Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-04-04
THE FELLOWSHIP OF DOGS.
Always Hope For Man Who lie Fond
Of an Ordinary Cur

Always Hope For Man Who Is Fon
} Of an Ordinary Cur.
L have seen a few wretches in m,
day, but | never saw one so utterly
lost to decency that he could not b.
battered by the friendly attentions
OF strange dog. There is a great
lesson in that. No matter how SUI
perior we try to seem to ourselves
and others, small voice within us
VIII not let us wholly forget what
humb'sgs We are. In the presence
OF our kind we are brazen. The
calm gaze of a child sometimes
shakes our self confidence. The
knowing look of dog skaters it.
There is something in brute psy-
chology that perplexes the intel
lect of man and DISCREPANCIES his IN
tuition. Man is so made that what
ne cannot understand exercises
greater influence over him than that
which he can. In the presence of
many phenomena he reveals himself
openly and quite unconsciously. He
IS then no longer master of the forti-
fications of his soul. He drops his
mask-his grotesque outer garb-
his brazen shield falls to the ground,
and he either cowardly retreats or
succumbs without resistance.
There is some hope for the man
who is capable of feeling ashamed |
In the presence of an honorable dog. |
That man has avenues open to him
for advancement. His soul is still
fit for expansion. His brain is some
thing more than dried nut. His
heart has not turned entirely into a
thing of rubber and valves. When
a strange dog greets him he thinks
better of himself. Unconsciously he
reasons: "Villain that / am, | am
not so bad after all as l might be.
You can't fool dog, and a dog is no
hypocrite. Therefore l have good
N me which he recognizes" The
fellow is a little surprised at him
ielf and not a little hattered. If a
noble dog shows him marked favor
le becomes Stuck up" almost i'm t
nediately If several dogs should c
isplay great preference and affec- s
ion for his person he would soon O
ecome uncomfortable to society," 2
ute too vain for association with y
zen. Contrariwise, should dogs il
ark at him generally or perchance v
hould one bite him he would not b
rel himself good enough to associ- (
tie with snakes, but would forth f,
18th get himself locked up as a vic "
m of hysterical rabies, and if he a
ad any pathetic kinfolk at large is
ley would at once insist upon hav- IN
g the dog put to death. "
For my own part I have learned al
great deal from dogs. If l am nat 81
al, they set me the example in sy
rly childhood. If l am faithful to al
friend through his disgrace and ed
saster | cannot deny that a dog re- vi
aled this nobility of character to III
2 for the first time in my life. If
have gratitude, l saw it first in ba
G. If | have enterprise, he did an
t neglect my early lessons. If l me
We initiative, so had my first dog tn
end. If | am affectionate, so was WI
If | am patient in adversely sol
d without arrogance in affluence sci
ould not have acquired this poise frC
mind better from men than from is
8. If | am watchful over weak mo
IS entrusted to my care, if l am VIZ
getful of self in guarding my be-
ed, if | have the courage Of my WI
victions, if | have any heroic in
lcts | could have had no better Sol
cher than a dog. Indeed the love cor
dogs, their association and ex- figl
pie have filled my life with Joy. to
'ulturist Magazine. I