Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1893 — Led by a Canine Pilot. [ARTICLE]

Led by a Canine Pilot.

A blind man, piloted about the center of the city the other day by a

dog, attracted a good deal of attention. The man was deatly dressed, and carried a sachel containing articles to sell swung over his shoulder. He carried a stick in order to enable him to feel his way up or down a step. The dog, a plump, well-fed, brown animal, had on a sort of harness, to which a stout cord was attached from his back. He was, apparently, in a hurry to do business, for he tugged at the cord vigorously as he went along. Every few steps he would look around at his master in the most intelligent way, as if to discover whether he was coming along safely. As soon as he got to a door he stopped and looked up at his master. If the door was one on which was posted the sign, “The other door,” the man would try the knob, and as soon as the dog saw that his master could not go in he would immediately move on to the next door. Wheh a door was opened the dog appeared to understand exactly how to transact business. He would pilot,his. master straight to the office, in the back OT front part of the house, stop, and look up. When anybody bought anything and “Good-day” was said, the animal would lead the way out again, often looking around at his companion, and, when the street was reached, he would be sure to start exactly where he left off and try the next door. If the animal was not fond of that man, the looks and actions of a dog go for nothing.—Baltimore American.