The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-05-14
Dickens Dogs,
ITemnle Bari

Dickens interest in dogs, Mr.. Forster tells
US, was ineXhaustible, and he welcomed
with delight any newly-discovered trait in
their character. The society of his own dogs
he ardently enjoyed. He invariably kept
two or more mastiffs to guard his house
against the undesirable wayfarers who
haunted the high road hard by. OF all
these his special favorite was Turk, "a noble
animal, full of affection and intelligence"
who had as his co-mate Linda, 'superbly
beautiful creature the scion of a
ST. Bernard, brought over by Albert
Smith: These two dogs happened to
be with him in the walk when he
fell lame, and, boisterous companions as
they always were, the sudden change in
their masters gait brought them at once to
a stand-still. As he limped home, three
miles through the snow, they crept at his
side at the same slow pace, and never once
turned away from him. Dickens was
greatly moved at the time by their solicit
Gus behavior, and often afterward spoke of
Turks upturned face as full of sympathy
mingled with fear, and of Linda inconsol-
able detection. A railway accident brought
death To Turk and sorrow TO his master; and
then came Sultan, a cross between st.
Bernard and a bloodhound, built like
lioness, but of such indomitably aggressive
propensities that, after breaking loose and
well nigh devouring small sister OF one OF
the servants, he was first fogged and then
sentenced to be shot at the next morn
ing. He went out" says Dickens, very
cheerfully with the half-dozen men told off
for the purpose, evidently thinking they
were going to be the death of somebody
unknown. But, observing in the procession
an empty wheelbarrOw and double-bar-
relied gun, he became meditative and liked
the bearer of the gun with his eyes. A stone
deity thrown across him by the village
blackguard-the chief mourner-caused
him to look round for an instant, and he
then fell dead, shot through the heart Two
posthumous children are at this moment
rolling on the lawn; one will evidently in
herIt his ferocity and will probably inherit
the gum" The description of Dickens well
come by his dogs on his return from America
how they lifted their heads to have their
ears pulled, an attention received from him
alone; how Linda. weeping profusely, threw
herself on her back that she might caress
his foot with her lar9e fore paws; and how
the terrier, Mrs. Bouncer barking furiously,
''tore round him like the dog in the Faust
outlines"-will show at once the tender re-
lations that existed between the great novel
ist and his canine friends. But we must
not omit little Snittle Timbery a
present from Mitchell, the comedian,
during Dickens first visit 10 America.
Timber Doodle was the original name
of the small shaggy white terrier; but
new owner to be more sOnorous and express
sive. When Dickens and Snittle both suf-
| fered at Albarno, in Italy, the one, from
swarms of mosquitoes, the other from fieas,
the dog came off worst; there was no choice
but to shave off every heir of his body. 1t
| is very awful" writes Dickens, Ito see him
slide into room. He knows the change
upon him, and is always turning round and
round to look for himself. | think he'll die
of grief" Dickens sympathy with dogs,
and especially with their humor, was illus
trated by his story of tie very comlcal dog
| that caught his eye in the middle of a read
| ing. and, after intently looking at him for
some time bounced out into the ceter aisle
and tried the effect of bark upon the pro-
ceedings. when Dickens bnrst into such par
oxysm of laughter that the audience roared
| again and again with him. The dog came
| the next night also, but met with a very
different reception; for, having given warn
ing of his presence 10 an attendant near the
door by Suppressed bark and a touch of
the leg, he was caught in hagrante delicto,
when with his eye u Dickens he was just
about to give louder tongue. and was whlrled
| with both hands over the attendants head
| into the entrance behind, whence he was
| promptly kicked by the check takers into
| the street. Next night he came again, and
with another dog, whom "he had evidently
promised to pass in free;" but the check
takers were prepared.
On the subject Of penmanship. NJ. Ernest
Legrouve tells his granddaughter: The
people who praise you to your face and
laugh at you behind your back, say, 'Ahl
all clever people write badly Answer by
showing them, as have shown you hum
dred times, letters of Guizot, Nignet, and
Alexander Dumas the elder, which are
models of caligraphy. Write we'll, my child,
write wellI Pretty writing in q woman is
like tasteful dressing. pleasing physiog-
nomy, or asweet voice."