Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-02-28

awakened by furious barking, he imme.
diately rose, went down to the shop, found
the street-door open, and searching in all
directions, could fad nobody. He there
fore unclaimed his dog, who soon hit upon
O scent, followed it into the street, and then,
after stopping at neighbor;ng house,
came back to his master, gave q peculiar
and significant growl, and then returned
to track the same scent several times over.
His whole behavior seemed to indicate that
the individual who had entered the shop
had taken refuge in that house. This cir
cumstance confirmed the suspicious III.
r entertained respecting his nephew
G., who lodged in that house, whom he
presumed to be the author of the various
thefts.
Consequently, while acquainting the
Commissaire de Police with the robbery,
he at the same time communicated his sus-
ricions. c. was sent for and interro-
gated. He denied all knowledge of the
matter, and was highly indignant at the
accusation. There being no proof what
ever against him, he was on the point
of being dismissed, when the Commits
saire had the ingenious idea OF max
nag an experiment which might helr
him to discover the truth. He requested
several persons to come into his office,
and amongst them he placed the defend
ant c.. He then caused the grocer
and his dog 10 enter. At signal from the
Commissaire, the grocer said to the dog
one single word, "Cherchei"-" Find !"
The clever creature went several times
round the circle formed by the persons
present. Each time he stopped III front of
c., giving the peculiar growl which he
had uttered when he found the trace Of
the thief
"You see" said the Commissaire to
c., L" it is useless to deny it: the dog
knows you again"
Completely upset by this singular EVIL
dence, c. avoWed that he really was
the guilty party, and was left to be dealt
with by the law.
Poodle-for such was his name, and 1t is
curious how fond foreigners are of giving
English names TO their dogs,-Poodle was
a dog of note in every sense of the word.
Frederick Schwartz, merchant retired
from business in Darmstadt, occupied his
leisure hours, which were many, almost
exclusively with music. His passion tor
the art a. quired such an intensity that he
required every one about him to fall in
with his musical predictions by either
vocal Or instrumental cooperation There
was not q member of his household who
could not take q part in the family con-
cert. Even the maid of all work, in case
of need could make out one OF Schubert's
melodies or an opera cavatina. Poodle,
the dog, was the only one unable to render
any musical assistance.
AS worthy Herr Schwartz felt the utter
impossibllity of making Poodle afford any
practical aid he determined TO train him
to fill the Office of critic IN his own har-
monious community. He succeeded, too,
by an ingenious method. Whenever a
note out OF tune proceeded from q voice
or an instrument: every time that music
al fault was committed by any member OF
the family,-and such faults were COM
mitted purposely,- 1.-THE rod was applied to
Poodle's back, and he naturally began to
bark and howl. He was exactly in the
position of the whipping boy, who pur-
sued his studies with the Royal Prince.
Whenever the Prince made 3 grammatical
blunder, the whippiDg-boy had to smart
for it,
Before long, simple threats were sub
stituted for smitlpgs Of his (Poodles)
back afterwards look sufficed TO set the
creature barking and little by little Poodle
other musical atrocities, until at last a mis-
take could not be committed without his re-
buking it either by bark or growl. He
thus became, as far as music was concerned,
the most impartial judge, the most con-
scientious critic in the whole grand duchy
of Hesse- Darmstadt.
Unfortunately, his appreciation of music
al art was completely and solely negative
He bestowed no praise, but only blame.
Sing with expression, perform with talent,
the dog would remain lmpassive and cold ::
but at the slightest incOrrectuess OF into
nation he ground his teeth, dashed his tail,
growled, yelped, and barked aloud. So
long as he fiourished, and he may flourish
still,-nOt q concert or an opera was re-
hesrsed in Darmstadt without inviting
Herr Frederick Schwartz and his dog
but more especially the dog. If the prlna
donna made the slightest slip, the dog
looked at his master with an air OF disap-
probation. If the hautboys came III too
late, Poodle pricked up his ears if the
clarionet hurried the movement, Poodle
fidgeted on his bench if the kettle drum
mer broke the time, Poodle uttered audible
murmurs. In fact, no piece was considered
properly executed unless the canine con-
noiaseur remained quiet on his seat.
Nor must it be supposed that Poodle's
instinct was limited to forming judgment
Of the execution only, His intelligence,
trained by hearing classical works, seemed
to have penetrated some Of the secrets of
composition. An abrupt meditation, a
false resolution, would produce symptoms
of doubt on Poodle's nozzle; consecutive
fiiths made him shudder, and haltipg
melody set his teeth on edge. Sometimes
Herr Schwartz and his intimate friends,
in the privacy of snug little quartette
party, would amuse themselves by pro-
ducing discordant sounds, for the sake of
tormenting the sensitive animal On such
occasions Poodle lost all selfcOmmand (:
his hair stood on end, his eyes became
bloodshot, and frightful howlings answered
to the discord produced by the fiddles of
the mystiicators. Moreover, they were
obliged to keep within certain bounds.
Poodle possessed only limited stock of
| forbearance. II the cacophony was too
intense or too prolonged, Poodle, carrying
out his sense of duty, upset everything.
| Music stand, music TOOLS, and instruments,
| were strewed in confusion about the room.
Finally, negotiations are in progress for
| the engagement of Poodle-or, if he be
| superannuated and retired on halfpay, OF
one of his descendants--to attend the mu-
steal entertainments TO be given in London
! during the current winter We shall see
to how many the four-footed critic will
listen with placid and undisturbed atten-
ton.
| Begging dogs are far from rare; we find
| them at every fair and every market; but
they are beggars of low degree, and if not
| moor (DrObably often the cOntrary) al