Evening star., 1927-10-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

mankind has come to desire in the
dog are summed up here.
| He Is devoted Surely this Is the
prime virtue Of the dog, the one quail
| ity that sets him apart in the animal
creation, that wins him the love OF
man, his master, century after cen.
tury.
In a world where ingratitude often
crops up in the least suspected places,
the dog sticketh closer than brother
Having won his simple affection, one
may mistreat him to any extent, he
will remain faithful.
| His human friends come together in
lodges and put up a great prate about
the sacredness of being brothers, but
| let u one Of their membership do
something contrary to law and order,
he is very likely to find himself read
out Of the order by his more virtuous
brethren.
| A dog, however. knowing nothing of
such secret and fair-weather brother
hoods, shows his devotion in the face
of the world. TRY TO run me away"
his big eyes say. 'I won't go, Buddy"
Thus disobedience become divine.
| X X X X
| He is brave. Next to his devotion
the dogs bravery is most held in
esteem by mankind. The harassed
city dweller, perplexed by the noise
| of a thousand motor cars, sometimes
pauses to fume at the yipping of a
dog, but the dogs bark may be re-
garded as the escaping steam Of his
bravery He is brave in the ancient
physical way for which man has never
found a substitute in time of danger.
The dog dispenses with talk of militar-
to-. fln ftv,,n
| comes, he throws himself into the
place where he is needed with brist
ling name. ripping claws and tearing
teeth. This is his title to doghood.
| He Is intelligent. Those who know
| the love of a good dog can cite in
Vulnerable instances of the canny
thinking Of their pet. even Of his wis
dom. AS animals go, he Is thinker
and il any proof were needed of this,
one has but to think of his ability to
"catch on" to tricks.
| He is acknowledgement. Considering
the fact that the dog canot read, and
therefore cannot delve into the right
or wrong of war, the dog is remark
ably peace-loving. With him the thing
resolves itself into pure question OF
environment. His mother and father
may be "pit" dogs. bred to fight. but
! ne, DTOuSnC mp III HouSciioiu VI
peace, becomes the gentlest of crea-
lures, unwilling to bite human be.
ing.
He Is kind. He asks but to be al
lowed to frisk around and enjoy him.
self in his own way, then his kindli.
ness shines out of his eyes. One sell
dom sees a mean-eyed dog, although
there are such to prove the rule.
He is obedient. The good dog obeys
because it Is his masters will. 1t Is a
part of his devotion. ..
He is patient because 1t is a great
animal characteristic, and one for
which he is not responsible, and there
fore perhaps deserves little praise.
He is considerate-yes, real dog is
considerate, in the best sense of that
word. He does not bark, except when
barking is apropros. he never bites-ex.
cept when necessary-and he always
does what's right" Such is the pic.
ture of the perfect dog, mans oldest
friend, the only animal in the world
that really loves us. What is tho mat.
ter with us, that, after all these CEN
turtles, we have not managed to win
the love Of other creatures?