Hide-and-seek is a game which is often learned and enjoyed by many
animals. I have often been an interested spectator of the play in
which two dogs were the participants. It was as exciting as such a
diversion could possibly be between two children. For an hour at a time
I have watched the fun, and the players seemed not to abate the least
jot or tittle from their ardor and enthusiasm. They were apparently
as fresh then as at the beginning. In due time the game ceased as if
by mutual consent, but the animals did not seek some cool, quiet spot
for comfort and rest, but started off to the woods for some further
diversion, from which their voices were soon heard, telling that they
were in pursuit of a rabbit or the ignoble ground-hog.
We have far from exhausted the list of examples at hand to show that
the lower animals possess a sense of humor. But what use, it may be
asked, can the capacity of humor subserve in the next world? Much the
same, I presume, that it subserves in this. There are some in this
world in whom the sense of humor is absolutely wanting. Estimable as
they may be in character, they are just solemn prigs, and I should be
very sorry to resemble them in the world, whither, it is hoped, all
life tendeth.
Pride, Jealousy, Anger, Revenge and Tyranny, while not very pleasing
characteristics, belong, as such, to the immaterial, and not to the
material, part of man. That the lower animals possess these qualities
will be seen from what follows. Hence the inference to be drawn from
that fact must be quite obvious.
Taking these characteristics in order, Pride, or Self-esteem, is
developed as fully in many animals as in the proudest of the human
race. Most conspicuously is this shown in animals which herd together.
There is always one leader at the head, who will not permit any
movement to be made without his order, and who resents the least
interference with his authority. This is particularly the case with the
deer, the horse and the ox. Even when these animals are domesticated,
and the habits of their feral life have materially changed, the feeling
of pride exists to the fullest extent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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