“The domestic dog,” says Cuvier, “is the most complete, the most singular, and the most useful conquest that man has gained in the animal world.  The whole species has become our property; each individual belongs entirely to his master, acquires his disposition, knows and defends his property, and remains attached to him until death; and all this, not through constraint or necessity, but purely by the influences of gratitude and real attachment.  The swiftness, the strength, the sharp scent of the dog, have rendered him a powerful ally to man against the lower tribes; and were, perhaps, necessary for the establishment of the dominion of mankind over the whole animal creation.  The dog is the only animal which has followed man over the whole earth.”

* * * * *

A HINDOO LEGEND.

In the Mahabharata, one of the two great Hindoo poems, and of unknown antiquity, there is a recognition of the obligation of man to a dependent creature not surpassed in pathos in all literature.

We copy only such portions of the legend as bear upon this point.

The hero, Yudhistthira, leaves his home to go to Mount Meru, among the Himalayas, to find Indra’s heaven and the rest he so much desired; and with him,

“The five brothers set forth, and Draupadi, and the seventh was a
dog that followed them.”

On the way the Princess Draupadi perished, and, after her, one brother after another, until all had died, and the hero reached his journey’s end accompanied only by his dog.

Lo! suddenly, with a sound which rang through heaven and earth,
Indra came riding on his chariot, and he cried to the king, “Ascend!”
Then, indeed, did the lord of justice look back to his fallen
brothers,
And thus unto Indra he spoke, with a sorrowful heart: 
“Let my brothers, who yonder lie fallen, go with me;
Not even unto thy heaven would I enter, if they were not there. 
And yon fair-faced daughter of a king, Draupadi the all-deserving,
Let her too enter with us!  O Indra, approve my prayer!”

INDRA.

In heaven thou shalt find thy brothers,—­they are already there
before thee;
There are they all, with Draupadi; weep not, then, O son of Bharata! 
Thither have they entered, prince, having thrown away their mortal
weeds;
But thou alone shalt enter still wearing thy body of flesh.

YUDHISTTHIRA.

O Indra, and what of this dog?  It hath faithfully followed me through;
Let it go with me into heaven, for my soul is full of compassion.

INDRA.

    Immortality and fellowship with me, and the height of joy and felicity,
    All these hast thou reached to-day; leave, then, the dog behind thee.

YUDHISTTHIRA.

The good may oft act an evil part, but never a part like this;
Away, then, with that felicity whose price is to abandon the faithful!