WILL POWER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1518, 5 February 1886, Page 3

WILL POWER.

Dr M ilnor Fothergill in his new book on " The Will Power," tells an interesting story. A friend of his and some others were driving through some of the lees civilized parts of Staffordshire, when they called at a house, the owner of which was very proud of the savagery and prowess of his house-dog, "He was expatiating on this theme to his visitors, and declared he would like to see any man go within the dog's chain. 'Go within his chain!' said the driver, a native of the county, the tone of his voice telhngofhis wounded egotism, his powers thus impugned. ' Why, I'l 1 fetch him out by the ears for a quart of ale?' With this he ' drew his coat up well over hir head, like a huge cowl, and then on all fours he steadily approached the dog. Had the dog recognised he was a man he would probably have known hoT to fight him, flown at him, and seriously worried him without a moment's hesitation. But the dog had no previous experience of such an animal as was now before him, and passively looked at this new object. The struggle was reduced to a pure fought by the eyes. As the strange animal mauifested no fear, the dog had to give in ; had the stranger flinched, or his eye lost its steady look of compot-ure for a moment, the dog would have been on to him in an instant. But he would not be afraid ; so the dog had to, and retreated into his kennel, whither the new animal followed him and dragged him out by the carehowling with terror and dismay." Here wo have an experimental illustration of the statement often made by travellers, that wild animals may be overcome by a steady, unflinching stare. Man is to them a new kind of prey. They do not kuow by experience what powers of defence he has; and the steady gale argues the consciousness of superiority. The unsophisticated creatures have not yet learned that men are deceivers ever. Of course, when once they have attacked him and worsted him they wilL never be imposed upon again.