The dog of the university leads a wholly peculiar life, not unlike that
of his master, since he accompanies him every where. The saloon and the
College hall only have closed their doors against him. Hence it is
said--
If at home thou would'st me find,
Pray thee leave thy dog behind.
During the time that the student spends in these places, his dog is
confined to his chamber. Here he fills up many hours with his dolorous
lamentations, or at the window watches with envious impatience the
passing of his brethren along the street, and challenges them with
savage yells. Whether he avails himself of the books of his master to
advance himself in science, we will not venture to say; yet we have
ourselves seen them fly through the window of their abodes that were
not at a great height from the ground, and seeking their masters in the
College hall, there, as very attentive Hospitanters, stay out the
remainder of the lecture. One of my friends had a white poodle, who was
accustomed regularly to accompany him to the indifferently attended
lectures of a certain professor, where he sat quietly on the bench by
his side, and looked solemnly into the note-book of his master. One day
the dog was absent, when the extremely short-sighted professor, in
opening his lecture, remarked, "Gentlemen, it would be well if you all
wore coats of one colour; and were they dark ones they would be not so
much observed by me, but it struck me immediately that the gentleman in
the white coat was absent to-day!" The great aptness of this creature
to be taught, often furnishes the students with much entertainment. He
readily learns to carry his master's stick and portfolio to the College
hall, whence on his command, he returns quietly to the house. He is the
best of chamber attendants, bringing in the morning his master's
slippers and pipe. If he returns home at night rather inspirited by
Bacchus, he accompanies him as a safe conductor, often bearing things
which he has unwittingly dropt, after him.
A dog at one of the universities was well known as an excellent guide.
He led his master home every evening; if he turned into a wrong street,
he seized him by the coat, and pulled him back; if he fell down, he
barked loudly till he rose again; and when they arrived at the house,
the sagacious animal knew very well how to ring the bell.
They are also made use of in many a prank or piece of waggery. Thus it
is said, that once in Leipsic, the students accustomed their dogs to
the most frequent Christian names of the ladies of that city, and so
soon as they came readily at that unusual call, the ungallant sons of
the Muses allowed themselves the unpardonable joke of shouting aloud
those names in the public walks, so that it is said, the fair sex in
surprise quitted the field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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