Musical Taste of Dogs.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 76

Musical Taste of Dogs.

That a buHdog at Eastbourne should have displayed such an aversion to military .music as to attack savagely several bandsmen marching and playing, in the street _will not astonish any who 'know how susceptible dogs are to music, writes G. W. M., a natural history enthusiast. James Hogg, the "Etteidc Shepherd," had a dog that went to church with him and heartily joined in the psalmody, which may not, however, b© considered as music. On the other hand, the celebrated prima donna, Madame Nordica, had a pet <Jog that positively- hated , music — Wagner's music. It had displayed great fondness for light " drawing room music," and one day the artiste's maid took it with .her to a Bayreuth festival rehearsal. The dog became restless when its mistrea_ sang, but was driven distracted by the band performances, ami it had to be nemove'd. In the Paris Pendant l'Annee fox 1798 there is a curious account of a dog that displayed a passionate fondness for music. According to the chronicler it " went daily to | the parade before, the Palace of fcbe Tudleries, thrust itself between the legs of -the performers, marched with them, halted with them, and, after the parade, disappeared' until the next morning — when it resumed its occupation." A good many years ago (says a writer in the Scotsman), when. I resided in Nicolson street, Edinburgh, I had a fine Newfoundland dog that had peculiar tastes in music. It seemed to appreciate highly minor key Scottish songs, and even, tolerated the bagpipes, but organ-grinding nearly drove it mad, and that paoedon once got me into serious trouble. An Italian and his weird machine appeared under the window of my rooms, and I, thoughtlessly, let Hector out. The dog sprang on - the machine and tore it to pieces. The organgrinder fled.

—It was Bilkins's wedding day, and h was teasing his young Brother-in-law "Well, Johnnie," he said solemnly, "I'm going to take your sister a long way off and have her all to myself, where* you won't see her any more." — " No, really, are you? " said flic Ltud curiously. " T«s» I'- am. What do you think of it?"—" Nothing 1 can stud it if you on."