Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1875 — Dog Intelligenee. [ARTICLE]

Dog Intelligenee.

A Scotch gentleman has kindly fer warded to me the two accompanying stories, which illustrate the womferful capacity enjoyed by many dogs of under standing even the minutest of their masters’ language: “ A son-in-law of mine, an extensive sheep-farmer in Berwickshire, Mr. G , of C , had a colly dog, ‘ Sweep,’ one of the very best of his kind. When, on account of old age, he became unfit for his ordinary work, he was used for taking out and bringing in the cattle from the parks. He generally lay before the kitchen fire, and, when milking-time came, all that was required was to say, ‘ Sweep, go for the cows-, ’ when he would at once get up and go for them,’bringing them up to the byre without any assistance whatever. “It sometimes happened that he would leave a cow behind in the field; but whenever he was told so he would again start off, pick out the cow from the young cattle, and take her to the byre with the rest. I regret to say that poor Sweep is dead; without any premonitory symptoms of illness he was found lying cold and stiff one morning in front of the shepherd’s house. ~— “ Some time about the beginning of the century there lived on Clint’s farm a man of the name of “ Baldie Tait,’ a noted sheep-stealer. He had a colly as accomplished a thief as himself, and there are those still alive who - have known him to direct his dog to go to Heriot Muir, a distance of several miles, to pick out the best sheep he could get, take them to Hanging-shaw, a wayside public-house on the high-road' to Edinburgh, and remain with them till Baldie should come, when they were driven tp Edinburgh and sold. “ Baldie had become so notorious in his unlawful calling that a warrant was issued for his apprehension. On the day on which he heard of this he went to a sale of farm stock at a plaoe called Muircleuch, near Louder. He and his dog were well known; and* Baldie, knowing howto improve the occasion, put up the dog to be sold by auction, got ten pounds for it and decamped at once —not a minute too soon, for in a short time the minions of the law were on his track, but they were too late.” On receiving this account I wrote to the narrator, expressing my surprise that even so great a rascal as Baldie should have parted with his dog. I found, however, that selling the dog was a way he had when he wanted money; for by some means unknown he always got the animal back again. One of my correspondents has favored me with a brief history of a dog which understood and obeyed the orders of its master: “ Not many years ago there lived in Edinburgh a drunken, shiftless molecatcher of the name of Hastie. Like most of his trade, he was very fond of dogs, especially terriers; and he had one which he loved above all others, calling her his ‘ blessed Susie.’ “ She often used to act the part popularly attributed to the jackal, and provide her master with food. When, as often happened, Hastie was in straits for food and had no money he would go past a butcher’s shop, point to a piece of meat and say quietly, ‘ Susie, I want that.’ He then went on his way and in a few minutes the meat was- sure to be in his possession.

“ Time wore on, and, as everything mortal must have an end, poor-Busie became sick unto death. The last I heard of the poor waif was that he was seen with,the dying object of his affection in his arms, hugging her and pressing her to his heart. The man was weeping like a child and dreading the swiftly-coming moment when he and his beloved Susie were to be parted.” There really must have been a substratum of good in this poor, dissipated man, or he never could have cherished or inspired so sincere a love I give the following story in the words of (the gentleman who kindly sent it to me “My grandfather, Mr. H ,of Gilchristcleugh, in Lanarkshire, possessed a watch-dog of the name of ‘ Help,’ who who was usually kept chained up. For some time repeated losses had taken.place among the sheep, some of which were found torn and mangled, but only partially, if at all, devoured. Every effort to trace the secret enemy proved in vain. At last while Mr. H was walking one day on the banks of a little river which flowed at the foot of the pasture hill his attention was attracted by seeing his dog, which he supposed to be safely* chained near the house, running down the hill.

“As the dog drew near it was seen that his mouth and fangs were covered with blood. My grandfather concealed himself so that he might watch unobserved what would follow. The dog walked into, the river, dipped his face in the water and shook his head backward and forward, until he thought all traces of his guilt were removed. He then came out at the side next the house, toward which he proceeded, his master following at a little distance. The dog went to his kennel, and, with the help of his paws, put on his collar, which was lying with the chain on the ground. “ My grandfather walked np to him and said: ‘ Help, my poor felgvw, there is no help for you.’ He then went away , and gave the necessary orders for th.e* dog’s execution. when the serrrmt came to lead him to his doom the collar was once more empty, and ‘ Help * was never more heard of in the county .»> It is plain that the dog must ha re perfectly understood the meaning if not the exact words, of his master’s ’ speech. No reproaches had been user'i; but he felt himself detected, and understood that he would have to suffer for his crime if he did not abscond; — Harper'* Weekly. Mounting fluid for xuicroscopic objects is made of gelatin e,ne ounce, honey five ounces, rectified spirits one-half ounce, and creosote s'tx drops. Filter through fine flannel. Heat the honey\ before adding to the gelatin, which last jpust be dissolved, i n boiling water, When cool, add tKe creosote#