The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-03-16
FELLOWSHIP OF DOGS.
Humans May Learn Much From Them
in Regard to Lies Philosophy.


in Regard to Lies Philosophy.
I have seen a few wretches in my
day; but I never one so utterly lost to
decency that he could not be tlattered
by the friendly attentions of strange
dog. There is a great lesson in that.
No matter how superior we Try to seem
to ourselves and others, a small voice
within us will not let us wholly forget
what humbugs we are. In the pres
ence of our kind we are brazen. The
calm gaze of child sometimes shakes
our self confidence: the knowing look
of dog skaters it. There is some
what in brute psychology that per-
plexes the intellect of man and disOr-
ganiZes his intuition. Man is so made
that what he cannot understand eXer-
cises greater influence tover him than
that which he can. In the presence of
openly and quite unconsciously. He
| is then no longer master of the forti-
fications of his soul. He drops his
his mask-his grctesque outer garb-
his brazen shield falls to the ground,
, and he either coWardly retreats or sue
cumbS without resistance
There is some hope Tor the man who
is capable of feeling ashamed in the
presence of an honorable dog That
man has avenues open to him for adj
vancement. His soul is still fit for ex-
pansion. His brain is something more
than a dried nut. His heart has not
turned entirely into thing of rubber
| and valves. When strange. dog
greets him, he thinks better of himself
F-unconscleusly he reascns: CIVILIAN
that am I an not so bad after all as
l might be. You can't fool a 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 flattered. If a noble
| dog shows him marked favor he be-
| comes stuck up almost Immediately. If
several dogs should display great pref
erence and affection for his person he
| would socn become uncomfortable to So
ciety-quite too vain for association
with men. Contraiwise, should dogs
bark at him, generally or perchance
should one bit him, he would not feel
himself good enough to associate with
snakes; but would forthwith get him.
self locked up as a victim of hysterical
rabies; and if he had any pathetic; kill
folk at large hey would at once insist
upon having the dog put to death.
For my own part, I have learned a
great deal from dogs. II am ia tural,
| they set me the example IN early child
hood: If I am faithful to a friend
through his disgrace and disaster, I
! cannot deny that dog revealed this
nobility of characte: to me for The first
time in my Life. If have gratitude, l
i saw it first in dog. If I have enter
prise, he did not neglect my early les
sons. II ! have initiative, so had my
first dog friend;,if I am atiectionate, so
was he. IF am patie:.t in adversely
and without arrogance, I could not
have acquired this poise Of mind bet
ter rom men than from dogs. If am
| watclful over weakness intrusted to
my care; if I am forgetfu l of self in
guarding my beloved; if 1 have the
| courage of my convictions; if l have
any heroic instincts, I could have had
no better. teacher than |. dog. indeed.
| the owe OF dogs, their association and
example-have filled my life with joy.
t1n 14p11 .c~f