The French have found a use for Tonquin. According to
the Paris correspondent of the Daily News, a breed of dogs has been discovered there specially suitable for sentry duty. The manner in which the dogs are taught their duties is decidedly cruel. They are first tied up, and then beaten and otherwise ill-used by natives engaged for the purpose. The European soldiers, however, feed and pet them, with the result that when at night they are fastened to a sentry-box, they give the alarm by growling, or barking directly an Anamite or Tonquinois approaches,—the dogs being, of course, able to tell by scent whether the person approaching is white or yellow. We suspect, however, that the method of training is not only cruel but stupid, and likely to injure the dogs and break their spirit. It would, be perfectly easy, without ill-treatment, to teach the dogs to apprise their masters of the approach of a native. A pointer has not got to be pecked at by partridges before he will point.
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