The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-16
THE WHITE HOUSE DOGS.
Dash, Jack and Rab and the Peculia
characteristics Of Each. -.


Dash. Jack and Rab and the Peculiar
characteristics Of Each.
The white house dogs are no unim-
portant part Of its life below stairs.
Neither Mrs. Harrison nor, indeed, any
member Of her family like dogs around
the house, and so the animals who have
the proud satisfaction Of dwelling in q
white house kennel are content with it
and the surroundings that the gardens
afford for their everyday life. The pet
dog of the establishment, and looked
upon by both the president and Mrs.
Harrison as a valued friend, is the
Scotch collie, Dash. Dash is fighter,
not because he likes it particularly, but
just on general principles. He came
with the family from Indianapolis and
his high-tempered proceedings there
have not deserted him. On the contrary
he seems to feel that great deal more
depends on his ability to chew up any
other animal who foolishly risks his
fur within his reach. In indianapolis,
and here for a time, Dash took great
deal of pleasure in following the family
carriage down town or anywhere else
it happened to be going. Especially
when the ladies emerged from their
shopping, they would usually find Dash
in the middle of a conflict with some
other rash animal The scene of the
fight was under the carriage, which ter
ritory Dash felt bound to protect from
all intruders. These little inconsistencies
of temper made him rather an unwise
companion and now the special province
of Dash is to keep the white house
grounds free from unsafe intruders.
When the weather permits little Ben
jamin Mckee enjoys above everything
else a romp in the grounds with friend
Dash, who is very fond of children,
despite his warlike disposition on the
road. Some Of the encounters in which
Dash has come out victor are told by
Mrs. Harrison with great enjoyment.
Jack, the fox terrier, has a record,
but an extremely useful one. He is a
ratter and has caught and killed thirty
six rats in thirty minutes. His mission
in life is to nose around in the most in
nocent sort of way and dispatch his
victims before they know what struck
them. He is regarded as valuable
auxiliary to the domestic working
force, although at the same time an OBJ
ject of intense detestation to the white
house gardeners. If he is watching the
coming of the enemy the fact that he
will completely plow up a flower bed
does not disturb him in the least.
The latest accession to the kennel is
St. Bernard puppy, about two months
old now, and growing in keeping with
his imposing family pedigree. His
name is Rab, and he belongs to Mrs.
Russell Harrison, who intends to take
him to her home in Nebraska shortly.
The white house dogs in the Cleve-
land administration were notable
pair, the big mastiff, Kay, and Hector,
who managed to make himself acquaint-
ed with good deal of ground despite
the hindrances thrown in his way by
Mrs. Cleveland.
Dogs were such frequent presents to
President Arthur that one day when
another canine offering arrived by ex-
press he asked just how many dogs
there were already in the stable. The
new arrival made eight. They were
SO numerous finally that their collars
were taken off and they were let go
wherever they wanted, most OF them.
of course. failing to come back.