Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1885 — "Bow-Wow.” [ARTICLE]

"Bow-Wow.”

It ia not to be expected that children in their first attempts at scrutinizing objects should be able to take in completely a complex form, like that of an animal, for example, with all its parts and their relations one to another. 0. gave ample proof of the fact that the first generalizations' respecting form are a.pt to be rough and ready, grounded simply on a perception of one or two salient points. Thus, his first use of “ bow-wow ” showed that the name meant for him simply a four-legged creature. About the l&th month this word was thrown about in the most reckless way. Later cm, when the dog form began to be disengaged in his mind from those of other quadrupeds, the pointed nose of the animal seems to have become a prominent feature in the meaning of the word. in his 18th month, C. took to calling objects, such as fragments of bread or biscuit, as well as drawings haring a sharp angle, “.bow’-wow.” -It is probable) that if our little thinker had been able at this stage to define his terms, he would hare said that a “bow-wow” was a four-legged thing with a pointed nose. It is, however, only fair to mention in this* connection that o.’» mind had become propossessed with. the image of a “bowwow.” Not long before the date referred to he had been frightened by a small dog, which had orept unobserved Into the room behind a lady visitor, lain

quiet for some time under the table, And then suddenly, forgettirg good manners, darted out and barked. There were many facts which supported the belief that the child’s mind was at this period haunted by images of dogs which approximated in their vividness to hallucinations, and this persistence of the canine image in the child’s brain naturally disposed him to see the “bowwow” form in the most unpromising objects. —English Illustrated Magazine.