Charlevoix county herald., 1907-02-02
The SPIRIT
OF the ACE

Have you not noticed the remark
able change in pet dogs?" asked my
vis-a-vis in the subway train.
NO" l answered, puzzled
Have you not observed how they
spring new tricks on their masters
every few weeks which their masters
have not taught them? Does not your
pathos; does it not beg in the most
engaging manner, and carry a flag
without being asked?"
Il have no dog" said /.
We'll. if you had it would" con-
tinued the stranger, unabashed. 'If
you will watch dogs nowadays you
will see a serious life-purpose reflected
in their eyes. And observe horses,
| too. In the seclusion of the stable
they conscientiously practice standing
on their hind legs. They dance the
waltz. They whinny in various keys.
This is true of many mere cab
horse. Watch them"
There are none in the subway"
objected.
My vis-a-vis. leaned toward me with
an air of the deepest mystery.
There will be soon, he whispered.
What under the sun do you mean?"
l inquired.
do you suppose that the intelligent
| classes among animals are not alarmed
about their future in this age OF ma
| Chinery? Do you suppose that the
| phrase The Horseless Age has not
| reached the ears of equine thinkers
Do You suppose that pet dogs are not
viewing with alarm the growing pop
ularity of the mechanical toy-the
Teddy bear, the stuffed pup, the wool
| ly baa-lamb? OF course they are. And
| it stands to reason that they are TAX
ing the most vigorous steps for self
preservation"
l began to be interested in spite Of
myself.
What steps are they taking?" I
asked.
There are some horses alive" an
swered the stranger, more mysterious
| ly than ever, which possess more
| than one horse power"
Get QUIT" / exclaimed.
Yesterday" continued my vis-a-vis,
81 saw q storage battery horse"
Hasn't the doctor advised you -
| leave it alone?" | asked sarcastically.
This silenced him for while. He
allowed the train to pass two stations
| before he said another word. Then he
| leaned toward me again.
Look at cats" he said
'T won't" replied testify.
'Look at the hitherto unambitious
rab-'
Now, once for ALL" / cried, losing
| all my patience at last, tell me what
| it is that you are driving at"
Simply this" he answered at once.
For months past have been obsery-
| ing the actions of animals with the
greatest care. | have followed them
about. have peeped into the privacy
OF the kennel and the manger. | have
watchey Tabby at home. And my in
vestigations have convinced me abso-
lutely that there is in existence a
now, what do you SUPPOSE"
"Oh, spring it," l snapped.
"A Correspondence School for Ami
mails. Can't you imagine the kind OF
things that are being taTght by mail
to our domestic beasts? Ten Les
sons in the Kennel; or. Be a Trick
| Dog Are You Tired of Street Fight
ing g?-Learn to Be Lapdog;' Stamp
| Out the Toy Evil; or. How 20 Act as
If Wound Up And there are similar
courses for the more serious needs of
equine pupils. Up from Livery; or
How to Eat Gasoline and Rum Are
You Tied to Cab?-Be a Circus
Horse 'Ho, for the Vanderbilt Cup;
or, How to Digest a Storage Battery
Oh. / am sure that some knowing ami
mails have started such a school and
are leading their fellows along the
path to higher knowledge. Is it not
superb, is it not
Il looked my vis-a.vis severely in
the eye.
Where you belong" l said, 'is in
the
He beamed at me.
L just escaped" he remarked.