The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-19
"DoG JENNINGS"

gentleman possessed of a large estate at Ship
lake, in OSfordshire He was educated at West
minister School, and at the age OF seventeen
years became an ensign IN the 1st regiment Of
Foot Guards. He held the commission but a
short time, and on resgning it went to Italy in
company with Lord Monthermer, son of the
Duke of Montagu.
While at Rome young Jennings commenced
his first collection of articles OF vertu and ever
alter was known by the coarse and vulgar name
OF Dog Jennings" in consequence of a cTcum-
stance which he thus relates:-
II happened one day 10 be strolling along
the streets OF Rome, and percelvng the shop
of statJary in an obscure street, entered it.
and began to look around for any curious pro-
ducton OF art. l at length perceived something
uncommon, at least, but being partly concealed
behind a heap of rubbish, could not contem-
plate it with any degree OF accuracy. After all
impedments had been at length removed, the
marble statue had been poking for was dragged
into open day: It proved to be huge but fine
dog-aDd Oog IL was, and a lucky dog was
TO discover ana TO purchase IT. On turning it
round, perceived 1T was without a tall-ths
gave me hlnt. also saw that the limbs we're
nEely proporlloned; that the figure was noble;
that the sculpture, in short was worthy of the
best age OF Athens; and that 1t must be of the
age OF Alcl0lades, whose iavorite dog 1t
certainly was. / struck bargain instantly
on the spot for 400 scudi: and as the muzzle
alone was somewhat damaged, paid the ARTIST
q lllhe more for repairing it. 1t was carefully
packed, and being sent to Enaland after me, by
the time it reached my house in 0xfordshlIe il
had lust cost me ESQ. / wish all my other bar
gains had been like IL, Tor it was exceed
lngly admired as l well know it must be by the
connolsseurs, by more than one of whom was
Did flOCO for my purchase. In truth, by per-
son sent, believe from Blenheim, was offered
fl400. But would not part with my dog; |
had bought it for myself, and liked to contem-
plate his fine proportions and admire him at
my leisure, for he was doubly dear to me, as
being my own property and my OWL selection"
At the Literary Club, one evening, jennings
dog was the topic OF discussion. Boswell re-
ports:-"F. i have been looking at this famous
antique marble dog of Mr.. Jennings, valued at a
thousand guineas, said to be Alcibiades' dog. :
johnson. His tail then must be docked. Tnat
was the mark OF Alclbiades' dog ~. "A thou
sand guineas! the representation OF no animal
whatever is worth so much. At this rate dead
dog would, indeed, be better than living lion.'
Johnson. = Sir, 1T Is not the worth OF the
thing, but of the skill in forming it, which is SO
highly estimated. Everything that enarges the
sphere OF human powers, that shows man he
can do what he thought he could not do, Is
valuable.'"
But, Mr. Jennings, like many other collectors.
owing TO reverse OF fortune, was compelled in
l77S to break up his collection, which being
sold by auction, the dog OF Alcibiades was
knocked down for 1000 guineas, and became the
property OF Mr.. Duncombe, NJ ?. 1t is now at
Duncombe Park, in Yorkshire, the Scat OF Lord
Feversham.
1t is painful to read that the latter days of Mr..
Jennings were spent IN the Kings Bench; and
within the rules of that prison he died February
II, 1919, at his lodgings in Belvedere Place, ST.
Georges Fields, in mis- eighty-eighth year.
WALKING STEWART"
Early in the year 1921, London lost one of its
famous eccentrics, who reioiced in the above
distinction, which, it must be admitted, he had
fairly earned. He was one OF the lions of the
great town, and his ubiquitous restless nature
hos hnen thus inpaninualu Ska
'Who, that ever weathered his way over
Westminster Bridge, has not seen Walking SteoC-
art (hs invariable cognomen) sitting in the
recess on the brow of the bridge, spencered up
TO his throat and down to his hips with sort
of garment planned it would seem, to stand
powder, as became the habit OF a military man;
his dingy, dusty ineXpre sibles (truly inexpres-
slbles), his boo5s travelsralned, black up to his
knees-and yet not black neither-but arrant
belied them; his aged, but strongly y-marked,
manly, air-ripened face, steady as truth; and
his large, irregular, dusty hat, that seemed to
be of one mind with the boots? We say, who
does not thus remember Walking Stewart, sit
ting, and leaning on his stick as though he had
never walked III his life, but had taken his seat
on the bridge at his birth, and had grown old
in his sedentary habit? To be sure this view of
him Is rather negatived by as strong a remem-
orance OF him in the same spencer and accom-
paniments of hair powder and dust, resting on
bench i'll the Park, with as perfectly an eter-
nal name; nor Will the memory let HIM keep a
quiet, constant seat here for ever; recalling
hlm, as she is wont, in his shufiiing, slow
perambulaton of the Strand, or Charing
Cross, of Cockspur street. Where really
was he? You saw him on West
minister Bridge, acting his own monument. You
went INTO the Park-he was there fixed as the
gentleman at Charing Cross. You met him.
however, at Charing Cross, creeping on like the
hourhand upon a dial, getting rid OF his rounds
and his time at once! Indeed, his ubiquity ap-
peared enormous, and yet not so enormous as
the profundity of his sitting habits. He was a
profound sitter. Could the Pythagorean system
be entertained, what other would now be ten
anted by Waking SteICd't? Truly, he seemed
always going, like lot at auction, and yet
always a a stand, like a hackney-coach! Oh
what walk was his to christen man by A
slow, lazy, scraping, gazing pace-a shuffle-a
walk in its dotaee-a walk at standstill-yet
was he pleasant man to meet. We remember
his face distinctly, and allowing a little for
its northern hardness, it was certainly as
wise. as kindly, and as handsome a face as ever
crowned the shoulders of soldier a scholar,
and a gentleman.
We'll Walking Stewart is dead He will no
more be seen niched in Westminster Bridge, or
keeping his terms as one OF the benchers OF st.
James Park, or painting the pavement with
moving but unified feet. In vain we locked tor
MN at the hour when he was wont to walk
Inc meme IN the bridge is empty OF ITS available
statue, ana as he is gone from this spot he has
gone from all, Tor he was ever all in all Three
persons seem departed in him. In him there
seems to have been triple death ~
We are tempted ito consecrate a passageD To
him, as John Buncle expresses it, IRON a tiny
pamphlet, entitled THE Life and Adventures of
the celebrated Walking Stewart, including his
travels in the East lndies, Turkey, Germany.
and Amelca;" and the author "a relative - has
" n lido cnhi To-,