16 JANUARY 1897, Page 15

A DOG-STORY.

70 THE EDITOR OP ERB " SPECTATOR."1

Sin,—As a constant reader of the Spectator, I take the liberty of sending you an extract taken from the East of Fife Record showing the amusing effect of a telephonic message sent directly to a dog.—I am, Sir, &C., JOHN MARTIN. Westbury House, Fareham, Hants, January 10th.

"Mr. Whyte, teller in the National Bank, Anstruther, was the other day accompanied to Anstruther by his dog, which he in- advertently left there when he went home in the evening. On arriving at Pittenweem he telephoned to Anstruther to ascertain if his dog was in the Anstruther office, and Mr. Whyte being told that it was, the 'receiver' was placed in the dog's ear, whilst Mr. Whyte whistled and called his dog by name, and it, on recognising his voice, at once started off in a most excited and delighted state for his home at Pittenweem. The incident is worth recording, as we question if such an experiment has ever before been made, and proves that even a dog can distinguish its master's voice through the telephone, and shows how wonder- fully distinct is the human voice even a mile away, when heard through this clever and wonderful instrument."