The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-22
Wby Believe
Dogs Gan Cbink and CaIk
BY DR.. FRITZ sKCWRONNEK.

ed his development, we have not the means at hand to answer. However.
we may iastructVey compare the behavior of the dog reared in the cour-
try with that reared in the city and notice their relative acuteness in
uanslatng appearances. The whcclman cycling through the village is
beloved upon from every kennel and corner, and. whenever possible
he is nippcd in the leg, but when he reaches a large town he NAV pass bv
% out OF every 100 dogs unmoestcd. The city dogs have learned to
suppress the stimulus to bark which the swiftly moving wheels of the
bicycle excite.
The faculty Of retailing cause and effect and to guide their actions
by the knowledge thus obtained belongs to many dogs. As examples I
will cite an instance which came under my personal observation. A
watchdog that lay. chained had had his plate of food so placed by the
maid that he could reach the rim with his nose, but not the food viii his
mouth. Presently he had the sagacty to discover the means of his de-
hygance. lie stood up, gathered himself together, turned around 50
that his hind legs were turned toward the plate, stretched them out until
they touched the dish, and thus drew it in to such distance that he could
cat with comfort.
The soul experiences which we term our emotional life are TO he
observed in nearly all the higher animals. Parrots and canary birds form.
attachments ior some particular person, the sight of whom gives them
the most marked JOY, With equal cearness these and other animals give
evidence OF anger, pain and sorrow SO that we cannot doubt their mean
The greatest faculty for expressing his feelings I would ascribe to
the dog; we scarcely know another beast 50 well, yet hold his faithful
ness all TOO lightly and speak in Jest OF his fidelity. And this incorrectly.
For dog remains true to all who use him we'll If the friendship, how
lacr, be broken it is a difficult matter to reinstate oneself in his regard.
Dog language is Of course largely gesture. Bit the gestures are 50
significant that we cannot mistake their meaning. One pointer | owned
spoke so clearly to my father and myself without language that we could
understand all that she said. When she came into the room and did not
find my father she would first go to the corner where his hunting outfit
was kept and then RAISE herself to the closet, open its door. and look IN
to see whether one Of his gums was missing. Were this the case she gave
clear expression of her disnay and whined, howled and beloved until
.hushed.
/ have seen tears in a dogs ewes, which were beyond all oues6o,
to my mind flowing as the result OF pain and yearning. A homelv little
mongrel was the darling Of my aunts heart He was taken wth her
everywhere, But one day he had to stay at home. He went alternately
from one to the other, pecked us with his nose, and then ran rapidly to
the door, where he awaited It's with expectant eyes. AS we did not heed
his silent yet eloquent pleas, he finally dropped his head, while one tear
after another flowed from his eyes.
An acquaintance Of mine owns a fine dog that says mamma plain.
F. The thing is most simple. The dog gives an angry snarl the master.
with his hand, closes the half open mouth twice and sharply, and the
word mamma is plainly intonated. That was the beginning. Now the
dog says mamma without aid.
The ordinary barking OF dogs may be cultivated to resemble human
artlculauonS and TO use their bark at special specified occasions.