The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05


 Of course you and I have had dogs that almost talked, which made their wants known as readily and with cer- tainty which two legged animals might envy-dogs that seemed to understand perfectly what was said to them. Then we know about the watch dogs honest bark paying deep mouthed welcome as we draw near home The welcome all ways sounded very much like bow-wow to me, but then my hearing may be de- fective, for I remember when my infan- tile nephew said with perfect distinctness q have his mothers word for lD, Go away bad boy" I thought he had only said: "Goo- boo" which is quite diff ferent, you know.
 When I tell you that dogs talk, please don't doubt my veracity for, as a poor hardworking journalist, 1t is one of my most valuable assets. Just credit the statement where it belongs, to the Herr Prof. Dr. Leibnitz of Saxony who told a congress of savants in the year 1929 that he "knew hound which spoke 30 words distinctly" The statement has not been contradcted in all these years, and I do not hesitate to revive 1t, believing that even if the illustrious scientist were na- ture -faking, his memory would be safe from attack until after the next election At the same time and place 1t was an- nounced that "the dog Is the only animal that dreams, he and the elephant are the only four-footed animals that un- derstand looks and expressions; the ele- phant the only animal that feels ennui the dog the only quadruped which has been brought to speak So there now If you don't believe what a koeniglische professor, with all sorts of alphabetical arrangements behind his name, has to say, I am sure you wouldn't believe me- anyway.
 This anecdote was related during the week of the kennel show down on Long Island, and by a very successful exhibitor but I wouldn't believe it myself until she showed me the whole story In the Ar. cana of Science" Then, during a rainy afternoon dogs books were searched, and all sorts of queer and improbable things were brought to light about dogs. If you don't mind, I'll tell you about some of them.
 Dogs can hear and understand, even if they cannot always articulate, or MT. St. John, author of ''Highland Sports" de- serves membership in the club with those to whom shorter and uglier name has been applied.
 "A shepherd, neighbor of mine," said MT. St. John, "to prove the quickness of his dog, who was lying before the fire in the farm house kitchen where he were talking, said to me in the middle of a conversation about quite different mat ter, I'm thinking, sir, the cows got into the potatoes.' Though he purposely low cred his voice, laying no stress on these words, the dog, who appeared to be asleep immediately jumped up, leaped through the open window and scrambled up the | turf roof of the house, from which he could see the potato field. Not seeing the ho hao olr Infn hn far rd finding her there, came back into the house. After a time, the shepherd said the same words again and the dog re- peated his lookout, but on the false alarm being given the third time the dog got up and wagging his tail, looked his master full in the face with such a com ical expression of inquiry that we could not refrain from laughing heartily, on which he laid himself down again to sleep in his accustomed place on the hearth rug as if determined not to be made fool of again.
 . Then a scrapbook was produced, and We read in turn of the heroismas Of dogs as portrayed in the daily press; an account of how a dog had rescued the entire crew of a ship wrecked off the coast of Calffor- mia by swimming out where no man would venture and no boat could float and bringing back line which the sailors had been frantically trying to throw ashore tales of homes and lives saved from de- struction by fire, thanks to the timely warning of the watch dog; of children found and restored to their parents by dogs; of treasures defended, and of tray clers rescued from Alpine snow drifts by dogs, until I had almost begun to think MT. Carnegie ought to provide some sort of a special medal for dog heroes who have been and are still wing with theirs two-legged friends in deeds of courage and unselfishness.
 'It is a strange thing" said veteran expert, "how little the average person knows about dogs, and how by Ill-feeding and mistaken kindness they make the poor beasts suffer with the collywobbles when a little judgment would keep them in the best of condition. I know woman who insists on it that her dog must have a bath every day, followed by combing and brushing process to which he submits