The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-06
A DEFENSE OF DOGS
ny A COMPARISON OF THE quad
RUPED WITH THE BIPED.
Dogs who Dance and DOGS who
Prance-The Puppies Of the Par
IOr and the Kennel.
To the Editors of the Appeal;

10 inc EultOTh VI bho hPPO"ia e-4~
Your article in todsy's issue on
"Babies and Puppies" furnishes some
food for reflection. My reflections
take the direction that people are
prone to accept any statement they
see in print which carries an air OF as
surance with IL, as true without ques-
ton. For instance, the Arkansas Me.
hor says Tennessee pays $9,00C,O 600 to
support it's dogs and 5000, $50 TO edu-
cafe it's children" The Starkvllle
Stock Journal says: "TheIe is not liv-
ing man who would be able to count
the dogs in Mississippi" am in
clined to believe there is more reason
in the last statement than that OF the
Meteor. Are the dogs in Tennessee
easier to count than those in Mis5is
sippi2 II they can't be counted how
does the Meteor arrive at accurate
data about the cost of maintaining
them2 Suppose / should assert
"There are $l0,0O0,000 spent in edu-
eating the children Of Tennessee.
Only few hundred thousand dollars
are spent in feeding her dogs, and
they are for the most part half
starved. Dogs are useful as well as
children, and are entitled to some at
tention."
Who Is there that could controvert
this statementf
lam friend to children, they have
no warmer friend-and. / am friend
TO dogs also. / am not willing to see
the poor dumb brutes slandeIed and
villfed without attempting some de-
tense for them, as they cannot defend
Themselves sganst the newspapers,
though they are frequently called
upon to defend their masters against
thieves and burglars. l believe that
very few sheep are killed by dogs, II
the statistics could be had. and that
dogs that are forced 10 kill she p for a
living are more sinned against than
sinuing, because their masters will MOI
feed them. The dog is mans
own cieation-"like master like
dog" is not very far from
the mark. The worthless ours
are generally owned by worthless cuIs
OF the biped persuasion. There are at
many different grades OF dogs as there
are OF men-degrRded men make de-
graded dogs. There are dogs who art
as perfect gentlemen, according to ca
nine etiquette, as you will find wear
ing swallowtalls at fashionable ball
and mayhap with more brains in thei
heads than some of the swallowtai
possess. Then there are dogs o
greater heroism than you will hnt
, among soldiers on the ba tie field
/ There are dogs who evnce Aore faith
4 full friendship for man than his neares
( kin. And yet every dog is mark 10
Q some brutal mans ct. Treat a DO
' kindly and you will always be repai,
' by his gratitude, unless he has Loaf al
|. confidence in men by contsct witt
/ them. Sac dog walking sedatel
: down the road, and three bays etand
A ing on the corner. Each one hasten
a to hit him first with a stone, and thel
/ they yell in exultation as he scuriie
+, off on three legs. have a dog that
v invaluable to me, because he protect
y my wifs and children in my absence
= No thief dare come on my premises 9
night. l knew dog to FAVE the iii
OF little boy who was attacked by a
infdriated buck. On hearing tn
boys cries he ran hundred yavds
his rescue, seized the buck by III
!, throat and saved the Child's life, VIII
q was down on the ground and on III
n point OF being gored by the buck
70 horns. have owned many dogs Of
K high degree OF intelligence and educ
" ton. They were worthy companion
10 and useful allies. / dare saw there NJ
$4,000 men in Tennessee who can 81
this same. AS to the cost Of maintain
ing dogs, they generally eat VIII
would otherwise be thrown away. \
RI man will feed dog uuless he consi
n ers him worth feeding. There q
10 doubtless worthless ours" bot
10 among the quadrupeds and biped
e. that the community would be bett
without, but the prevalence OF u
one is the direct sequence Of the Q
" list nee of the other.
The man or hoy who never pc
rs sessed dog that money couldn't bl
nj has but faint appreciation OF d
O. possibilities of life. BRICKS.