The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-19
THE WHITE HOUSE DOGS.
Dash, Jack and Rab and tho Peculiar
characteristics OF Each.


characteristics OF Each.
The white house dogs are no unim-
portant part Of it's life below stairs,
Neither Mrs. Harrison nor, indeed. any
member Of her family like dogs around
the house, and so the animals who have
tho proud satisfaction of dwelling in a
white house kennel are content with il
and the surroundings TINT the gardens
afford for their every day life The pet
dog of the establishment. and looked
upon by both tho president and Mrs.
Harrison as n valued friend, is the
Scotch collie, Dash. Dash Is q fighter.
not because he likes it particularly. but
Just on general principles. He came
with the family from indianapolis and
his high-tcmpcrcd proceedings there
have not deserted him On the contrary
tic seems to feel that u great deal moro
depends on his ability to chew up any
other animal who foolishly risks his
FUR within his reach In Indianapolis
and here for time, Dash took great
deal of pleasure in following tho 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 conflict with somo
other rash animal The sccno of the
fight was under the carriage, which ter
ritory Dash felt bound TO protect from
all intrndcrs. These little Inconsistencies
of temper made him rather an unwise
companion md now the special province
OF Dash is to keep the white house
grounds free from unsafe intrudcrs.
When tho weather permits little Ben
Ja1nin Mckee enjoys above everything
else ronp in the grounds with friend
Dash, who is very fond of children,
despite his warlilsc disposition on the
road Some of the encounters in which
Dash has como ont victor arc told by
Mrs. Harrison with great enjoyment.
Jack, the fox terrier, has n record,
but an extremely useful one lie is q
rattcr and has caught and killed thirty
six rats in thirty minutes. His mission
III 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 IN OBJ
1ect OF intense detestation to the white
house gardeners If he is watching tho
coming OF the enemy the fact that he
will completely pillow up 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 Clcvc-
land administration were notable
pair, tho big mastiff. Kay. and Hector,
who managed to make himself acuuaint-
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 OK
press he asked just how many dogs
there were already in tho stable The
new arrival made eight They were
so numerous finally that their collars
were taken Off and they were let 90
wherever they wanted, most of them,
of course, failing to como back.