DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 85

DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motto : " Union is Strength."

The usual weekly meeting of the above club was held on Tuesday, 18th February. Emerald presided over a meeting consisting of 14 members. Following the confirming of th« minutes, a suggestion from The Gramaphone was received land di&cuseed. Briefly the above writer's suggestoon 19 to extend our syllabus to cover a period of three months in advance. This was discussed at the meeting, and subsequently in committee, but I will refrain from announcing our decision, as other arrangements are at present under consideration -which, it is hoped, will satisfactorily settle the grievance. Greetings from, our comrades Lola, and Black Watch were delivered to the club, and all their kind wishes we heartily reciprocate. The next business was the reading of a- very pleasant letter" from an old-time comrade and fellow worker, Scots Grey. The nature of his work has made it necessary for him to be continually travelling, but we have every reason to believe -that the loss caused by his absence will be partially atoned for by interesting contributions from time to time. The election of a, librarian next engaged the attention of the club. Areta's resignation was received with regret, and several members spoke highly of her excellent qualities as a worker and devoted club member. Indian Chief was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy, and we have every confidence in his making the library a strong additiona attraction to the club

Owing to Octava and Scots Grey having le£i JDunedin for an indefinite period, we had, in accordance with tko rules, to filf their places with acting committee members. As the list of officials comprises some 13 members, and the attendance does not average 12, Cornish gave notice that on the following Tuesday he would move — " That the number of committee be reduced to 11, with a quoruni of six."

The debate for the evening was, " Do Animals Possess Reason?" and Cyclo. as leader for the affirmative, made a gallant attempt to prove the reason of animals, who, according to Cyclo's doctrine, were endowed with all the faculties of human beings, save the gift of speech. Cyclo made a noble bid for success, and his reasons were sound and legicai. He mid : "If the actions of animals were governed by blind impulse from within, no outside force or foreign agency would influence them. If their brains were inactive, it would be only a matter of time until they dissappeared, as it is recognised that if any organ or part of a body fall into entire. <3issuse, it will either decay or be reduced to such a state as to be absolutely useless for the functions ©f its existence. To argue animals' lack of reason implies want of forethought in the Creative Mind, as to create an animal minus the most essential quality is like building a piano and omitting to place in it the chords and strings that give and control its notes. Such an instrument might pass if it were intended only to fill [ a space, but as an article destined for use, it would be a distinct failure. The power of

xeaspn in animals may in many cases be dormant, but with, patience and training it could be developed into a potent factor, and also one that will increase the value of the animal. In the case of « collie dog, does no other infhtence than instinct act on the dog's mind? Does it perform all that is re- ■ quired 1 of it automatically, without being directed by a conception of what it is doing? Ido not think so. Unurged and without influence, dogs have been known to save the lives of people in distress. The first instinct is self-preservation, and a, dog to endanger its own life, must conquer its first impulse, and a generous leason must be credited with having done this."" The above extract is merely « minor part of Cycle's well-written paper.

Emerald, in leading for the negative, advanced many original and convincing arguments, which went, to show that among the possessions of animals, natural and acquired, " reason" does not figure. Prom her wellwritten article I quote: — "Intelligence and instinct are what govern tli» movements, be they clever or otherwise, of animals. The possession of intelligence is no guarantee of the possession of reason. Definitions of reason by recognised authorities will better explain the difference of these unsonnested qualities. Professor Jevons says :— ' Reasoning may be defined as the progress of th» mind from one or more given propositions to a proposition different from those given.' Professor Sully says : 'To reason is to pass from; a certain judgment or judgments to a new one.' I could advance numerous others, but as they all agree in matter, and differ only in wording, it would be a useless repetition. Before we can reason we must make explicit in consciousness the grounds on which our judgment rests. The query_now resolves itself into this: Are .we only improved and advanced animals? Is there a sliding scale between the lowest and the highest? Is the difference one of degree or kind? These questions remain undecided. We can to a certain extent experiment on animals, thus 1 : Stick thrown into water; dog fetches it. Stick thrown over a garden railing, and dog shown, how to get it through ; next time finds same difficulty. Cannot make

a judgment concerning it. . . . There is no .evidence that animals exhibit active form of cognitive energy ac distinct from the passive. They have recognition, but there is no evidence that they- have representation. Animal stupidity is evident in the case of swallows that go on building when the house is being taken down, and in the case of the bee that goes on storing honey in countries ■wheie honey is plentiful all the year round." These quotations from Emerald's paper merely skim the surface of her arguments, and are in no wise commensurate with the marked ability of our capable president. Indian Chie£ supported the affirmative, and advanced some 1 telling anecdotes on the sagacity of animals. Unfortunately lam not in possession of his papery thus readers will have to forego the pleasure his extracts would undoubtedly have given. Texas Jack contributed an able paper for the affirmative, • and among his many arguments *nd reasons the following-? figured . — " Domesticated animals have been the servants of man since time immemorial, and it is but natural to conclude tha-t in the course of several thousands of generations the canine, bovine, equine, or feline should imbibe some of man's reasoning. Among my possessions, not tlie least treasured is a cat, and that oat has reason beyond the shadow of a doubt. Once when my brother -was prostrated for eight weeks owing to, a. broken thigh-bone, the good old -cat used to bring him a rabbit nearly every day, and once it actually jumped through, the window with a full-grown mouse in its mtouth, and deposited it on my brother's chest. .Would an animal without reason leave a comfortable chair, and go out skirmishing for special dainties for an invalid?" 3 Kippiehoe supported the affirmative, and gave assistance to her side. Kippiehoe mentioned how animals made provision for their future: dogs, for instance, having plenty, will wisely hide a portion for to-morrow, thus showing their reason. , " This concluded the support, and tne leaders replied. , . , T D. A., Harry, and Cornish, as judges, decided that on the arguments brought forth the negative side had won. Next meeting is set apart for open meeting Country contributors kindly note that the next debate they are eligible to contribute, to is, " Which has done more for the World S Progress, Science or Literature? Papers to be in not later than March 3. CORNISH, Hon. Sec.