Forest and Stream 
Vol. LXXXII. May 30, 1914 No. 22 
Man’s One True Friend in the Animal World-The Dog 
By Henry Chase. 
U NDOUBTEDLY the reader has perused 
the eloquent tribute to the dog delivered 
by Senator Vest of Missouri. The Sen¬ 
ator’s words have become famous among canine 
admirers everywhere, but here is a classic in a 
different strain which deserves to be preserved 
from oblivion. It was delivered from the bench 
of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine by ex- 
Chief Justice Appleton of that court. 
“From t'he time of the pyramids to the present 
day,” said the judge, “from the frozen 
pole to the torrid zone, wherever man 
has been, there has been the dog. 
Cuvier has asserted that the dog was 
perhaps necessary for the establishment 
of civil society, and that a little reflec¬ 
tion will convince us that barbarous na¬ 
tions owe mudh of their civilization 
above 'the brute to the possession of 
the dog. He is the friend and com¬ 
panion of his master, accompanying him 
in his walks; his servant, aiding him 
in hunting; the playmate of his children 
and an inmate of his house, protecting 
it against assailants. 
“It may be that he was ‘ferae naturae,’ 
but all animals, naturalists say, were 
originally ‘ferae naturae,’ but have been 
reclaimed by man, as horses, sheep or 
cattle, but however tamed, they have 
never, like the dog, become domesticated 
in the home under the roof and by the 
fireside of their master. 
“The dog was a part of the agricultural es¬ 
tablishment of the Romans and is treated as 
such. There were the canes villatici to guard 
the villa of the Roman senator; the canes ve- 
natici accompanying him in his hunting expedi¬ 
tions, and the canes pastorales by whom his 
flocks were guarded. Virgil in his Georgies has 
given directions as to their management and 
education. . . . 
“Otway, the poet, says of them: 
‘They are honest creatures 
And ne’er betray their masters, never fawn 
On any they love not.’ ” 
Now, the writer has always confessed to an 
inherent fondness and admiration for members 
of the dog-world. And why should I not feel 
so? From childhood to the present hour, I 
have always had a dog companion. As I write 
now one is lying by my side. He is a thorough¬ 
bred pointer. He is ten years of age and at 
present is on a pension, which he so richly de¬ 
serves. The second season I hunted over him 
in 'the forests and fields I became fully convinced 
that he knew more about grouse and woodcock 
ways than I could ever hope to learn in a life¬ 
time of study. He has true “bird-sense,” and 
every sportsman knows what that means. But 
that is not the sum total of his good qualities 
by any means. He has also real “dog-sense” and 
all of the best dog characteristics. This is some¬ 
thing more and far beyond the ability of many 
people to fathom and comprehend. When this 
noble pointer realized that he was getting old 
and was not to be permitted longer to indulge 
in his favorite recreation, did he object and 
grow sulky as most human beings would do? 
Not a bit of it. He immediately constituted 
himself the guardian and protector of our home. 
In this role he has performed his self-assumed 
duties with a sagacity and fidelity which quickly 
endeared 'him to his master and mistress. You 
never hear a sound of complaint from him re¬ 
garding his physical pains or treatment, his be¬ 
ing deprived of the delights of the chase, or any 
other trouble of his own, but he attends strictly 
to business. Not for one single moment does 
he neglect his guardianship. Constantly exer¬ 
cising his keen eyes, ears and nose, nothing es¬ 
capes him. Every living creature that invades 
his domain receives his instant attention, and 
must pass muster according to pointer notions 
before they are allowed to intrude. Instinctive¬ 
ly, he knows a friend from an enemy. He is 
not much concerned with his own enemies— 
these he usually treats with a haughtiness and 
disdain commensurate with his aristo¬ 
cratic blood. But if he divines they 
are enemies of ‘his master, mistress or 
home all the savagery of his ancient 
ancestors arises within him to repel and 
drive them away. In this he shows 
fully that “the one absolutely unselfish 
friend that man can have in this selfish 
world, the one that never deserts him, 
the one that never proves ungrateful or 
treacherous, is his dog.” And thus he 
is enshrined in the hearts of his master 
and mistress, and thus he will ever re¬ 
main to the end of his days or ours. 
Unlike many sportsmen, however, 
who are fond of their own particular 
dog for his hunting ability, I confess 
to a fondness and admiration for the 
canine world at large. I love a dog 
for himelf alone. I love him because 
of his three predominant characteris¬ 
tics, which are so lacking in we poor, 
weak human mortals, namely, fidelity, unselfish¬ 
ness and freedom from deceit. These the dog 
displays to man alone. They are the badges of 
his friendship to man. Not that he does not 
possess these weaknesses to a degree, for in 
dealing with his own kind he is as faithless, 
selfish and deceitful as any of us, but he never 
displays them in the least in his intercourse with 
his master or mistress. At such times he is able 
to suppress them, which is all the more to his 
credit. He never reflects upon the personal con¬ 
sequences of his acts in defending his human 
friends. Gladly will he face death a hundred 
times if the need arises. In other words, he 
gives all he has in this cruel world to the per¬ 
son who takes him in and befriends him. 
The trouble is, however, most people do not 
realize these things, nor do they understand 
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