276 



FOREST AND ' STREAM. 



[Sept, 28, 1895. 



The Immortality of the Lower Animals. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A clipping reached me yesterday entitled "The Dog's 

 Immortality." It is from Forest and Stream of Sept. 

 14, and consists of letters from W., C. H. Ames and Tran- 

 sit. 



Not in reply to, but in comment upon the remarks of 

 these gentlemen, I would say: 



1. To W., that my experience with men has shown me 

 that scientists and "the most of the members of the cler- 

 ical profession" are not more prejudiced than others. 

 The baity, with regard to any profession, are as apt as, if 

 not more apt than, the members of that profession to be 

 governed by preconceived notions. Not such a layman, 

 however, if he be a layman, is W. He belongs to that 

 class, all the members of which I love, whether they be 

 professionals or laymen, who want to know the truth. I 

 am particularly pleased by this remark of his: "The 

 fashion has been and still is to call evidences of intelli- 

 gence in animals instinct, which has always appeared to 

 me only another way of dodging the force of facts." The 

 most commonly accepted definition of instinct is: That 

 which we do naturally. I would like to ask, Does any- 

 body do anything which he does not do naturally? No 

 creature is born all at once. He is a succession of births. 

 A man walks, and talks, and thinks, and loves, just as 

 naturally as the babe suckles or the chick pecks at a grain 

 of corn. Reason might be defined as the guiding instinct 

 — the instinct by which the individual knows how to gov- 

 ern himself. And that the lower animal has the power 

 of self-direction nobody would ever think of questioning 

 were he not influenced by the teaching of some psycho- 

 logical school. 



2. Mr. Ames says: "I consider that true speech in the 

 higher, human sense * * * consists in just this — the 

 conscious use of symbols to express abstract ideas." 



That the lower animal has abstract ideas there may be 

 some who doubt. I have a world of proof, some of which 

 I have published, that they have. But what is the 

 function of speech in the economy of the subject? To 

 communicate ideas, to intercommunicate ideas, to trans- 

 mit ideas. That the lower animals communicate ideas 

 Mr. Ames is not disposed to question, as I think nobody is 

 any more. But do the lower animals intercommunicate 

 ideas? A few days since I received from an esteemed 

 correspondent — Edwin B. Woodruff — a story (of the truth 

 of which there can be no question) of two dogs which 

 tracked a woodchuck to a hole. To this hole there were 

 two entrances — one on. either side of a stone fence. The 

 dogs stationed themselves one at each entrance. After a 

 time they digged. One of them grew tired of this and 

 quit. They met on the wall, put their noses together, had 

 a consultation, then filled the entrance on one side of the 

 fence. This done, they went to the other side. The 

 smaller of the two entered the hole, engaged the wood- 

 chuck, fled, was followed by it. When it was out of the 

 hole the larger dog pounced upon it and killed it. I have 

 the witnesses at my call to prove the truth of this story in 

 any court of justice — before any jury except one com- 

 posed of partisan psychologists. Now, could there have 

 been the laying of the plan which was carried out with- 

 out the intercommunication of ideas? And could there 

 have been the intercommunication of ideas without signs 

 —arbitrary signs— of those ideas? No; unless the ideas as 

 entities passed directly from the mind of one dog to 

 another, and from that of the other to that of the one, if 

 which occurred dogs have an infinitely freer intercom- 

 munion than men— even psychologists. Again: Do suc- 

 ceeding generations of lower animals learn from the 

 experiences of preceding generations? I think so. Take 

 the Constantinopolitan dogs. They live in distinct dis- 

 tricts — wards. Each of these wards has a government — 

 crude of course, but not overly-much cruder than 

 the government of some wards in New York or 

 Chicago. When a dog goes from one ward to 

 another, he is pitched upon, killed, and eaten if possi- 

 ble. When he yelps, sends out his cry of distress, his 

 fellow citizens rush to his assistance. Now, did every 

 puppy of any ward in Constantinople have to learn from 

 experience, that particular ward would soon be depopu- 

 lated. The truth must be that the older dogs tell the 

 younger dogs to carefully stay within their own borders 

 till they are grown and fleet of foot, and then to venture 

 within the borders of the enemy with all their faculties 

 about them, with their friends on the watch and ready to 

 come to their assistance with discretion. What occurs 

 here but the transmission by one generation of its experi- 

 ences to another? Though, of course, among the Con- 

 stantinopolitan dogs there has never arisen a Maeaulay'or 

 a Bancroft, yet I have no doubt that some of them are 

 better historians and historical philosophers than others. 

 The lower animal has memory. Why? That he may 

 learn from experience; that he may have the facts of his 

 sensory continum pass side by side with the facts of his 

 memory continum; that he may think, that he may reason, 

 that he may know, that he may conduct himself in accord- 

 ance with that knowledge. Then he is responsible not 

 only for himself, but also for his offspring. As in the case 

 of man, so in the case of the lower animal, each genera- 

 tion has the responsibility of properly starting the suc- 

 ceeding generation. And this responsibility could not be 

 met and discharged without the power of transmitting 

 ideas. More. Those ideas could not be transmitted with- 

 out signs, arbitrary signs of ideas. I might give many, 

 but I will take space— if I am allowed it — to give only one 

 example of the use by a lower animal of an arbitrary sign 

 to convey an idea. Always when my dog Phlip, who 

 "passed over to the majority" last spring, after blessing 

 me by his love for a little less than two years, was given 

 a bowl of water he would thank the giver, whether it was 

 given in the name of Him who said: "Inasmuch as ye did 

 it unto the least of these ye did it unto me," or not by 

 shaking his head up and down— a trick which he was'not 

 taught, but which he hit upon as an arbitrary sign of his 

 thankfulness. 



8. I am not one of those to whom Transit refers in say- 

 ing: "Most of them are notably deficient in considering 

 the immortality of the dog in connection with the immor- 

 tality of man, to the exclusion of all other animals, or at 

 least the lower animals are ignored." My great hope ig 

 f or the immortality of the whole sentient universe. Note 

 that I do not say my knowledge nor my belief, but my 

 hope. My great and my thrilling hope is that there is not 

 a being capable of feeling that will not live always. The 

 material universe is the embodiment of a thought. You 

 may destroy an embodiment, but cannot destroy a thought 



nor any part of it. This infinite thinker, whom I would 

 not attempt to define, is either cruelty or love. I would 

 rather think him the latter. 



Charles Josiah Adams. 



RONDOUT-ON-THE-HODSODf, KlNOSTON, N. Y., Sept. 18. 



The Beagle Trials. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A Field Trial Committee meeting of the National Beagle 

 Club of America was held Sept. 9, 1895, at the rooms of 

 the American Kennel Club, 55 Liberty street, Mr. George 

 Laick, Chairman. Present were Messrs. H. L. Kreuder, 

 H. F. Schellhass, J. W. Appleton, A. D. Lewis and 

 George W. Rogers. The report of the committee on 

 classes, Messrs. Kreuder and Rogers, submitted the follow- 

 ing which were passed: 



Open Class A — For dogs of all ages, 15in. and under, 

 that have not been placed first in any open class at field 

 trials held in America. 



Open Class B — For bitches of all ages, 15in. and under, 

 that have not been placed first in any open class at field 

 trials held in America. 



Open Class C— For dogs and bitches of all ages, 13in. and 

 under, that have not been placed first in any open class at 

 field trials held in America. 



Open Class D— For dogs and bitches 15in. and under, 

 whelped on or after Jan. 1, 1894. 



Champion Class E— For dogs and bitches, all ages, 15in. 

 and under, having been placed first in any open class ex- 

 cept Derby at field trials held in America. 



Champion Class F— For dogs and bitches, all ages, 13in. 

 and under, having been placed first in any open class ex- 

 cept Derby at field trials held in America. 



Class G, Brace Stakes— For two dogs or bitches 15in. or 

 under, the bona fide property of party making entry at 

 time of entering and starting of class. Four dogs or 

 bitches may be selected, from which two must be drawn 

 and named to start prior to starting of class. 



Class H, Pack Stakes— For dogs or bitches 15in. or under, 

 the bona fide property of party making entry at time of 

 entering and starting of class. Eight dogs or bitches may 

 be selected, from which four must be drawn and named 

 to start prior to starting of class. 



CONDITIONS. 



Class A— Entries close Oct. 19, 1895. Fee to start $10, 

 of which amount $4 forfeit must accompany entry and 

 balance to be paid prior to starting the class. First prize 

 $40, second prize $35, third prize $10. 



Class B— Entries close Oct. 19, 1895. Fee to start $10, of 

 which amount $4 forfeit must accompany entry and bal- 

 ance to be paid prior to starting of class. First prize $40, 

 second prize $25, third prize $10. 



Class C— Entries close Oct. 19, 1895. Fee to start $7, of 

 which $3 forfeit must accompany entry and balance must 

 be paid prior to starting class. First prize $25, second 

 prize $15, third prize $7. 



Class D— Entries close Oct. 19, 1895. Fee to start $5, of 

 which $2 forfeit must accompany entry and balance to be 

 paid prior to starting class. First prize $20, second prize 

 $10. 



Class E— Entries close immediately before starting the 

 class. Fee to start $10, which must be paid in full before 

 class is started. First prize 60 per cent. ; second prize 30 

 per cent. 



Class F — Entries close immediately before starting of 

 class. Fee to start $10, which must be paid in full before 

 class is started. First prize 60 per cent. ; second prize 30 

 per cent. 



Class G— Entries close October 19, 1895. Fee to start 

 $10, of which $5 must accompany entry and balance to be 

 paid prior to starting class. First prize 60 per cent. ; sec- 

 ond prize 30 per cent. 



Class H— Entries close October 19, 1895. Fee to start 

 $20, of which $10 must accompany entry and balance to be 

 paid prior to starting class. First prize 60 per cent. ; sec- 

 ond prize 30 per cent. 



It shall be understood and agreed that no class shall be 

 started unless two or more entries are made and filled. In 

 the event of any class being declared off, the money shall 

 be refunded. 



Trials begin Nov. 11, and to continue to end. 



In addition to regular prizes the club will present a 

 handsome rosette or silk ribbon properly inscribed to the 

 winner of each prize-winning dog. 



RULES. 



Every entry must be registered in A. K. C. Stud Book, 

 or an extended pedigree, as far as can be obtained, sub- 

 mitted to the field trial committee. 



It is expressly understood and agreed that the National 

 Beagle Club of America reserves the right to reject the 

 entry of any dog or bitch that, from the best information 

 obtainable and according to their judgment, is not a 

 standard-bred English beagle. 



Entries for different classes close as per time stated in 

 classes and conditions. All entries must be filled out in 

 full on blanks furnished, and mailed to field trial commit- 

 tee as per address on entry blank not later than Oct. 19, 

 unless otherwise provided for. 



The stipulated forfeit money must in each case ac- 

 company entries. No exception to this rule will be 

 granted. 



Dogs can be forwarded per express, addressed to Na- 

 tional Beagle Club of America, Hempstead, L. I. 



All dogs sent by express, as well as all others, will be 

 taken care of at Hempstead, L. I. , under direction from 

 National Beagle Club of America. Competent handlers 

 will be on hand to handle and run dogs in trials, in case 

 owners of same cannot or fail to reach place of meeting 

 on time. 



Dogs must be at Hempstead, L. I., before 10 o'clock 

 A. M. on Nov. 11. 



It is expressly stipulated and understood that the Na- 

 tional Beagle Club of America does not hold itself respon- 

 sible for loss or damage done to any dog sent in its care. 



The filling of classes, drawing from same and measur- 

 ing dogs will begin Nov. 11 at 10 o'clock A. M. sharp, and 

 Class A will be started at 1 o'clock P. M* on the same day. 



The headquarters of the club will be at Roth's Hotel, 

 where ample accommodations for members of the club 

 and their visiting friends have been provided for. Com- 

 fortable arrangements for the kenneling of the dogs have 

 been made, and they will be well looked after. 



The place of meeting may be reached as follows: Long 

 Island R. R., Thirty-fourth street ferry, or James Slip 

 ferry, New York, or Flatbush avenue station, Brooklyn, 



*o Hempstead, L. I., which is twenty-one miles from New 

 York city. 



At an adjourned field trial committee meeting of the 

 National B«agle Club of America Mr. Bradford S. Turpin, 

 of Dorchester, Mass., and Mr. Charles Quynn, of Fred- 

 erick, Md., were selected to officiate as judges at their 

 coming field trials. Geo. W. Rogers, Sec'y. 



Field Trial Echoes. 



POPULAR WINS. 



It is a long time since one handler made such a record 

 as did Frank Richards at Morris, Man., where he won 

 both Derby and All-Age Stake in each trial— the Conti- 

 nental and Manitoba — and second in the Cha mpion Stake. 

 It is still longer since two dogs have shown such genuine 

 merit and superiority as did Minnie T. and Sam T. 

 Withal, there never wds a handler more heartily and sin- 

 cerely congratulated than was Mr. Richards, and many 

 were the expressions of pleasure that Mr. W. W. Titus 

 owned such good dogs and had succeeded so well. 

 "Billy" Titus has competed for years, and has taken the 

 disappointments of defeat with a grace better than some 

 take success. , In this instance the success is all the more 

 praiseworthy since it came from the fairest of handling 

 and good work. It was plain honest handling; the dogs 

 did the rest. 



NOISY VS. QUIET HANDLING. 



At the chicken trials there was less whistling and loud 

 calling to the dogs than is commonly seen at field trials. 

 The English handlers were particularly noticeable for their 

 quiet and gentlemanly handling. They also observed the 

 most punctilious fairness. Their quiet yet effective ways 

 were in shining contrast to the loud and meaningless 

 whistling of a few other handlers. Noisy handling is un- 

 skillful and far less effective than quiet handling. A dog 

 can work much better if left more to his own resources. 

 There are two or three handlers from the States who 

 should give this matter some study. 



Mr. Jack Armstrong was taken ill after the Manitoba 

 trials, and went to Winnipeg for treatment. Mr. W. E. 

 Warner, the popular manager of Mr. Gould's kennel 

 interests, informed me that everything was being done 

 for his comfort and that the last reports were that he 

 would be about again in a few days. 



Mr. C. C. Chipman, of Winnipeg, was an interested 

 spectator at the trials, between the times he could take a 

 spare day from the multitude of responsibilities pertain- 

 ing to the management of the Hudson Bay Company's 

 vast business interests in British America. He has the 

 small matter of 2,000 men under his supervision, yet I 

 fancy it is easier done than managing a field trial. 



Mr. D. E. Rose returned to Tennessee immediately after 

 the trials ended. 



Messrs. Storey & Spracklin intend to remain at Domin- 

 ion City, Man., about two weeks before returning to 

 their homes. The former lives at London, Ont., the latter 

 at Chatham, Ont. 



The handlers from the States were greatly assisted by 

 Mr. Thos. Johnson in their entanglements with the cus- 

 toms. He was on the customs bonds of many of them, 

 and exercised his friendly offices to the utmost to arrange 

 for their prompt clearance. 



Capt. C. E. McMurdo, of Charlottesville, Va., was a 

 visitor at the trials during the running of the Champion 

 Stake. His pleasure at meeting old friends was only 

 equalled by their pleasure at seeing him. 



In regard to the diploma, which is a part of the reward 

 for winning first in the Champion Stake at Morris, Man., 

 Mr. Thomas Johnson, the secretary of the Northwestern 

 Club, says that it will not be any ordinary affair, but will 

 be gotten up in the finest style of the penman's art. It 

 will contain the names of the competitors and other per- 

 tinent matter all beautifully engrossed. 



The prize money was paid promptly, whereat the boya 

 felt pleased, for some of the coin of the realm is not a bad 

 adjunct to glory. 



On Friday evening the Manitoba Field Trials Club gave 

 a dinner to the landowners of Morris and vicinity. 



Mr. George Ewing, New Islip, L. I., remains for a few 

 days' chicken shooting after the trials. 



A Good Dog Sick. 



Portland, Oregon. — Editor Forest and Stream: By 

 the careless, inaccurate use of words some time since I 

 unfortunately led the Eastern friends of my old dog 

 Mike to think that he was dead. If he could read and 

 understand the letters I received in consequence of that 

 mistake of mine he would certainly lose none of his self- 

 respect, even if his respect for his master was diminished. 

 Notwithstanding the fact that he is now about twelve 

 years old he is in good health and condition with one 

 serious exception. 



On his throat there is a swelling that is hard and grad- 

 ually increasing in size, resembling goiter on the human 

 neck. I don't know what to do for the poor old fellow 

 and wish somebody would tell me. It seems to be a very 

 common trouble with our dogs in this country, and it in- 

 variably proves fatal, At least a dozen dogs within my 

 knowledge have died with it. Three good dogs — Captain 

 Ankeney's, Captain Dodge's and another — were operated 

 upon by surgeons, but the operations only seemed to 

 hasten death. S. H. Greene. 



[Apply tincture of iodine to the enlargement two or 

 three times a week. Give one five-grain thyroid tablet 

 (Armour's) three times a day. Should there be no im- 

 provement in a short time give two tablets three times a 

 day.] 



International Derby Entry. 



Chatham, Ont., Sept. 16.— Owing to the absence of the 

 secretary the time for payment of the second forfeit in 

 the International Field Trials Derby has been extended 

 by the committee from Sept. 1 to Oct. 1. The entries for 

 the All-Age Stake close Nov. 1. 



Wm. B. Wells, Hon. Sec'y I. F. T. C. 



