[TO THE EDITOR OP ZEE • "SPECTATOR. " ] was profoundly interested
in the account of your correspondent "A. D. C.," which appears in the Spectator of January 30th, of her barking travelling companion. Before reading it, I had presumed that , the ease which came ,under my notice some years ago was unique. I was residing at the time at the University town of Dorpat, in the Russian Baltic, and' was awaiting in the harbour the arrival of the Pleseow boat. In order to catch the earliest glimpse of the little steamer, I had mounted a pile of planks which lay isolated 'from the general traffic. The boat, after the manner of :Russian boats, was late. Presently I heard behind me the foot of some expectant individual, impatient, like, myself, of
• waiting, ascend to my place of vantage. Then in my eager outlook I soon forgot that I was not alone. The greater was my consternation when I suddenly heard the rapid- and angry bark, snarl, and snap of a dog at my back.
Turning quickly, I saw a man beating a precipitate retreat,. carrying, as I at first imagined, an infuriated dog; for, as he hurried away with bent head, the noises continued to proceed from him. When he had put some little distance between-us, he looked round, and the full light of the level sun illuminated his features. 'Never •shall I forget, my horror. The face I gazed at was that of a man, but bearing the expression of an angry dog, with eyes and nostrils distended, whilst from his. lips the sounds proceeded in sharp succession : bark, snarl, snap, his head giving a convulsive twitch at each repetition of the sounds.
On inquiry, I discovered that every student knew " the barking Pole." He was perfectly saw and harmless. Poor fellow ! he was a brilliant scholar and a- genial companion, but -keenly felt his infirmity, which was a pity, since• it: made him worse. In the society of friends who knew• of it, he would not bark for hours together; but upon the entrance of .:a stranger, he would at once begin. Emotion of any kind brought it on It was generally understood that the bite. of a dog, and the accompanying shock to the nervous, system, sustained when a boy, had been the cause of 'the infirmity-...I am, Sir, ac.,
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