NOBLE DOGS.

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 354, 16 August 1890, Page 7

NOBLE DOGS.

1 To speak of & St. Bernard dog as an ; "exhibit" (writes a coiTespondent in nn i English paper) seems somehow derogatory to such a nobto creature. Even as compared with other dogs, they have exceptional" claims upon the regard of human beings — a superiority which only the Newfoundland and the true shepherd dog can in any way bo said to share with them. Tho iustinct of the Newfoundland to save life, and the amazing intelligence which it shows when--1 ever.it attempts to rcscuotbe drowning-, have suggested to tho Continental river police the formation of a brigade of these brave animals to co-operate with the regular "Humane Society, and the experiments, as reported by our emotional neighbours-, the French, gave some surprising results. It was apparently proved that the dogs discovered at once for thomselves tho actual degree of danger of the immersed person, aud acted accordingly. If a man pretended to fall out of a boat, they prickea up their oars and wagged their tails. IJuf; nothing more. If ho called out for help thoy looked much puzzled, but etill refrained from offering assistance They saw that ho was within anns-length of tho boat, that the other man in it did nothing to help his unfortunate comrade, so they put their sagacious black heads together, and said one to tho other, " That drowner there is either a fool of the largest size. or olse ho is an imposter. In either case we had better let him alone." And they did. But no experiment when tho accident happened to a man in woman's clothes failed to eend the dogs splashing in at once, and if the object was a child tho competition to eavo it was immediately furious:. Ordinary property failed to attract their interest, but a bat floating down the Btream mado them at once uneasy, and the older dogs would go in and paddle ujj current and "quarter" the water- as If the association of a man'£ hat with his head were too strong for the Newfoundland mind to disconnect the two, and aa if tho animal thought that if the one was there the other woula probably bo not far off- With the sheep-dog, again, there is an analogous- discrimination ox circumstances. If a audden etorm comes on it first sets about herding those sheep which run tho greatest risk and semiring the places where peril is most likely to be fatal. For the sake of a'single straggle! 1 which- it knows to h#ve gone off it leaves the whole flock, aad a&eaon a? |t has got tho full number complete, the tone of Ite voice and its cestures change so signicantly that the shepherd knows that all his charges are safe. On the homeward way the eolley devotes all his best attention to the lame and the weaklings, urging them on with a benevolent ferocity which the sheep thoroughly understand, and bestowing upon the rest only a perfunctory care. Arrived at the fold, it immediately surrenders all responsibilities. It saya to the shepherd, f< I | know you are not good for much aa a shepherd without me, but at any rate you can surely shut the sheep up for the night and count them by yourself. lam going in to have my supper." ! Tho uatelfigenoe of the St, Bernard moves j in the same arc* It is of the same degree. No dog is less frivolous — less ! addicted to canine vanities-. Even as puppies they find oat their strength and weight, and the natural generosity of their charaoter, so amply expressed in the broad, deep set of the forohoad, the expression of thoughtful dignity in the eye, makes them, far more tolerant of trivial affronts, more ' patient under small provocations,- than their J inferiors in size and sinew. Whey they grow up they carry themselves admirably in any 41 scene" with which they may happen to tjet mixed up. Their presence often suffices to put a stop to a street brawl. The gravity with which they approach the cause of quarrel, the ponderous air of judicial impartiality with which they seem to investigate it, are too much for the little dog of low degree or the valgar tykea. Such dignity of bearing is intolerable to tho canaille. They slink' off in various directions, overpowered by the sauvity of the giant's address, the imperturbable courtesy of his manners. With human beings, too, the behaviour of the beantifui animal is curiosity discriminating. It conducts itself always with good taste. . According to the reception whioh is accorded to the^etranger, it qualifies its own regard for him, thus constituting itself oae of the household and showing itself unanimous with the rest as to the measure of the social oivilities. It will cut some visitors dead the second time it sees them ; wita others it allows acquaintances to ripen into friendship. Vfe have only to go to a show and study' the animals on exhibition, to be puzzled at the expression of their countenances. Half of them, eaunot look the judges in the eyes. They keep on turning up their muzzles to their friends who hold thorn, look up at the ceiling, afc the walls, or down on tho ground, anywhere «xoept straight into the faces of tho crowd in front. If they had pinafores on they would put the corners into thoir mouths. Not Cnat the St. Bernard cannot look you in the face if ft wishes. No animal does co with greater frankness and tranquility when he like&. Unlike the monkey's shifting, restless glances, the eye of the St. Bernard meeta your own full, and rests there. It seems to 'be oxchanging thought with you, -and when it turns away its head it is because it has made up its mind about you. The traditions of the famous hospice from which they take their name, the romantic and thrilling stories of their life-saving achievements, invest these grand "exhibits 1 ' with -a dignity whioh makes this confidence in themselves, this selfrespect, seem quite becoming and natural* The crowd moves along the aisles, between the benches of dogs, and, except when masters pass or old acquaintances meet, or the excitement of being taken to end from the judging rings, sets the deep-mouthed things barking, the St. Bernards take no notice of what is going on. Each one lills his own space with teanquil unconcern. Even tho puppies, delightful bearkins, soem to get tired quite early of rolling each other about •and choking themselves with each other/a ribbons, for thoy lie about in comfortable heaps of slumbering fur.