St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-05
A DOG THAT WORKED.
But Now His Understudy Has His
Place and He Is a Tramp.

But Now His Understudy Has His
Place and He Is Tramp.
Rover has lost his job, says the New
York Recorder.
Last night he slept in the City Hall
park. Yet it was only a week or so ago
that he held one of the most lucrative
places occupied by a dog in this city.
All he had TO do was to bark.
The firm that employed HIM manu-
features high grade or toy dogs and
other animals. Quite recently the
higheT-prieed imitation CANNES have
been fitted out with little Photographs.
1t was in ROver's line of duty to bark in
these monographs. He had cultivated
several STYLES Of barks, and was fast
working himself into place of trust in
the firm. His yOu've-trOd- On-my-tail
whine and howl was inimitable.
and the cylinders of this
class were generally placed in the SpitZ
variety. He included in his repertoire
a wild yelp and fierce bark which
would make a human being turn goose
fieshy. 1t is true his wages were paid
mostly in meal tickets and brass
studded leather collar, but his hours
were easy, and he often went home
with the proprietor. where he was
placed on an intimate footing with the
family.
In the course of the output of the firm
ROver's voice went all over the country.
His deep-tOned bark scared midnight
providers at Oshkosh and kept chicken
thieves at bay in northern New Jersey,
while his normal 'bOW-wOw" cheered
the little children in the nurseries all
over the land. Apparently he became
cOgniZant of his Importance and grew
vain. He walked around the workshop
with a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
know air, which was intensely agra
waiting.
On several occasions he refused point
blank to bark into new cylinders. On
one occasion he was hauled to the fun
nel-shaped mouthpiece and begged to
fulfill his obligations. He refused. A
sharp Kick was administered and the
agOnlZng yelp which followed was
faithfully recorded by the impressiOna-
bic phOnOgTaph, while ROver's diges-
ton was spoiled for the day. Later on
several occasions he failed to turn up
during Office hours, and the susceptible
cylinders recorded no barkS on these
occasions. Such derelictions be-
came annoying, and business had
to be suspended until his dog
ship would condescend to put
in an appearance. This state of
affairs continued for several days, until
the firm. III self-defenSe, went in search
of an understudy for Rover. Mean
while the dog had fallen in with diSsO-
lutte companions whose sole occupation
was to reconnOiter ash and garbage bar
rels and render miserable the lives of
stray cats. His associations affected
the quality of his voice and detracted
from his personal appearance. He al
lowed burs to find Judgment in his hair;
there was a bald space on his back
where a casual brick aimed at some of
his companions had hit him. In fact.
he seemed to have lost all self-respect,
and once a dogs self-esteem departs he
soon develops into a cur.
1t was at this period that his under
study made an appearance in the es-
adjustment. Rover came ambling into
the monograph room three hours late
one afternoon with his usual well-what-
Ou-gOing-to arrogance.
He stopped short in amaZement and
wrath. Could ne believe his eyes? Yes.
there in his accustomed place was
sleek. bright-eyed fOX-terrier. The
hands were training him to bark by
holding a Squirming rat about ten
inches from his nose. The revolving
cylinders were recording quick, sharp,
resonant yelps. Rover made a spring
at the interlOper. Although a quarter
less in size the little terrier was not
frightened. The two dogs rolled over
and over. with an accompaniment of
bowls, snOrtS. strident barks, and
SnarlS.
In The excitement the foreman of the
photograph department had neglected
to discOnnect the machines and they
were busy recording one OF the nastieSt
dog fights on record. When the error
was discovered the cylinders were
ruined, as it would ruin the business to
disseminate such sounds throughout the
country. 1t would also be out of place
to hear a diScoTdant duet pouring forth
from a big-eyed wOOlly dummy dog.
Babes and small children would be
thrown into spasms and nervous indi-
vi duals driven crazy. When the dam
age was discovered the foreman in his
anger made break for Rover. Catch
ing him by the nape of the neck he
kicked him with unseemly vehemence
down the stairs. while his adversary
was coddled and dOctOred up.
Like 9th clio, ROver'S occupation was
gone. He realized it, appreciated the
fact that he was flung forth upon the
world. frappe, and with his tail between
his legs he diSappeared-he had lost his
lob.