74 HORTICULTURE. 



higher than many men he could name, instead of being obliged to 

 play second fiddle to the horse. If the community of dogs in gen- 

 eral would but listen to him, he would teach them not only how to 

 be always wise and rich, how to be strong and hearty, but above all, 

 how to preserve their scent — for the scent is a pleasure that dogs 

 prize as much as some old ladies who tate snuff. In short, the 

 knowledge of this wonderful discovery would bring about a canine 

 millennium — for he assured them that not only was every one of them 

 entitled to his " day," but that " a good time was coming," even for 

 dogs. 



And why, you will say, did not our philosopher divulge for the 

 benefit of the whole family of dogs 3 " It is so pleasant to do some- 

 thing for the elevation of our race," as the travelled montey thought 

 when he was teaching his brothers to walk on their hind legs. All 

 the dogs in the country could not but owe him a debt of gratitude, 

 since they would soon become so wise that they might even teach 

 their masters something of instinct. And then they would be so 

 happy — since there would not be a downcast tail in all ' the land — 

 fdr the whole country would be in one perpetual wag of delight. 



Ah ! dear reader, we see that you, who put such questions, know 

 nothing either of philosophy, or the world. As if the people who 

 discover why the world turns round, and the stars shine, throw their 

 knowledge into the street for every dog to trample on. No, indeecl ! 

 They will have a patent for it, or a great sum of money from the 

 government, or something of that sort. It would be a sorry fellow 

 who should think that every new thing found out is to be given 

 away to every body for nothing at all, in that manner. To be sure, 

 it would, perhaps, benefit mankind all the more ; but that is only 

 half the question. " K you think the moon is made of green 

 cheese," said our curly philosopher to his friends, " you are greatly 

 mistaken. I am well satisfied, for my part, that that is only a vul- 

 gar error. If it had been, John Bull would have eaten it up for 

 lunch a long time ago." 



So our philosopher went about among his fellow-dogs, far and 

 near, and spent most of his little patrimony in waiting on distin- 

 guished mastifis, Newfoundlands, and curs of high degree. He 

 went, also, to all conventions or public assemblies, where wise ter- 



