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The Commoner.
AUGUST 25, 1905
The Foundations of Peace
Dr. A. L. Blxby, the poet of the Lincoln, Neb.,
Journal, and the trustworthy guide,- philosopher
and friend of all men everywhere and on all
subjects, except politics is authority for the fol
lowing: A gentleman traveling through tho west
ern part of the state a few days ago stopped
off to look at a piece of land that was offered
for sale at a bargain. In going to the place
it was necessary to cross a tract where tho
prairie dos lived. His companion had a tar
get rifle and requested him to take a shot at
one of the little animals. He did so with
deadly result, and to the great disturbance of
his own peace of mind. The wounded beast
barely had strength to crawl into Its den prob
ably to suffer and die. "Thinking it over
afterward," said the gentleman, and he was a
gentleman through and through, "I couldn't
figure out where I ha.d profited by taking the
life of one of God's happy creatures, and I
made up my mind then and there never to be
guilty of -,uch wanton cruelty again. Even
a prairie dog has a right to live."
This is one place where figures won't lie. The
best mathematician in all the world could not
figure out where any man profits by the needless
destruction of life. It is one of the good signs
of the times that men are thinking more and
more these days on such subjects and that there
is a growing disposition to recognize that "oven
a prairie dog has a right to live." Boys 'having
concern for their standing don't tie tin cans on
dogs' tails these days; and those who do, readily
discover that that is one of the offenses not con
doned under the "boys will be boys" rule.
There are some who, coming in such stern
contact with the miseries of men, are disposed to
look lightly upon the efforts of the humane so
ciety and kindred organizations, , contending that
a more important work relates to the immediate
wants of men rather than of birds and beasts.
But organizations like the humane society , are
doing a very necessary work in the education and
the making of men. Every man whose interest
has been enlisted in the humane society's work
may be depended upon to do valiant service for
humanity. Every child who has been impressed
with the fact that it is wicked to destroy a nest
or to inflict injury upon birds or beasts, has been
made familiar with the paths that lead to that
ever increasing circle of men and women where
"I am my brother's keeper" is the alpha and the
omega of the ritual.
Macaulay told us "The Puritan hated bear
baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but
because it gave pleasure to the spectators." But
today those who protest against the pigeon shoot,
the docking of the horse's tail, the high check
rein, the needless slaughter of birds or beasts or
"any other detested sport that owes its pleas
ures to another's pain" recognize not only the
injury to the spectator but the rights of the dumb
creature. The fine character created by Charles
Reade gave to the men of his time and to the
men of all time an excellent rule in "Put Your
self in His Place."
It is difficult to know just where to draw the
line, and the conscience of each individual must
determine. Some may not yet be willing to go
quite so far as the man who, though passionately
fond of fishing, found it difficult to obtain his own
consent to run a sharp pointed hook through a
beautiful minnow. When his companions laughed
at him and told him that it did not hurt the
minnow, he asked, "Then what makes the little
thing squirm?" Many yet hold that the high
check rein is not cruel, but those who have care
fully Investigated know better; and while on some
of these points there will be differences, sooner
or later It will be agreed that man's right to
destroy animal life terminates with his necessi
ties for food, and that he can not find justifica
tion in the destruction of such life in the desire
for sport.
"The proper study of mankind is man," and it
is an interesting study, too. Because this is so it is
strange that there are not more students in that
school. Thos,e who have not availed themselves
of the privilege of such study have no idea what
a wonderfully-interesting thing it is. They can
learn so many things they never' dreamed of be-'
fore. And once they outer upon the study of men
thoy will naturally be drawn at tho first oppor
tunity to tho study of birds and of beasts. In
that realm are limitless opportunities. In simplo
fiction we may obtain inspiration for tho study of
the horse from "Black Beauty," and for the study
of the dog from "Beautiful Joe." John Burroughs
can toll us facts we never dreamed of, an.d yet
they are facts lying at our very doors and pro
viding, as do all of Nature's studies, profitable
and interesting investigation.
Men disagree as to whether these dumb creat
ures reason, yet there are many well authenticat
ed tales showing some wonderfully human con
duct on the part of these creatures. We aro
told by "Farm Folks" that "on the top of a steep
pinnacle of the Alps mountains surrounded by
the dead white of the eternal snows through
which an occasional clump of evergreen pro
trudes, is a grave marked by a simple wooden
tablet on which these words are carved: 'Here
lies a friend of humanity, the savior of thirty-four
men, women and children.' The creature to
whom this monument was erected was only a
dog. He was one of thoso great, handsome, gentle-eyed
Saint Bernards which trail the dangerous
paths of the treacherous mountains, watching for
the lost traveler and bringing him to safety when
found."
The New Orleans Times-Democrat recently
quoted a police officer who said that all the stray
dogs who roam the streets at night seem to pick
out the uniformed policemen as their friends, and
that when the officers return to the station they
are accompanied by a long procession of dogs of
various degrees. Another and older officer said
that he did not see any grounds for objection on
this point, because he remembered an instance
where two dogs which made it a habit to follow
the same policeman every night saved that police
officer his job. According to the story, this po
liceman was not in the least bothered with in
somnia, and when he got ready to take his nap
on his beat . the dogs would take up their posi
tions one at one end of the block and one at tho
other. Whenever one of the dogs saw the ser
geant coming he would run to the sleeping officer
and rub his cold nose against the officer's face,
arousing him from his sleep and thus warning
him of the approach of his superior.
C. R. Wigert of Lincoln, Neb., a retired drug
gist who has traveled extensively, was not pre
pared to welcome a dog to his home, but lie finally
did so, and now no money could purchase that par
ticular animal; and thereby hangs a talc. One day
two dogs appeared at Mr. Wigert's house. One of
them, a large animal, had been seriously crippled
in the back. The other was a little, short-legged
creature, and not at all attractive to the eye.
Tho crippled animal hid himself under tho house
and whenever the- little dog was fed it was no
' ticed that instead of eating the food he disap
peared with it. He was followed several times
and on each occasion was seen to carry the food
under tho house, place.it before tho crippled ani
mal, and stand wagging his tail as though grate
ful for the opportunity of doing that kindness. In
a few days the two dogs disappeared. Several
days later the smaller dog returned and took up
his home on the Wigert premises. His very ap
pearance t-ggested the name he now bears,
"Scrubby," but there is nothing of tho 'scrub in
his characteristics. Because of the kindness he
showed to Jiis crippled companion he found an
appreciative master and a comfortable home. It
is needless to say that he has found friends In the
neighborhood among all who have learned his in
teresting story.
It was a good sign, wlien, despite President
Roosevelt's great 'popularity, many criticisms
were made when it was reported that he had
participated in a hunt where animals had been
captured and locked In a cage to be suddenly re
leased In order that a chase might be made. And
it was another good' sign when many newspapers
crltcised former President Cleveland because In
one of his newspaper articles he told of the great
delight to be found in the chase for jack-rabbits,
admitting at the same time that it was necessary
for the chasers to take great pains to persuade
these little animals to flee from their pursuers.
A police officer in a western city was famous
for his tenderness. He had been kiiown to weep
at the sight of a man whose skull had been
fractured by a police officer's club; and he had
sho-wn what seemed ,to be at least on the rart
of a police officer undignified concern over an
injury inflicted upon a dog. Some of his fellow
, officers good naturedly gibed him on his tender
spot, and one of his superiors never lost an
opportunity to taunt him. Thero was no tender
spot in this superior's breast. He could stand
tho sight of blood on man or on beast. Tho pain
which others felt did not disturb him. But wo
have been told that "tho bravost aro the tender
est, tho loving aro tho daring," nnd on one occa
sion it happened that this tondor-hearted man,
accompanied this particular superior on a search
for o pair of doHporate criminals. Tho criminals
were found and thoy showod fight. Tho man
who had been laughed at because of his tender
ness, who had boon sneered at becauao of his
tears at tho sight of another's woe, stood Ills
ground manfully, risked his own llfo, nnd with
tho aid of citizens whom he called to his support,
arrested both of the dosperato men after being
required to scveroly wound ono of them. Tho
superior tho num who had so often laughed his
subordinate to scorn because of his "weakness"
took to his heels at the first shot and ran like
a scared yoJf. History Is replete with Instances
showing that "cowards are cruel but tho bravo
lovo mercy and delight to save."
""Nature teaches beasts to know their friends."
Have you over noticed that there is an affinity
between tho boy and the dog? Turn loose a
little child and a little dog or for that matter
an old dog and see how soon they'll got to
gether. On one occasion a man holding in his
lap a puppy dog took a seat in a crowded street
car. Beside him sat a woman, and beside the
woman a Httlo boy. Leaning forward tho boy
caught sight of tho dog and at the samo time
tho dog caught sight of tho boy. In tho parlance
of tho street "there was something doing." Tho
little boy's eyes sparkled and the Httlo dog's
tail wagged. Tho man found great difficulty in
holding the animal and in order to prevent it
from creating a commotion he found it necessary
to pass It over to tho boy in whose lap the
little animal nestled and was content.
One of the busiest lawyers in a western city
was generally regarded as a cross and crabbed
man. He was a bachelor and it was notlcod-r-
and to his credit it was said that ho had the
habit when walking down tho street of stopping
to rub the noses and pat tfio necks of tho boracs
attached to tho hacks standing fn front of hotels.
Some who would not bo willing to give tho devil
his duo sajd that he only did that because It
cost nothing, and by way of extenuation of his
other meannesses. But finally it leaked out
not with this man's consent, however, that as
he had shown kindness to the Iwck horses he had
shown kindness to men and women and Httlo
children who wore helpless and needed friends.
It developed that, unknown to tho world and
known only to a few, he had regularly and''
quietly dispensed charity In a most liberal way.
Men who keep their hearts young find pleas
ure in dwelling on life's simple things. All may
not be profound and i,f we could we would be
so busy maintaining oiir dignity that we would
miss the best part of this really good old world.
But we may all learn from association with chil
dren; we may be of great service in giving a
word of cheer to some faltering comrade; we may
obtain a wonderful amount of pleasure in doing
a kind turn to some abandoned cur, receiving our
reward In a hearty wag of the cur's tail like
unto that for which tho old German said he
wouldn't take a thousand dollars.
Most of us are too dignified to repeat but
some of us are simple hearted enough to remem
ber one of the sweetest lessons of childhood
conveyed in homely verse: "Little drops of
water, little grains of sand, make the mighty
ocean and the pleasant land. Little deeds of
kindness, little words of love, help to make earth
happy like the heaven above."
The easiest thing In the world Is to train
a child so that it will be considerate of the rights
of birds and beasts, and a child trained in that
way is safe. When he is grown he will be con
siderate of the rights of men. He will learn that
the essence of the law Is to "deal 'honestly, hurt
nobody (and no thing), and give everyone (and
everything) his just due." When ho learns to
fulfill that law as it relates to the smallest and .
most helpless of God's creatures he will lose no
opportunity to become as a ministering angel
to human beings In need.
These are the foundations of peace for If
the schoolboy of today is trained to speak softly
and carry an olive branch instead of a "big stick,"
the statesman of tomorrow will be more reluctant
to engage in war and more willing to assist in the
restoration of order.
RICHARD L. METCALFEi-
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