Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-08-20
DEATH OF THE ..oLD BROWN DoG."

Under this head all the Cincinnati papers Of
Saturday, have an editorial notice Of the death
OF remarkable dog of that city, well known
to the '.oldest inhabitants" The Herald says,
that for twenty years past he has resided there,
aud has generally signalized himseltby attend
ing with great sobriety, all grand professions.
lie was buried with due honors IN the yard
belonging to the Gazette buildings. and il is in
contemplation, we learn. TO rear monument
to his memory. Mr.. CIsr in his Advertiser
has the following notice of him -
Zone OF the greatest curiosIties OF Cincin-
matt is Lear, the old brown dog, who may be
seen at almost any hour of the day in the pur-
lieus of our city post office, and as he has not
and probably never had an owner, may be
numbered as one Of the iamilars OF that estab-
lishment
Amid the various succession of post mas
ters--during the whole incumbencies OF
BURKE, TAYLOR and CRAwFoRp-arnidst all
the presidential changes of MONROE, ADAMS,
JACKSON, VAS buren,, HARRisoS, PyLER and
PoLK, he still holds his post. How far back
he made his first appearance the Oldest inhab-
itants cannot tell, but can find several who
have noticed and recollected him for twenty
years and more. During this period he was
never known to follow any individual, even
when tempted by caresses or the offer OF food,
III fact he has never been known TO receive
food from any person. invariably refusing il
when offered at his post He has been follow
ed by persons curious TO ascertain where he
feeds. but by some singular process he con-
tnves TO defeat that purpose, by disappearing
the instant their eye IS turned TO any other OBJ
leci, if but for one moment
In each successive removal OF the post Of
flee, he has always gone along, as il consider
ing himself part OF the establishment. In
the last case following the first dray load Of
moyables, and remaining at the new office ever
since.
He attends all fremen's parades, military
professions, political mass meetings, and every
funeral ofany note in the city. AT the fuae-
raj pageant last year, IN memory Of General
JACKSON, he crawled under the hearse, and
kept under it the whole route---nerly two
mile,--although considerably exhausted by
the effort, the day being uncommonly sultry
and close.
During the whole course of his long life, he
has never been known to have been meddled
with By other dogs. or 10 have taken any no.
tice Of his species, nor 20 have received any i'll
usage from any Individual, man or boy, by
whom he IS extensively known and regarded
as a privileged character Hundreds having
business al the post office, who would unhes-
itatDgly kick any other dog out Of the road,
step aside carefully. however great the throng,
rather than tread on or insult the noble brute.
He may be seen occasionally summing himself
at the door OF the Trust Company or Franklin
Bank. or the Bank Exchange, but is never
guilty flaying al the door of private resi-
dence. MY friend, RABBI JOINS, who believes
in the transmigration of souls, suggests that
the spirit which animates Lear was once that
Of public officer and an individual Of the
most aIisiocratic bearing. Apart from tho
usual instincts and remarkable sagacity Of dogs,
there is much that is mysterious and unac-
countable in the history and habits OF Lear,
part only orwhich are here stated"