Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-04-11
THE FELLOWSHIP OF DOGS.
Always Hope For a Man Who 10 Fond
Of an Ordinary Cur

L ''NF~ ~ . WAN VINO " Z on
D Of an Ordinary Cur.
have seen few wretches in m,
day, but | never saw one so utterlI
lost to decency that he could not be
fiattered 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
Will not let us wholly forget what
humbrgs 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
he 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 a 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, l am
not so bad after all as 1 might be.
You can't fool dog, and a dog is no
Therefore l have good
III me which he recognizes" The
fellow is little surprised at him
self and not a little fattered. If
noble dog shows him marked favor !
he becomes Stuck up" almost i'm
nediataly. If several dogs should
display great preference and affec- L
ion for his person he would soon q
'ecome uncomfortable to society," l
Iuite too vain for association with
nen. Contrariwise, should dogs ?
ark at him generally or perchance Il
hould one bite him he would not .
eel himself good enough to associ- c
tie with snakes, but would forth .
18th get himself locked up as a vic y, "
m OF hysterical rabies, and if he =
ad any pathetic kinfolk at large
hey would at once insist upon hay- -
lg the dog put to death. u
For my own part l have learned ~
great deal from dogs. If | am nat " =,
raj, they set me the example in u
Irly childhood. If l am faithful to
friend through his disgrace and
saster | cannot deny that a dog re- .s
aled this nobility Of character to W ~.
e for the first time in my life. If 81 81
have gratitude, saw it first in a "'
g. If l have enterprise, he did ~
It neglect my early lessons. If l "
We initiative, so had my first dog az
end. If | am affectionate, so was i
. If | am patient in adversely w.
d without arrogance in affiuence Ca Ca
Gould not have acquired this poise aoi
mind better from men than from ""
gs. If ] am watchful over weak op'
So entrusted to my care, if l am
getful Of self in guarding my be- a.
ed, it have the courage Of my by,
lyictiOns, if | have any heroic in l,,0 .
nets | could have had no better "a /"
cher than dog Indeed the love ~
dogs, their association and ex- INV '
pie have filed my life with Joy.
Julturist Magazine. ."e