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imposed upon them from the cradle； and worn； like a hair…shirt；
with so much constancy； their motherly； superior tenderness to
man's vanity and self…importance； their managing arts … the arts of
a civilised slave among good…natured barbarians … are all painful
ingredients and all help to falsify relations。 It is not till we
get clear of that amusing artificial scene that genuine relations
are founded； or ideas honestly compared。 In the garden； on the
road or the hillside； or TETE…A…TETE and apart from interruptions；
occasions arise when we may learn much from any single woman； and
nowhere more often than in married life。 Marriage is one long
conversation； chequered by disputes。 The disputes are valueless；
they but ingrain the difference； the heroic heart of woman
prompting her at once to nail her colours to the mast。 But in the
intervals； almost unconsciously and with no desire to shine； the
whole material of life is turned over and over； ideas are struck
out and shared； the two persons more and more adapt their notions
one to suit the other； and in process of time； without sound of
trumpet； they conduct each other into new worlds of thought。
CHAPTER XII。 THE CHARACTER OF DOGS
THE civilisation； the manners； and the morals of dog…kind are to a
great extent subordinated to those of his ancestral master； man。
This animal； in many ways so superior； has accepted a position of
inferiority； shares the domestic life； and humours the caprices of
the tyrant。 But the potentate； like the British in India； pays
small regard to the character of his willing client； judges him
with listless glances； and condemns him in a byword。 Listless have
been the looks of his admirers； who have exhausted idle terms of
praise； and buried the poor soul below exaggerations。 And yet more
idle and； if possible； more unintelligent has been the attitude of
his express detractors； those who are very fond of dogs 〃but in
their proper place〃； who say 〃poo' fellow； poo' fellow；〃 and are
themselves far poorer； who whet the knife of the vivisectionist or
heat his oven； who are not ashamed to admire 〃the creature's
instinct〃； and flying far beyond folly； have dared to resuscitate
the theory of animal machines。 The 〃dog's instinct〃 and the
〃automaton…dog；〃 in this age of psychology and science； sound like
strange anachronisms。 An automaton he certainly is； a machine
working independently of his control； the heart； like the mill…
wheel； keeping all in motion； and the consciousness； like a person
shut in the mill garret； enjoying the view out of the window and
shaken by the thunder of the stones； an automaton in one corner of
which a living spirit is confined： an automaton like man。 Instinct
again he certainly possesses。 Inherited aptitudes are his；
inherited frailties。 Some things he at once views and understands；
as though he were awakened from a sleep； as though he came
〃trailing clouds of glory。〃 But with him； as with man； the field
of instinct is limited； its utterances are obscure and occasional；
and about the far larger part of life both the dog and his master
must conduct their steps by deduction and observation。
The leading distinction between dog and man； after and perhaps
before the different duration of their lives； is that the one can
speak and that the other cannot。 The absence of the power of
speech confines the dog in the development of his intellect。 It
hinders him from many speculations； for words are the beginning of
meta…physic。 At the same blow it saves him from many
superstitions； and his silence has won for him a higher name for
virtue than his conduct justifies。 The faults of the dog are many。
He is vainer than man； singularly greedy of notice； singularly
intolerant of ridicule； suspicious like the deaf； jealous to the
degree of frenzy； and radically devoid of truth。 The day of an
intelligent small dog is passed in the manufacture and the
laborious communication of falsehood； he lies with his tail； he
lies with his eye； he lies with his protesting paw； and when he
rattles his dish or scratches at the door his purpose is other than
appears。 But he has some apology to offer for the vice。 Many of
the signs which form his dialect have come to bear an arbitrary
meaning； clearly understood both by his master and himself； yet
when a new want arises he must either invent a new vehicle of
meaning or wrest an old one to a different purpose； and this
necessity frequently recurring must tend to lessen his idea of the
sanctity of symbols。 Meanwhile the dog is clear in his own
conscience； and draws； with a human nicety； the distinction between
formal and essential truth。 Of his punning perversions； his
legitimate dexterity with symbols； he is even vain； but when he has
told and been detected in a lie； there is not a hair upon his body
but confesses guilt。 To a dog of gentlemanly feeling theft and
falsehood are disgraceful vices。 The canine； like the human；
gentleman demands in his misdemeanours Montaigne's 〃JE NE SAIS QUOI
DE GENEREUX。〃 He is never more than half ashamed of having barked
or bitten； and for those faults into which he has been led by the
desire to shine before a lady of his race； he retains； even under
physical correction； a share of pride。 But to be caught lying； if
he understands it； instantly uncurls his fleece。
Just as among dull observers he preserves a name for truth； the dog
has been credited with modesty。 It is amazing how the use of
language blunts the faculties of man … that because vain glory
finds no vent in words； creatures supplied with eyes have been
unable to detect a fault so gross and obvious。 If a small spoiled
dog were suddenly to be endowed with speech； he would prate
interminably； and still about himself； when we had friends； we
should be forced to lock him in a garret； and what with his whining
jealousies and his foible for falsehood； in a year's time he would
have gone far to weary out our love。 I was about to compare him to
Sir Willoughby Patterne； but the Patternes have a manlier sense of
their own merits； and the parallel； besides； is ready。 Hans
Christian Andersen； as we behold him in his startling memoirs；
thrilling from top to toe with an excruciating vanity； and scouting
even along the street for shadows of offence … here was the talking
dog。
It is just this rage for consideration that has betrayed the dog
into his satellite position as the friend of man。 The cat； an
animal of franker appetites； preserves his independence。 But the
dog； with one eye ever on the audience； has been wheedled into
slavery； and praised and patted into the renunciation of his
nature。 Once he ceased hunting and became man's plate…licker； the
Rubicon was crossed。 Thenceforth he was a gentleman of leisure；
and except the few whom we keep working； the whole race grew more
and more self…conscious； mannered and affected。 The number of
things that a small dog does naturally is strangely small。
Enjoying better spirits and not crushed under material cares； he is
far more theatrical than average man。 His whole life； if he be a
dog of any pretension to gallantry； is spent in a vain show； and in
the hot pursuit of admiration。 Take out your puppy for a walk； and
you will find the little ball of fur clumsy； stupid； bewildered；
but natural。 Let but a few months pass； and when you repeat the
process you will find nature buried in convention。 He will do
nothing plainly； but the simplest processes of our material life
will all be bent into the forms of an elaborate and mysterious
etiquette。 Instinct； says the fool； has awakened。 But it is not
so。 Some dogs … some； at the very least … if they be kept separate
from others； remain quite natural； and these； when at length they
meet with a companion of experience；