[TO THE EDITOR OF TH1 " BPICTATOR."]
Sin,—Since you still continue to afford space for those in- teresting dog-stories, which might lead to discoveries more interesting still, I venture to send you one which I have- thought of writing for a long time. I was on a visit to a country rectory in Sussex when a gentleman called whose name is familiar to many of the clergy, a most courteous and agreeable man, but who is troubled with a painful impediment in his speech, which he usually passes over with a smiling urbanity which soon makes one forget the defective utterance. But this forbearance was found impossible to a fine New- foundland dog lying extended on the rug during afternoon tea, apparently listening with much surpr.se and annoyance to a strange language of which he could not understand the meaning. Under an irresistible impulse, at length he jumped up with eyes full of anger and barking furiously in our friend's face, whose composure, however, was not disturbed for a moment. Clearly it appears that our four-footed com- panions not only like to listen to our conversation, but demand that our utterance should be clear and distinct, such as a dog. of average capacity may understand.—I am, Sir, &e.,
Previous page
