Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-05-19
DICKENS DOGS.

How the great Novelist Delighted in their
society Pleasant Anecdotes.
From the London Temple Bar.
: Dickens's interest in dogs, Mr. Forster
tells us, was inexhaustlble, and he welcom-
ed with delight any new discovered trait i'll
their character. The society of his own
dogs he ardently enjoyed. He invariably
kept two or more mastitfs to guard his
house against the undesirable wayfarers
who haunted the high road hard by. Ofall
these his special favorite was Turk, "a noble
animal, full of ELECTION and intelligence,
who had as his co-mate Linda, q "superbly
beautiful creature" the scion of a st. Ber-
nard, 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 sud-
den change in their masters gait brought
them at once to stand-s still. AS he limp
ed 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 solicitous behaviour, and
often afterward spoke of Turks upturned
face as full of sympathy mingled with fear,
and of Linda's inconsolable detection. A
railway accident brought death to Turk and
sorrow to his master; and then came Sui
tan, a cross between st. Bernard and O
bloodhound, built like a lioness, but of
such indomitably aggressive propensltles
that, after breaking loose and well-nlgh de-
vouring small sister of one of the servants,
he was first logged and then sentenced to
be shot at the next morning. 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, OBJ
serving in the procession an empty wheel
barrow and double barreled gun, he be-
came meditative and fixed the bearer of the
gun with his eyes. A stone deity thrown
across him by the village blackguard-th
chief mourner-caused him to look round
for an instant, and he then fell dead, shot
through the heart. Two posthumous chill
dren are at this moment rolling
on the lawn; one will evidently inner
it his ferocity and will probably
inherit the gun" The description Of
Dickens's welcome by his dogs on his re-
turn from America-how they lifted theil
heads to have their ears pulled, an atten-
ton received from him alone; how Linda
weeping profusely, threw herself on hel
back that she might caress his foot witt
her large FORE paws; and how the terrier
Mrs. Bouncer, barking furiously, 't0re
round him like the dog in the Faust out
lines"-will,,s show at once the tender relations
that existed between the great novelist anc
his canine friends. But we must not omi
little Snittle Tlmbery. a present from
Mitchell, the comedian, during Dickens's
first visit to America. Timber Doodle was
the original name of the small, shaggy, white
| l,,& C,>,+ Il,
| his new owner to be more sonorous and ex.
pressive. When Dickens and Snittle bott
suffered at Albaro in Italy, the one, from
swarms of mosquitoes, the other from feas
the dog came Off the worst; there was nc
choice but to shave off every hair of hi
body. ''It is very awful. writes Dickens
''to see him slide into a room. lie knows
the change upon him, and is always
turning round and round to look for him.
self. think he'll die of grief" Dickens
sympathy with dogs, and especially witt
their humor, was illustrated by his story Of
the very comical dog that caught his eye il
the middle of reading and, after intent.
ly looking at him for some time, bounced
out into the centre aisle and tried the etfec
of bark upon the proceedings. when Dick
ems burst into such a paroxysm of laughter
that the audience roared again and agair
with him. The dog came the next night
also, but met with very different recep
ton; for having given warning Of his pres
ence to an attendant near the door by
suppressed bark and touch on the leg h
WAS caught IN .fagrante delicto, when will
his eye upon Dickens he was just about t.
give louder tongue, and was whirled will
both hands over the attendants head int
the entrance behind, whence he wa
promptly kicked by the check taker int
with another dog, whom "he had evidentl,
promised to pass in free" but the check
| takers were prepared.