The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-31
DOGS AS A LUXURY.
Expenses and Experiences OF the Owner oi
champion Settero


champion Setter"
New York Times
Down. Punch! Charged" A magnificent set.
ter stretched himself at length on heavy Turk
ish rug in the artistic den of young man in one
of the bachelor apartment houses up town. wher
this command was kindly but firmly given The
long, graceful nose fell between two perfect
paws, and the slken hair from two deli
cate. ears mingled gracefully with the
waving lemon and white silken coat that
had so often been patted and admired by hand
some women Punch was prize-w winner and
famous dog in his class. He had travelled far
and had wrested prizes, under far more aristo-
cratic name, from pets of Bluegrass beauties,
from the admitted canine friends of brunette
Baltlmoreans from the paror hunters Of
naughty Phiadelphiaps, and from the four
footed companions of cultured Bostonians Odd
corners of the den of the owner of this inteli.
gent and beautiful brute bore evidences
of Punchs prowess in bench shows. Cob
lets, cups and figures that could be class
flied under no general name bronzes,
medals in gold and silver and bronze, and rib
oons of various colors with the two words which
so delight the owner of such dog, First Prize
were everywhere about. They overshadoweN
the bits of brio brac and mingled on TERMS
of equality with the hand painted fans. and the
bits of embroidery on silk and satin that dainty
hands had prettily wrought for Punch's owner
The young man proudly patted his blue blooded
setter, as he said, pointing to the various bits of
plate: This was won at st. Louis, that at
that massive cup here in this city, and that gro
tesque bit in Boston" And the list of cities
where bench shows are held only served to ex-
haust the prize bits. and some cities had to be
named a number of times.
1T must be source of great qualification 10
own dog with such capabilities as prize
winner"
Yes. and also a source of much expense.
Vastly more expense than profit. I might give
up my dog and marry. and save money by the
SealSkin dc ,1e;1l
dresses are less costly than a champion dog.
One gets to love him like child though. for he'
is so faithful and intelligent and such a source
OF comfort. But wife and child could hardly
be, combined, q source of more trouble and
anxiety"
The statement was strong one and hardly
COMPREHENSIVE to one who thinks only of dog
as companion and friend Naturally, then. the
listeners asked about the causes which led to a
dogs being as great a source of expense as a
wife and child
First, them" said the young man. caressing
Punch's sleek coat he is as great an expense as
child, because he has to have governor. and
it's just as necessary to him as governess is to
baby. Whyf Because when I'm away at busi-
ness / can't leave him in my room aud il
wouldn't do to take him down town. So that
smart young coored fellow you see about the
building and probably take for ianitor, devotes
his day to caring for Punch. That costs mora
than governess who can teach French and
music. Ii you don't believe it try and get so
good fellow as Billy is and see what he will
charge you for keeping your dog from being
stolen or poisoned and from running away"
1t was rather startling to think of a special
attendant for dog, but he was we'll worth the
watching, but the expense certainly couldn't be
great after this attendant was paid, suggested
one of the gossiping party.
Bless your dear hearts, boys, that's only the
beginning of the expense" said he of experience.
Punch lazily arose, stretched his perfect legs,
laid his on his masters knee and if ever az
fection was shown It fairly shot ont from the
speaking eyes that spoke volumes to the admir-
ing owner. Eyes, old fellow you're an ex-
pensive luxury, but I'd give up everything
rather than you after ALL When you were a
pup" he said speaking at the dog. II paid in
all 500 to have you trained for hunting, but
IN an evil hour dog fancier told me
that you were prize winner and So fell
lows, ! caught that fever and never but once
have / fred gun over him. Why, bless me,
he's got an appetite like twelve-pound baby,
and it costs about about as much to feed him as
it does to feed myself. Dieting is a necessty
not only to his existence, but to the sickness of
that coat the perfection of color and to the con-
tinuance of just that form and weight that makes
him competent to pick out the best of the silver
ware at the shows. And doctors bills! don't
know whether it is the dieting that does it, but
for some reason or other Punch needs to visit a
doctor about once a week, or think he does,
and it amounts to the same thing and my dogs
doctor rather encourages what / suppose
is an insane delusion on my part. What
with his prescriptions and medicines and dog
food and all that sort of thing it counts I'D as
rapidly as do physicians bills in families. Have
any of you any idea how many silk dresses that
one item would be in year, If you havn't, Just
ruminate on it for time Then there are
travelling expenses to the various shows for
Punch-wbo then travels under his aristocratc
kennel register name-and his attendant and
too often, for myself hotel bills. and the mental
worry about the poor fellows safety and COM
fort, which is really than all the other out
lay, for can hardly sleep when he is away from
me. These are few of the Important items Of
expense. And the incidentals for grooming. col
lars, kennel and board, and you can begin to get
some idea of what my luxury in the way of one
dog costs me-"
And the return for the outlay isl"
"a heap of comfort in looking at and talking
to him, wealth of affection that woman could
give me no more constantly, and lot of medals
and other truck in the way OF first prizes that
are really of no earthly use, and of but little in
trinsic value. / can't put them to any use
can't sell them to pay Punch's expenses, but I've
got to have them and than settles it. When .
man has frstprize dog, he'll spend 800 to ges
a ten-dollar prize, and Pm just fool enough to do
it."
'But then you must find lot of comfort in
hunting over such a dog" said the sportsman Of
the party.
Hunting" This in tone of infinite disgust,
as its owner pushed Pupch's nose from it's rest
ing place on his knee. Hunt, why, took him
out once and he pointed at the Lord onlv
knows what, don't and hunted half hour in
the brush for game that didn't exist That's the
only disappointment about Punch He's got
good nose for bench show, but it won't find
game, ard IN field trial he'd be distanced, as all
bench winners are, by some ornery dog with
coarse coat stubby nose, bad back, and legs
that would throw kennel club judge into con-
vulsions. If want hunter I'll leave Punch
with his guardian and go out into the street and
hunt up come homeless cur to take into the field
with me rather than take the winner of all those
glitterine cups and yaudy ribbons. I'd stand a
chance of getting some game then. Let's change
the subject"
The Florida Freeze.
Atlanta Constitution.
A gentleman lately from Florida said yesters
day: THE freeze gave Florida black eye. It
doe he Lob of I Z