HUMANE IDEAS AND EEELINGb. 49 



information will be given to the public about the care of dogs, 

 with a view to avoiding conditions that simulate this terrible 

 malady. The " mad dog " of the streets is, we know, rarely rabid, 

 and usually only needs a little judicious and kindly assistance to 

 restore him to health. It is just about as reasonable to pounce on 

 and kill a human being that falls in an epileptic fit, as the majority 

 of the dogs that are attacked and killed by an excited crowd. 



Above all, the public needs enlightenment regarding the true 

 nature of animals. When that is complete and thorough, right 

 feelings toward them will spring up in the larger proportion of 

 people. I would especially direct attention to the education of 

 children in and out of school on this subject. It should be held 

 before a child as a more cowardly thing to abuse a defenseless 

 animal than one of its own species. But this will not weigh much 

 with the child if all it hears tends to belittle the creatures by which 

 it is surrounded, and to exalt man beyond all measure. I should 

 begin with very young children by pointing to similarities of 

 structure and function between themselves and the family cat or 

 dog. They have eyes, ears, tongues, etc. ; they see, hear, taste, 

 feel pain, and experience pleasure just as children do ; therefore, 

 let us recognize their rights, avoid giving them pain, and increase 

 their pleasures. I strongly advocate each family having some 

 one animal, at least, to be brought up with the household to some 

 extent, whether it be bird, cat, or dog. But, on the other hand, it 

 seems to me to be a great mistake to introduce any animal as a 

 mere toy or plaything for very young children. Such a proceed- 

 ing rather tends to encourage cruelty. 



It is of great importance for the education of the public mind 

 that fine specimens of animals be exhibited. All shows for our 

 domestic animals are worthy of encouragement as educators. 

 Many a person that regards the ordinary mongrel dogs of the 

 street with indifference, if not aversion, has his views and feelings 

 changed when he attends a dog show, with its numerous speci- 

 mens of fine, pure-bred animals ; and the same may be said of 

 horse, cattle, and poultry shows. The aesthetic has a very great 

 influence in our age. We devote a large share of our energies to 

 securing the gratification of our sense of the beautiful. It will 

 be judicious, therefore, to present the beautiful in animals to the 

 public. For this reason, again, exhibitions of superior specimens 

 of domestic animals, zoological gardens, museums, and kindred 

 institutions prepare the public mind to appreciate animals more ; 

 and, as I am endeavoring to show, to understand and to admire 

 are usually necessary steps to the generation of humane feelings 

 toward the creatures with which we come in contact. 



Once establish the proper feelings, and fitting conduct is likely 

 to follow ; but before these feelings arise we must have right con- 



VOL. XLIII. 5 



