Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-12
Dog Editorial-Dog Rollo Brown Re
marks on Dogs,

The very recent discovery that
Grant County leads all others Coun-
ties OF the State in the number Of
dogs kept by the people, (but in moth
ing else leads us to make a few prac-
tical observations generally upon
that faVorite animal. Also, a late
incident, in which the writer hereof
failed to sustain himself, leads us to
write respectfully of dogs.
A couple of weeks since while
abroad upon a sleighing excursion,
we stopt one evening with Mr.. James
IL. Brown, in Beetown, whose son
George is owner Of master New
foundland dog named RoIlo. Brown
and few of his neighbors are sup
porting a private school for the boys
and girls, kept at Browns house by
Amherst w. Barber, and they do say
R0Llo has been taking lessons, not in
book exercises and the arts manual.
but in the ways to be popular by
means of good manners and that PEI
culiar friendship which the human
kind may and do initiate but fail to
practice for want of soul pure and un-
deflcd.
Now, therearc some Newfoundland
virtues which othel. dogs than the
stock of RoAo possess but feebly, and
which are recconed doubtful in the
catalogue of human virtues-such
as disinterested beneyolence and con-
stancy Of dog to man, above man to
to man. We mean this: the New
foundland practices essential benev-
olehce without expectation of any
return Cor it; he also expresses fidel-
lty to his master much stronger than
is possible for this virtue to abound
in man his constancy is never fall
ing and above human, as also his ven
eration-the latter virtues leading
him to turn from his companion spe
cies and cleave to MAJ.
The Newfoundland dog never over
eats or INDUCES in excuses of any
kind: therefore, his humor is never
disordered with billiousness or dys.
pepsia His tirmness is equal to that
of man, and he is an excellent Judge
Of character as will be seen from the
following incident from our first ac-
quaintance with Rolo Brown: pass
ing from the b9rnyard through gate
opening toward the house, a volt
robe in arm, R0lIo seized our gloyed
hand, pressing it firmly but not SO
harshly as to give pain. We felt no
alarm but a curiosity TO know the
meaning Of this strange ceremony at
our first acquaintance with strange
dog. Is it mischief or playfulness,
or does he want to pick aquarrel p
No signs Of crossness were visible,
yet his actions displayed unmistake-
ably firm purpose to accomplish an
object. We slightly resisted, then
ooa~ed and iinplored, but all to no
purpose. Backward he walked for
d hundred yards to the house, we fol-
lowing under pressing constraint-
He backed up several steps, we fol-
lowing. We opened the door, and
in went our gallant leader. By this
time we had learned that yielding
compliance insured better treatment
than resistance. So we followed the
lead Of Rollo into the family presence
when he let go and passed to the rear
the dog then awaited orders to retire
which he received very soon from
the indignant Browns. "Wby said
Brown you surely meddled with
something not your own" No
nothing but this wolf robe which we
bought over a year ago. "And paid
for it," said little Brown. Yes,
paid for it. "Then for once Rollo
was mistaken. That's his way of
dealing with thieves" But we soon
made up with Rollo, he appearing to
contide in US as one of the family af
ter finding out that he had wrong
fully taken us for a thief. He per
forms other remarkable tricks.
Said gentleman the other day, eff
| have to pay $500 Ii onse for keep
ing dog I'll keep the very best; |
had mungrel cur last year he took
some sort of strange disease like mad
ness, got over it, and then took to
killing my chickens and pigs so |
killed him. | then bought this New
foundland pup for $500. lie runs
with the children nights he watches
things and allows none to come about
except friends. No money could buy
him." Shepherd dogs are taking the
lead among sheep men. Last year
dozens Of hocks of sheep from Ohio,
Indiana and ether parts passed
through Lancaster on their way to
Minnesota. With every flock there
was a man a horse back, boy and
one or two Shepherd dogs. Such
force was called sufficient to drive a
thousand head anywhere. The Shcp-
herd dogs appeared to do all the driv>
ing, he boys appearing TO have such
perfect CONTROL over them as to send