Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-01-23


not been unusually crowded for the
past week, result caused mainly by
our being cut off from direct cenmuni.
cation with Buffalo Gap, and prevail
ing tendency Of the mercury to seek u
lower level the supply of dogs has been
fully equal to the demand. We are a
very ardent adlnirer of the dog. Our
attachment, contracted in childhood.
has now developed into positive
mania. We are ready to make any
sacrifice to further his interest, or add
to his personal prestige. No one can
deny the fact Of the dog having been
much maligned. We have heard it dis
tinctly intimated that he had an innate
weakness for rare mutton, but a thor
ough investigation Of the subjett elimin
ates the fact of the charge being entire.
ly erroneous, as out Of six Thousand dogs
arrested on this charge during the past
year, one clearly proved an alibi, and
the entire balance OF five thousand mir e
hundred and ninety-nine were acquitted
on the grounds ofselfdefense.
The charge that would seem to be in
ferred by the common interrogation,
"Will your dog bite" is simply ground
less, and without any degree Of force
whatever, as We have been repeatedly
assured by prominent dog frnciers
who have given mucn attention to this
important industry, that their dogs had
never evinced symptom Of desire to
exercise any such carniverous propensi-
ty. Much consolation has been drawn
from this fact by parties who have ac-
cidentally been bitten. Much might be
said of the commendable qualities of
the dog. 1t is claimed upon good au-
thority, that they have been known to
instinctively wander forth upon the
bleak prairie, and in remote mountain
fastuesses, in quest of small BOYS, who
had lost their reckoning in the binding
storm. The dog Of Custer avenue, how
ever, whose nose comes in cold contact
with the back of your hand, as you
promenade this thoroughfare, is not
given to this practic for two reasons.
First, the character of the weather in
our highly favored region, does not
afford the opportunity. Second, the
average Custer boy has failed to culti-
vate that degree of friendship for the
dog, al would warrant such solicitude
on his part. The continuous practice of
placing dog in close communication
with an oyster can is not calculated to
strengthen the bonds of friendship be-
tween the parties.
The Indian upon the plains Of the
far west have fondness (no salt requir-
ED for the dog, which is only eqnalled
by the Chinese. The Indian seems to
address himself more closely to their
culture than their more civilized COM
petitors, as it is not uncommon to en-.
counter several hundred in a single
herd which at the dead hour Of night
upon signal given by one of their mum.
Der, breaks forth upon the midnight air
u grand musical overture, which must
be heard in order to be fully appreciat
ed.
The dogs great usefulness will he ad.
mitted by all, and more especially in the
town, as this seems to be his most com.
mon abiding place, and where by their
united efforts. through the medium Of
their lungs, announce the important
fact to the tired denixens, who are seek
ing to lose themselves in the realms Of
slumber, that the moon has risen, and
bv continuous effort give proof through
the entire night, that our moon is still
there. 1t is also claimed by men of es-
tabished scientific ability that the hair
Of the dog possesses rare medical qnali-
ties, being pronounced infalliable in the
cure of the bite. 1t is but reasonable
presumption, however, that the tests
made to warrant such q claim were
made in ancient times, long before the
dog had been educated up to his present
standard of innocence. Many other i'm
portant uses to which the dog is applied
might be alluded to, but it could scarce.
ly be expected that within the narrow
limits of newspaper article, all the
prominent characteristics. inimitable
qualities, and commendable attributes
Of this truly noble animal, could be
fully compassed
The Free Traders have come and gone
at Chicago. and like the doctors with