Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-05-28

into the assembly chamber, into the
committee room and back TO my
lodgings
II have been carrying a cane, but
1 have lad to leave the stick at
home because the dog was constantly
crowding between it and my leg and
when friends were walking with me
they were unable to understand my
involuntary exclamations of annoy
ance.
yet, strange as it may appear, |
began to grow fond of my spectral
associate. Companionship is natural
to man; and we know in the light of
history and experience it is life itself
to the canine race. Our days passed
very happily together. We led the
same regular lives. | generally
walked to my office; but when the
weather was bad ] always selected
the best route out of consideration
for my devoted companion. At
times | even took a carriage on his
account. His care became my en-
thusiasm.
"Resuming my law practice with
renewed energy | was gratified to
find that the dog accompanied me
into court and curled himself up un-
der my table while was trying a
case. After a few experiences / OBJ
served a very curious fact, namely,
that the animal always left the room
before the jS1y returned, if the YER
dict were to be adverse to my client
At first this act suggested to me
tender regard for my feelings-a de-
sire not to witness my chagTin at de-
feat. AS the thought developed in
my mind, frequently detected my
self making a speech to the dog in
stead of to the jury. ! watched his
face with more care than | did that
of any man in the courtroom. l
hoped to read there a sure indication
of the verdict But he always man
tanned the same attentive attitude,
and gave no sign until he left the
room. Then he always awaited me
outside the door, lovingly licked my
hand and accompanied me home.
"As my criminal practice rapidly
grew daily studied his conduct
more closely. had already decided
that his judgment was infallible. He
never erred He appeared to under
stand law-the technicalities, rather
than the equities of case. All what
a judge he'd make-my dogl
"Yet, the appalling thing about
this delusion is that it has changed
my whole life. was married before
the misfortune overlook me, but l
have become estranged in my home.
| lead solitary life. have given up
my clubs, my friends and all my So
cial habits. have been and am in
constant fear that somebody else will
discover that / am followed by
black dog; that l am cursed by de-
lusion; that am not a single entity,
but have a demon-gentle, if you
please, but an old Greek demon
bound to me. That would be horri-
BILE I'd have to kill myself, and I'm
afraid of death
| 1lOW 10 IL ctll w
Note by the Son-I do not omit
any quotation from my fathers diary
during the six months that followed
the extract just given, though there
are pages of the most agonizing and
pitiful narrative, in which he lays
bare his daily life so fully-his hopes,
his sufferings, with rare CLEANS of
joy-that it seems proclamation to the
dead to make them public. There
are constant references to the dog,
generally in a friendly spirit, but less
frequently is he spoken Of with en-
thusiasm. On the last page, evi-
IDENTIFY written before he left for the
courtroom on the fatal morning,
find this:
Sept. 18, 1SS5-Since the Katie
King murder case has been on trial l
have noticed change in the dogs
demeanor He has become tricky,
where before he was sympathetic,
He has grown vicious, There is a
treacherous leer in his great brown
eyes. have detected him twice in
the act of tripping me! Slipping
stealthily before me, he will crouch
in my path. Twice have / escaped
terrible falls, almost by miracle.
His temper has wholly changed. He
sulks and snaps at times. He hasn't
injured me yet, but am beginning
to fear him. 1t is more than fear, it
is mortal terror! But | hope for a
verdict today. Then I'll rest A trip
to Europe may clear my brain Of the
clouds that darken it. I'll go where
the cursed beast cannot follow me. I"
l, his son and private secretary,
add my dear fathers last words, as l
held him in my arms, to make his
narrative complete;
He has killed me at last. He was
crouching at the head of the stairs
tripped me" To which should be
added his agonizins appeal, not heard
by other ears than mine; Take him
away Keep him Off He has me
by the throat And | had forgiven
him. Julius Chambers in Once a
| Week.
oil from Salmon Heads.
Within the last few years the man.
ufacture of oil from salmon heads
| L a