How the Movement Began 61 



so should be of use." Sam did not have to find his own grub 

 any longer when at the school, but he nevertheless earned it. 



A splendid collection of dogs was daily assembled. 

 Many of them were fine show specimens, while others of 

 humble ancestry nevertheless came with wise faces and 

 willing hearts. They were one and all welcome, and were 

 made to feel so. The attitude of mind was in most cases 

 that of a schoolboy plunged into a large public school — 

 bewilderment and sometimes homesickness for a short 

 time — but as it was found that reassuring, kindly human 

 voices were all around, and that excellent dinners were 

 going, they soon became quite at home. Added to this, 

 life offered most interesting companionship with other dogs, 

 and also a completely new experience in what seemed to 

 the dog the learning of a new sort of game. 



Each recruit was carefully tested for three different duties 

 — messenger, sentry, or guard work. Sometimes they 

 failed in one but succeeded in another, but all had a good 

 chance to show some sort of initiative. In the event of a 

 dog showing no desire for work of any sort it was returned 

 to the source whence it came. The more one has to do with 

 the canine race the clearer it is seen that as regards psy- 

 chology there is little difference between it and the human 

 race, and I much regret to say that it was my experience 

 to find occasionally the canine " conscientious objector ' 

 among the recruits. There was, however, a convenient 

 method of dealing with the offenders which unfortunately 

 is not available for human beings — an excellent lethal 

 chamber at Battersea ! 



We had many distinguished visitors. Field-Marshal 

 French inspected the school, accompanied by General 

 Lowther. This was before the results of the work that had 

 been done had been fully demonstrated, and the genuine 



