Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-08
sTAUNToN, VA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER g. 1873.


Some years ago, while passing summer
month in Italy, we spent several de
lightful evenings lettering about tha
lovely Pincian hill that looked down or
Rome like it were a grand panorams
lying around and beneath us, bathed in
all the glory of a July sunset. The ele
CANT drives on the summit of the Pin.
clio were thronged with the carriages Of
the better classes and the nobility; and
we noticed thst almost every fine lady
of quality and rank had a pet dog mes
tied among the ample folds of her rich
and costly drapery; but even these fat
dumb favorites had sad, unhappy look
in their gilded fetters, and doubtlessly
felt they were the unwilling captives OF
Roman masters and mistresses. We
suppose ere now they have untimely
died or gone mad. all unappreciative OF
their great historical surroundings.
The Judge and myself spent day
very agreeably, while in Paris, at the
Jardin d'Acclimatation. and among all
the wonders of that most wondrous col
lection we noticed how healthy the ca
nine members appeared when compared
with the fat, waddling. long haired,
weak eyed lap dog, condemned, like a
Strasburg goose, to end its days III tor.
ture, and prepared for the slaughter
with blue ribbon to tie up its hair, and
q man servant to lead it about.
| The kennels sound again and again
with the loud barking of the hounds
and mastiffs, who seem to send up a
howl of .derision when the lady and her
painting four footed pet pass, while
''poor popsey wopsey" hangs back until
nearly suffocated, as if aware of the
mean figure he was cutting in the eyes
of his fellows. Under such circum-
stances we felt some sorrow in behold
ing the contrast, for most of us, who
are willing to testify to the many good
and noble traits possessed by the genu
inc dog of full and natural growth. His
| faithfulness and devotion to man is pro-
verbal. We may. with some propriety,
just here give you few illustrations
quite dpropos. 1t has been asserted
| that favOrite hound was the constant
companion of Ovid in his long and Bit
ter exile, living to green old age and
proving more faithful to the great poet
than any of his influential friends at
Rome. This dog knew his master was
kind to him. He probably did not
know he was famous man of letters,
and it may be his feelings were too deli
cate and nice to enquire why his talented
| friend and owner was so cruelty banished
forever from friends, family, and home.
tits also said that Virgil, with much feel
ing and pride related to his city friends
(tfose friends who flattered and foDdled
him so much) that the most pleasant
and unselfish welcome he ever received
We w hov 10 rofirod To hic cahino 70
and devoted mastiff caressingly greeted
him when he arrived, and piteous1y
whined when he departed. This true
and great poet, modest as a virgin, brave
as mailed warrior, felt and acknowledge
ed the unfeigned affection of soulless
animal.
1t has been told that the personal ene-
mics of fearless old Horace often declared
he would have been corporally punished
for some of his satires if he had not been
generally accompanied during his walks
in old Rome by powerful quadruped of
the canine persuasion. This companion
of the great satirist frequently exhibited
his front teeth and elevated the bristles
on his spinal column when bores and
other Objectionable characters attempted
to button-hole his master.
But we must confine our remarks to
the dogs of Paris and only digress for the
sake of such distinguished examples as
those cited. The Prefect of Police has
been very severe against what French
men call "boule dogues" The broad
head, short muzzle, under hung chin,
and cropped ears, are the brand of Cain
for this prescribed portion of the canine
race. All who have retained c,rtain
distinctive features of breed now near
ly extinct. are punished by being not
only muzZled, but also CHI ined, and they
are the lawful prize of policemen and
g0UrOche, if found alone wandering
about the streets unaccompanied by
their masters. The formidable looking
bull pup has disappeared from the shop
of the mdrchdnd de viaa 1t was quite
true that he might have claimed rela-
tionship with the Dut h pug, the span
| iel, the beagle, or the terrier, but his
looks were against him, and notwith-
| standing the proverbial miIdness of his
temper, he was christened with that bad
name which carried with it his sentence
of death. His cross breeding had less
ened his ferocity but sharpened his in
telligence. He appears to have read the
ukase of M. Albert Gigot, and has as
much dread of the uniform of gardian
as any unlicensed hawker could ever
display. He knows how to avoid the
police, and gavroche does not care to lay
hands on specimen of hat peculi n
race which, knowing the penalty at
tending capture, offers vigorous de
| fence
The Bohemian ofthe four footed tribe,
who prefers his lib-rty to any luxury
servitude can offer, rarely falls into the
hands of the police. He has horror of
the fourriere, and prefers to lie perdue
all day long, only coming out at night,
eluding the vigilance of his would be
captors under cover of the darkness.
During the day they may be found
sleeping, with one eye open, in some
old ruins, or behind the piles of baskets
in the different markets.
The barrack yards and stables give
shelter to numbers, while many are wei
coined to the cellars in the central mar
ket, where they have general and
standing iavitatioD-nO cards being re-
quired-tO assist in rat-worrying, and al
so join in other innocent festivities and
amusements, not of very lucrative but
rather enjoyable nature. This class of
BOhemians like excitement and adven-
ture, they have keen sense of life, an
appreciative zest for breathing freely and
living Independently. When not seek
ing pleasure, but intent on business, they
will MUNICH on meatless joint with un-
firing energy and the closest application,
only reserving one member of the visual
organs for the police and gdvroche. The
more wary among the Bohemians will
not, however, trust themselves in the
city during the day time. They follow
out the market carts in the morning,
and sleep during the daytime in the
dry bitches of the Notifications which
run round the city, or in the pieces of
grass land which are in course Of culti-
vation. They never venture inside the
gates of Paris until evening, when they
commence their regular rounds, forag-
ing for themselves and obtaining pre-
carious and not always honest living
They pay no tag to the government,
they owe allegiance to no master, and are
careful never to attract attention by
quarreling in the streets. Some of them
who have gone the same rounds for years
have made themselves known. Bones
are put out for them and contributions
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