Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-11
New York;. Pet Dogs.

OrlVeS, ana thousands OF every SOrC II
kind may be seen there every pleasant
afternoon. 1t is an even bet that in
eight out of ten carriages, single or
double, in which there are ladies, there
will be dogs. l remember when Lima
Edwin, a charming coincidence, who,
With George Clark, now of the Madison
Square theater, bad a little bandbox
for comedy up town, startled the pro-
prietics by appearing on Broadway
with a beautiful silken-haired lap-dog
under her arm. Little by little the ex-
ception became the rule, and to-day
fat women, thin women, old girls,
young girls, every variety of the fem
mime gender has its dog. There are
pretty little silken-haired dogs, slender
little g%reyhounds, funny little tootsie-
wootsies, apparently all hair, with an
apology for a tail and two twinkling
black eyes, hidden in hairy recesses.
These, and now and then a magniti-
cent Newfoundl and OF . superb and
stately greyhound, are what can be
seen on the promenade of Fifth avenue
and Broadway, in stages, in buggies, i'll
little jerk-me up and jerk-mc-downldog-
carts, in barouches and in every place
known to feminine caprice. This morn
ing I rode from South ferry in a Broad
way omnibus. There were six men
and six women all told. One woman
had a black and tan in her lap. The
dog may have been six inches long and
three inches high, but 1 doubt it. Next
to her sat a very uncomfortable fat
She had q long, thin dog,
with a face like ar Irish setter. The
dog was too unwieldy for her to hold
in her lap-in fact she had no lap to
speak of. She was chiefly stomach and
knees. So she placed the dog
between herself and q Chi1aman who
sat next her. The Chinama1 didn'tlike
the dog, and the dog knew it. The dog
didn't like the Chinaman, and the Chi
naman knew it. Hostilities were early
developed, greatlyto the amusement Of
everybody except the old lady and the
Chinaman. The fun continued for some
time, when, the day being hot, the dog
grew tired and indicatedhis desire to
suspend hostilities by jumping from the
seat clear across the stage into the lap
Of q very pretty girl, one IF the prettiest
sixteen-year-olders l eversaw, with long
braids down her back, beautiful blue
eyes and charming red cheeks, in whose
arms Gone in each) were cuddled two of
the cunningest little Skies. Precisely
what the setter intended he alone knew.
The effect was patent. The girl was
frightened, and with q sudden twist to
the left unfortunately thew one OF the
dogs into the street, and in less time
than it takes to tell it the heavy wheel of
the numbering stage put an end to his
suffering, too clearly Indicated by two
short, sharp, decisive yelps. The agi-
tation OF the girl may be imagined. The
general upsettedness OF the stage-load
of passengers may possibly be conceived,
but the establishment of The setter, who
was grabbed quickly by his hind leg,
and also by the Chinaman, and slung
with inconceivable rapidly through the
open window in the door, it would be
difficult to depict. So would the uni.
versal roar thatfollowed the Chinaman's
ejaculation of eN~ultation, and So too,
would the indignation of the fat Woman
whose dog had been thrown away,when,
rising upon her sturdy limbs, with one
hand she yanked the strap leading tc
the drivers foot. and with the other,
holding her parasol, she belabored the
grinning Chinaman over the head and
shoulders until the stage was stopped,
and with difficulty she got out. Whether
she secured herdog or not. 1 don't know,
for the stage moved rapidly on.
We are used now to dogs in public
conveyances, to dogs in restaurants, tc
dogs in parlors, in bedrooms, in ladies
laps, but it will take us some time tc
become accustomed to dogs in churches,
! although it is but a week since I looked
into the cooling interior of Trinity
church, where possibly $50 fortunate
sinners were loudly proclaiming them.
selves as miserable sinners, following
the lead Of q $4,000 a year rector,
Morgan Dix. Accepting the courteous
invitation of the sexton, 1 took a sea-
in the aisle on q tolerably hard bench
although there We're at least 1,2O(
nicely-cushioned seats %utioccupicd
Hardly had | accustomed myself to The
board beneath me when my eye detect
ed in a pew occupied by a well-knowr
millionaire, his wife, one son. and two
little girls, the prettiest black and tar
| think L eve saw-the merriest, iol
lest, waggiest-tail, black and tai il
the world. The youngest child hello
him in her arms as she might a baby
His little head rested lovingly on hel
shoulder, while his black eyes merrill,
twinkled as he took the congregation
in. Ii | had been as nearly ten year.
of age as | am fifty, that little girl ant
that little dog would have had a cheer
full time during the rest of the service
for l. certainly should have attracted
the attention Of both. AS it was | con
tented myself with making a series O
grimaces, unseen by any but the 4dog
At first he regarded me with lnfeignet
amazement. Gradually his little tai
withdrew from its convenient shelte
between his hind legs and waved owe
his back. He pricked up one ear, the,
the other, until, exasperated beyon,
endurance, he stitfened himself up
and, standing straight in the littl
girls arms, gave one, to me, tremen
dous bark. The miserable sinners
with one accord, forsook their piou
endeavor and turned to see the sourc
of the un%accustomed noise. Th
slipper-shod sexton moved gently dow
the aisle. /, Of course, was immerse,
in thought, but the speedy exit of tn
little GIL, accompanied by her eide