INVERCARGILL D.L.F. LITERARY ANB ' DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 93

INVERCARGILL D.L.F. LITERARY ANB ' DEBATING CLUB.

Motto: "Union, is Strength." Tn,e otdin**y weekly msetiag oi the above

club was held m the South British Cham- ' bers on Wednesday, January 15, the subject for the evening being "Have Animals Intelligence?" The committee members present w-ere: Shasta (in the chair), Hon. Vice-presi-dent Millicent, and Midgie, Eewa, Pakeha, Lord. Wolseley, Bolivia, and Miss Bobbie, of the General Committee. Midgie,, for the affirmative, had an excellent paper, and Smoking Flax, opposing her, brought out some good arguments, although he was not prepared to lead for the negative, only doing so to oblige another member. Papers i were received on the subject from Emerald j and Cornish, both for the affirmative, which were much appreciated. Trix also read a paper from Lola,, who was unable to be present. After hearing the opinions of the other members a. show of bauds was taken, and the result was a win for the affirmative. Midgie then moved a vote of thanks to the Dunedin members who had contributed papers, which, was seconded, and carried with applause. Several business ma,tters were then discussed 1 , «nd " I have to remind members that the annual subscriptions aie now due. Country D.L.F. wishing to become members of our ohib may do so by payiug an annual sub. of 2s. Final arrangements were made concerning the interclub debate, aftfsr which Shasta declared the club closed-, to reopen on Wednesday, 22nd inst., when the subject will be, "Your Favourite Character in Fiction. MISS BOBBIE, Hon. Sec. Tiie following are some extracts from the papers: — No one can be blind to the fact that there is a radical difference between the mental constitution of animals and' that of man. We express this diSerenoe by saying that animals a-cf from instinct, while man acts from intelligence. We cannot explain what iiifitinct is-, but we know that it differs fromi intelligence fundamentally. The failure .to make this distinction between mere instinct and positive intelligence 'cads to many fanciful errors. — Smoking Flax. How many are indebted t? the- services accomplished by the dog as night watchman and guardian over something held dear? Look «t the faithful annuals that have died at their posts, remaining faithful till death. We, as their superiors, should feel only delighted -to stand up whenever the opportunity is afforded us of showing our admiration for the intelligence in animals. — Midgie. i The horse and the dog possess a high degree of intelligence, a horse having been known to recognise his master after years of separation. I have often thought that i hens really possess very little brains ; they seem, however, to be possessed of enough to help them find just where yoti planted your most choico sweet peasi and the means of breaking bounds to scratch them out. — Lola. How many persons who were in danger of drowning have been sa-ved by the intervention of <a dog, and would 1 anyone then say that dogs are not intelligent. — Emerald. Animal intelligence has one jaoint of superiority over human beings, inasmuch as a dog will do quietly what he is taught to do whilst a. man will boast over his Animals are open to instruction; they can be taught intelligence. — CorI rush. It is well known that very few animal stories can bear much investigation. .To i speak of oonscience in animals is to revive the exploded superstition that animals- have souls. — Smoking Flax. Instinct in animals is purely intelligence, [ «nd can be traced to the same source as i where our intelligence came from. — Cornish. I append my private address for the benefit of any who may wish to send papers for the club: — Miss Bobbie (Miss E. Hinton, Brunsfield Cottage, Spey street, Invercar>ill).