To write so that those who read may infer that a certain selected number of so-called lower animals are better, by nature and conduct, in certain elemental 2 virtues6, than men, is, to say the least, rather imprudent, and to the optimistic student of human nature may appear irreverent to an unpardonable degree. Usually, to the minds of such observers, humanity is accepted for its traditional value, regardless of established conditions or inherent actualities. Such investigators8 investigate only one side of their subject. They start out handicapped with the old theory that in every respect the human animal is superior to every other, without attempting to analyze9 unseen interior conditions, whether natural or developed.
In relation to natural conditions, the large majority of Christian10 sects11 are perfectly12 logical. They lay down as a clearly established fundamental fact that all human beings, owing to what they designate as Adam’s fall, are born into this world morally corrupt13 and completely depraved, but that they 3 have within their control for ready application an appropriate panacea14 for a certain cure of these natural defects. But the optimist7 neither admits the disease nor the necessity for cure; he says always, at least inferentially, that all human beings come into the world in a state of innocence15 and purity, and that their few defects represent a certain amount of degeneration.
Both of these theories may be wrong. It is possible that all children come into the world with a certain number of well-known natural qualities—good, bad, strong, and weak—in no two alike, and for which they are in no way responsible; and that what they become in their mature years depends largely, if not entirely16, upon home training and the care bestowed17 upon them by the government under whose laws they exist. Strong, healthy, intellectual, and moral parents, aided by a wise 4 and honestly administered government, assist each other in forming characters which make fine men and women. But without the combination of those parental18 qualities ever actively19 engaged in instructing and controlling, sustained by a wise political organization, there is usually but little development of the higher and better qualities of our nature, either moral or intellectual.
It is at this point that we may be permitted to cite the difference between the so-called upper and lower animal. In the dog and horse, notably20, their better qualities are inherent, born with them, grow stronger with time, and their almost perfect and complete development is natural, and continues without aid, example, or instruction. Not more than one dog or horse in a thousand, if kindly treated and left to himself, would turn out vicious, and treat them as we may, no matter how 5 unjustly or cruelly, we can never deprive them of their perfect integrity and splendid qualities of loyalty21 to master and friends.
These most valuable of all moral qualities are natural to certain animals, and, no matter what man may do, they can never be extinguished. Although intangible, they are as much parts of the living organism of the horse and dog as are their eyes or the other organs needed for physical purposes. The affection of the dog for those whom he loves is actually boundless22. It has neither taint23 of selfishness nor has it limits, and it can only be extinguished with the loss of life. The ever-willing horse will run himself to death to carry from danger, and especially from the pursuit of enemies, those who make use of his friendly aid. Other animals will do as much, but they never volunteer for a dangerous service.
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In India, where the elephant is used for domestic purposes and is sometimes treated as a domestic animal, he has been known to protect children left in his charge, and in the performance of his daily task will yield willing obedience24 to orders; but he is a knowing and cautious constructionist, and seldom goes outside of the strict line of duty. He will always fight for his own master or friends when told, and sometimes volunteers to encounter a danger to protect those around him who seek the aid of his superior powers. He is however, a natural conservative, and prefers peace to war.
Many other animals are capable of becoming affectionate pets and interesting companions, but in no respect can they be compared with the dog, the horse, or the elephant. In their separate and individual combination of qualities which render them fit and useful companions 7 for man, they stand quite by themselves. The question of treating animals with kindly consideration is usually disposed of by saying they are not capable of appreciating kind treatment; that their brain capacity is so limited in respect to quantity as to render them quite incapable25 of distinguishing active kindness from passive indifference26 or even cruel treatment.
This is the theory of the thoughtless.
The Newfoundland dog which, in the summer of 1866, I saw leap from a bridge into a rapid-running deep creek27 and rescue a two-year-old child from death, thought—and quickly at that. In a second he appreciated the value of a critical moment, and estimated not only the magnitude but the quality of the danger. No human being could have taken in the whole situation more completely or caused the physical organization 8 to respond to the brain command with greater celerity. The whole incident was over by the time the first on the spot of the would-be human rescuers had taken off his coat.
Crowley, the remarkable28 chimpanzee, who had his home in the Central Park Menagerie for about four years, proved to be a most convincing item of testimony29 in favor of the intellectual development of one of the lower animals. The gradual and certain unfolding of his intelligence betrayed the presence of a quantity of natural brainpower almost equal to that of an intelligent child of his own age.
Among his numerous accomplishments30 was a complete outfit31 of the table manners of the average well-bred human being. His accurate holding of knife, fork, and spoon, his perfect knowledge of their use, and the delicate application to his lips of the napkin, proved 9 the possession of exceptional knowledge and a well-ordered memory.
The things he did and the words he tried to speak, for he made thousands of efforts every day to utter his thoughts, would make a convincing list of items all going to prove the presence of a capacity for thinking quite worthy of consideration.
In elaborating the various powers which he employed in his methods of expression he showed remarkable ingenuity32. He, no doubt, reflected upon his deficiencies, and thought the whole matter over with reference to means of communication with those he cared to converse33 with, and then, from out the store of his natural capacities, invented an extensive combination of hand and feet signs with the variety of sounds at his command, which finally enabled him to make himself perfectly understood by those about him.
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The intellectual development of Crowley, of which I have given only an inadequate34 idea, came from kind treatment and constant contact with his keeper and the director of the menagerie, both of whom were his devoted35 friends and teachers.
These little character sketches, as they may perhaps be described, were written for the purpose of awakening36 the personal interest of those who may read them, with the hope also of enlisting37 their active influence in behalf of spreading abroad a better understanding of the nature of our four-footed friends and servants, who give so much and receive so little in return. The better appreciation38 of their exceptionally fine qualities will surely lead to closer relations between them and their masters, and, in the end, insure better treatment for those humble39 and confiding40 creatures which the Creator has 11 placed so completely in the power of man.
Fiction plays but a little part in these pages. It has long been a source of pleasure to me to note the marks of intelligence in the animals that we admit to our companionship, that we make a part of our family rule and association. These sketches are nearly all based upon personal experiences and observations of my own. They are my plea for their greater civil rights—at least in the way of kindness and appreciation. Incidentally I have given such local color to the stories as they require. The first sketch1, for example, has for its frame the pleasant hills and valleys of Vermont. It recalls old days worth the recording41 and a people of pure Anglo-Saxon blood worth a lasting42 memory.
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1
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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sketches
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| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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6
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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7
optimist
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| n.乐观的人，乐观主义者 | |
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8
investigators
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| n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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panacea
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| n.万灵药；治百病的灵药 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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notably
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| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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enlisting
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| v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的现在分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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40
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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41
recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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42
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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