Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-30
A REFORMED CANINE DRUNK
ARD.
Old Dog Jacks Sudden Disgust for In
toxicating Drinks.
From the Yeto York Times.

AUBURN, n. Y, Nov. 22.-Jack is the
name Of a fine old shaggy-coated, jet
black dog, the property of a well known
sportsman in this city. He is now some
10 years old, and he has, almost from his
Infancy, done duty as night Waterman in
fashionable restaurant on State street.
Early in youth, one sultry day in the sum-
mer time, while he was but a raw, mex
perienced cur, being exceedingly thirsty,
and finding no water wherewith to relieve
his parched throat, Jack took deep
draught from the trough which rests on
the floor and catches the drippings from
half dozen beer faucets. Natur-
ally enough he didn't find the
liquid exactly to his taste. In
fact, he became very sick as the
result Of his rather free indulgence, and
for days afterward couldn't be induced to
to take so much as smell from the
trough. At the expiration OF about a
week, however, having fully recovered
from the effects OF his first Incorporate
draught he concluded TO try another DOSE
lie was careful to keep within the bounds
of moderation, and no seriously bad re-
suits followed. On the morning following
he repeated the experiment with similar
success. And so be kept on, little by lit
tie, day after dav, much after the manner
the true in wardness Of the nicotine weed,
until at last he acquired a positive liking
tor the once nauseous beverage. The taste
grew upon him. and the disposition to in
dulge in it approached nearer and nearer
to the verge of uncontrol. Jack at last
became very disreputable dog and de-
veloped into as great hummer as any guz-
zler that ever stood before bar-or tried
to stand there.
His master, with the frequenters Of the
place, had watched his progress with a
good deal of curious interest, but he final
ly made up his mind that the thing had
gone far enough and that it must be
stopped. Jack was coaXed, and he was
scolded, petted and whipped in turn, but
be turned a deaf ear to the tenderest en-
treatings, and, with a truly Falstaffian
hatred CT cOmpulsion, declined to yield
obedience under the infection of the rod.
lie was bound to have his way, and have
IL he did. There was one thing about
Jack, even in the worst stage Of his adj
dictiOn to strong drink, remarkably out Of
keeping with a practice common to his
counterparts in the human species. he
never took a drop at night. 1t might not,
however. be exactly safe to gamble very
heavily against man who should offer to
wager that this feature Of the dogs habits
had a somewhat intimate connection
with the fact that ne was usually much
more than comfortably ''full' when he
went to bed, and that there was no noe
| turnal drainage into the trough, his only
source Of supply. Jack made up, how
ever, in the amplest measure during the
daytime for the hours that were lost at
night. Every morning before breakfast
! he would drink half gallon OF beer at a
| draught, be joyful and playtully drunk
! for an hour; then, feeling dull and drowsy,
| 60 TO sleep in mis- corner, awaking toward
| noon with deep sense of ''gOneness" and
a ''thundering big head" He was any,
thing but agreeable or courteous in inter-
course, even with his best friends, after a
carousal, until he had steadied his nerves
with "bracer." That done, however,
| the soul of good nature again twinkled in
/ his eve, all his wonted eXuberance OF
| spirit returned, and he was himself once
| more.
Jack was at first content with two
! good, square DRINKS day. This limit
| was gradua ~ exceeded until he insisted
! on being full half the time and sleeping
/ his intoxication off during the other half
! Under SUCH circumstances, OF course, be
| became altogether useless as a guardian
| Of his masters property, and snarling
| vicious bull terrier was engaged in his
! place, but out OF regard for the veterans
/ former services he was permitted to as
sumo only the title of assistant Waterman
| Jack saw IN him rival for first honors
and took his engagement very much tC
| heart. 1t may be that from constant
broOding over the possibility o.
| being driven out of the place
in disgrace in his old age
the dOg-drunkard was reused to a sense
OF his degradation. or, perhaps, it was
! because of terrible fit of sickness close
! ly resembling the human malady known
rs delirium tremens; but, let the ex
PLANTATION be what it may. Jack reformed
turned over a new leaf, so to speak, anC
for the last six months has led a most eX
emplary life of strict attention 10 business
aud total abstention from the use of in
| tOXicating beverages in all form.
He has been a local wonder since his
change from habtual drunkenness tC
uniform sObriety, and his shining illus
tratiOn of the power OF will over appetite
has been used to point moral in a TEN
| perance sermon.