DOGS IN LONDON 255 
mettle. Tis an ancient and noble principle of 
action, conceivably advantageous in certain circum- 
stances; but in the conditions in which we human 
beings find ourselves placed it is not ¢olerated, and 
the valour and hardihood of our Percivals may no 
longer shine in the dark forests of this modern 
world. 
Is it, then, so monstrous a thing, so great a 
tyranny, that the same restraint which has this 
long time been put upon the best and brightest 
of our own kind should now, for the public good, 
be imposed on our four-footed companions and 
servants! True, we think solely of ourselves when 
we impose the restraint, but incidentally (and 
entirely apart from the question of rabies) we are 
at the same time giving the greatest protection to 
the dogs themselves. Furthermore—and here we 
come to the point which mainly concerns us—the 
reflex effect of the muzzle on the dogs themselves 
may now be seen to be purely beneficial. Confining 
ourselves to London, the change in the animals’ 
disposition, or at all events behaviour, has been 
very remarkable. It has forcibly reminded me of 
the change of temper I have witnessed in a rude, 
semi- barbarous community when some one in 
authority has issued an order that at all festivals 
and other public gatherings every man shall yield 
up his weapons — knives, pistols, iron - handled 
whips, ete——to some person appointed to receive 
them, or be turned back from the gates. The 
result of such a general disarmament has been an 
