Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-11

l always was thrilled with the story
OF Daniel in the lions den, and l
thought if / ever happened to get in
the same fix 1 would dare to be a
Daniel" in accordance with the in
structions contained in the old song.
| know now that 1 wouldn't do any,
thing of the sort. If my escape de-
pended on my iron nerve ard my fear
less gaze at the savage creature,
would be eaten. / am fond of animals,
but they must be pleasant and we'll
disposed animals, preferably small ones
like kittens and rabbits.
Knowing my native cowardicc and
being ashamed Of it, l have several
times sought to overcome it. But it
was never any use. A house fly, if
he is one of the big buzzy kind which
come right at you as if they meant
business will arouse me to a few saw
age SWlpeS with q newspaper. But ii
he gets past the newspaper, L give up
and leave the room till he goes else
where in search of prey. When I see
a wasp evidently headed in my direc-
ton and with a baleful gleam in his
eye l step to one side and let him
pass. If, instead of passing he veers
over toward me in his flight, 1 get out
Of the way. being less ashamed to run
than afraid of being stung.
AS to snakes-but dogs are bad
enough.
Since was little child any dog
could bluff me, and all the dogs I fell
in with discovered it, and got a lot of
fun out of it. Dogs which, would leap
playfully on other children, fetch sticks
for them, and offer their ears to be-
scratched would bare their fangs when
they approached me, and remain for
long time at the bottom of the trees
into which hastily scrambled. The
fact that was never bitten was due
to my extraordinary ability in getting
up trees or over fences.
1t was not long ago that I heard al
man over the radio inform his hearers
that dogs are not at all to be feared
if one knows how to face them When
what seems to- be vicious dog at
tackS you,' said the man, ''do not be-
tray any nervousness or timidity. If
you see MIN coming toward you bark
ing and snarling as he runs do not
try to get away but stand perfectly
still. Fold your hands over your chest
so that he will not think you intend
to harm him, and bite you in self de-
fense Just remain motionless That
will BATTLE him and excite his Curl
osity.
presently he will stop and look at
you to find out what sort of a person
you are. Then probably he will ap-
proach slowly and sniff at you That
is his manner Of asking how come
Do not move muscle while he does
this, and pretty soon he will either
make friends with you or walk away,
completely mystified'
That talk gave me quite little con-
soIaC1on. NO one could be more
ashamed of anything than I was Of
my fear of dogs. I resolved to over
come it in this manly fashion, so
henceforth / might be able to hold up
my head proudly when dogs were in
my neighborhood. I was so keen to
make the experiment that went right
out into the street the very next morn
ing and began looking for hostile dogs.
The first five or six animals 1 met
frisked up to me and licked my hands,
or brought me sticks to throw for them
to bring back. But it was not because
of any aloof attitude on my part. All
of them observed me before had OBJ
served them, and all of them seemed
to be in a high holiday mood. I
BY and by a police dog, which lived
across the street, and. which I had al
ways sedulously avoided, never being
persuaded that his attitude toward me
was entirely amicable came forth from
his gate, and on catching sight of me
froze in his tracks and regarded me
with malevolent stare.