The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-24
THE FELLOWSHIP OF DOCS.
Always Hope For A Man Who Is
Fond Of An Ordinary Our.
Culturist Magazine.

I have seen few ,wretches in my
day, but l never saw one so utterly
lost to decency that he could not be
nattered by the friendly attentions of
a strange dog. There is great les
son in that. No matter how superior
we try to seem to ourselves and 9th
ers, small voice within us will not
let us wholly forget what humbugs
we are. In the presence Of our kind
we are brazen. The calm gaze Of a
child sometimes shakes our self con-
fidence. The knowing look of a dog
skaters it. There is something in
brute psychology that perplexes the
intellect of man and disorganizes his
intuition. Man is so made that what
he cannot understand exercises great
er 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 Notifications
of his soul. He drops his mask-his
grotcsque outer garb-his brazen
shield falls to the ground, and he eli
ther cowardly retreats or succumbs
without resistance.
There is some hope for the man who
is capable of feeling ashamed III the
presence of an honorable dog. That
man has avenues open to him for ad-
vancement. His soul is still fit for
=.
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 I am, I am not SO bad
after all as I might be. You can't
fool dog, and dog is no hypocrite.
Therefore I have good in me which he
recognizes The fellow is little
surprised at himself and not little
tlattercd. If noble dog shows him
marked favor he becomes "stuck up'
almost Immediately. If several dogs
should display great preference and
affection for his person he would
soon become uncomfortable to society
quite too vain for association with
men. Contrariwise, should dogs bark
at him generally or perchanee should
one bite him he would not feel himself
good enough to associate with snakes,
but would forthwith get himself
locked up as victim Of hysterical
rabies, and if he had any pathetic
kinfolk at large they would at once
insist upon having the dog put to
death.
For my own part I have learned n
great deal from dogs. If I am natu-
raj, they set me the example in early
childhood. If I am faithful to II
friend through his disgrace and dis
aster cannot deny that a dog reveal
cd this nobility Of character to me for
the first time in my life. If I have
gratitude, 1 saw it first in dog. IF /
have enterprise, he did not neglect my
early lessons. IF I have initiative, So
had my first dog friend. IF [ am af-
fectionate, so was he. II am patient
in adversity and without arrogance in
affluence 1 could not have acquired
this poise of mind better from men
than from dogs. If 7 am watchful
over weakness entrusted to my care,
if l am forgetful Of self in guarding
my beloved, if have the courage OF
my convictions, if have any heroic
instincts I could have had no better
teacher than a dog. Indeed the love
of dogs, their association and example
have filled my life with joy.