Animal Imitativeness.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 32, 7 August 1902, Page 29

Animal Imitativeness.

Ono of the most curious traits to bo found in the animal nature, said an observant citizen, is that which gnowa out of the unconscious imiua^ tiveness of creatures of the lower order. I have observed many instances of where the creatures of a lower order have taken on the char acteristics in some noticeable degnee of members of Uio human family. Ono might know, for instance, the beggar's dog from the look of the dog, from the droop of the eye, the pathetic hang of the lip, and a certain general air of despondency and hopelessness which seems to speak in the very nature of the animal. I mention the beggar's dog because it is a familLar example. The begigar's dog never looks cheerful, never smiles, never frolics, but simply sit^ by his master and broods and begs for whatever charity may give. I have seen the dog character moulded under happier influences, and the dog become mono cheerful Ho was a lighthoarted, free-and-easy sort of creature, and seemed to get something of the .sanniei side oi things 1 am almost tempted to say that if you will show me a man's clog 1 will tell you what manner of man the owner is, with particulai referenco to temperament and his moods The melancholy man, iho man who pfrouels mentally along the gloomier groom's, the pessimistic man who isalwajs looking at the dark side of the. picture, all the men who come within these, unhappy classifications* rarely own a cheerful dog The dofg unconsciously takes to the \uijs of the. master, and m his moods imitates the master's way of thinking Ihit turn to the dog- of the jolh , cheerful fellow. Watch him show Ins tee tli m laughter when the iiuslei approached lie is daiting fuo'-s tho >ard and dancing and frisking] at the master's feet m the lui[ j> est way imaginable, and ho is i.p .o all km (Is of pranks and does all knicls of littlo things 1o indicate i tie pood nature that is m him ITo does as his master does, and soenis to take the same general \ lew of life Thes«i ana small things, but they .show iust how important one's way of thinking may influence one's do» and change his whole iew of life.