would do this or that is probably
largely responsible for Petit's debut
as a speechmaker. One evening
when his brothers had gone for a
walk and | had exhausted all ex-
pressions of loneliness, he laid his
pointed nose between his paws and
gave vent to a loud wall of "Mam-
MAJ" that would have melted a heart
of stone. The effect was instantane-
Gus. Petit was caressed and taken
out to join the others.
He remembered the lesson, and
now when all else fails Petit's cry of
mamma" informs Mrs. Blum that
her immediate presence is required.
His one other word is "es'm," and
when, after some persuasion, he con-
descended to show off his accom-
plishments for a New York Wsrh
reporter, both words came forth in a
voice and accent so absurdly child
ish as to be hardly distinguished
from a human tone. His intelligence
is unfailing, and Petit brings cut
his two remarks with an aptness that
is something uncanny.
The shapely greyhound has as well
a peculiar degree of magnetic force.
Held in the arms he is said to have
a soothing effect on tired nerves, and
more than one Of Mrs. Blum'sfriends
claim for him the power to Danish
headache.
Collaret very early in life betrayed
a love Of music. To the accompani-
ment Of banjo or guitar he will sing
in his own fashion, raising or lower
ing his voice as the music grows loud
er or softer. The three are as near
in affection as the Three Musketesrs.
Each boasts on his left forefoet a
complete luck horseshoe and re-
lies on his heetness to distance all
enemies.