The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-05-26
A FELLOW DOGS LUCK.

Alfred de Musset, the famous French
poet, was at one time conducting a
| canvass for election to the French
academy Members of this distin-
guished body are elected to it by
those who are already members, and
custom requires that an aspirant shall
go about soliciting the votes of MEM
bers. Musset had gone from one
academician to another and was OH
his way, on foot, to the house of the
Count de Sainte-Aulaire, just outside
of Paris, whose vote lie hoped to gain.
When he had almost arrived at the
place, a large yellow dog began to
follow him, but the dog sneaked be-
hind, and as the poet was too much
wrapped in his thoughts to look
around he did not know that what
was perhaps the most hideous dog in
Paris was at his heels.
When the poet rang at NJ. de Sainte-
AuIaire's door, the dog watched his
chance, and as the door was opened
slipped into the house. The servant
supposed the dog was the newcomers,
and the poet supposed it belonged to
The host and his family were warm
admirers of Musset and gave him a
hearty welcome, though they gazed
laskance at the horrible yellow dog,
which had curled its long legs down
on a beautiful rug woven by the young
lady of the family as Il present to her
grandmother. soy - -ais 5i5la az 3
"Extraord mary taste in pets,''
said the host to himself But to a
great poet anything may be pardon
ed.''
Strange" said MGsset to himself,
that an elegant family like this
should keep such hideous cur"
When presently the poet had been
invited to remain to dinner and the
dog had promptly accompanied the
family and their guests to the dining
room, the master of the house was in
grave doubt whether anything
could be pardoned to a poet" The
animal rushed around the table
grabbing piece of food, frightening
the venerable grandmother almost to
death, and acting like the miserable,
hungry vagabond that he was.
The hostess, by way of delicate COM
pliment to her guest, caused a large
plate of food to be placed for the dog.
The animal ate it in a minutes time
and galloped around the table for
more He barked ferociously when
one of the family declined>to give him
a piece of meat that he saw on a
plate.
The dogs actions prevented any
conversation or any enjoyment of the
meal. The host looked at his guest
and wondered. The guest looked at
the host and wondered.
As the party was rising from the
table the dog rushed against the
onl oa1Sa1 him To ,1nsat tho
greater portion of a set of rare and
precious china, an heirloom in the
family The ladies gathered about,
weeping, and began to pick up the
priceless fragments.
Something in the hostess face
inspired the poet with a sudden and
fearful thought. He rushed up to the
count.
"Can it be possible, sir he exclaim
ed, that you supposed that this dog
belonged to me p
"Why, of course we supposed he
was yours said the count. He
came with you did he not ~
II never saw the hideous beast be-
fore ~ said Musset. Il supposed all
the time that the dog belonged to the
house."
Then the animal, which had shown
signs of uneasiness during this little
conversation, sneaked toward the
door, He was kicked out, yelping,
but once we'll outside he shook him
self and trotted off with complacent
air, which seemed to say:
well, that's all right-so long as
you didn't turn me out before din
nerr'
NJ. de Sainte-Aulaire voted for Mus
set.
But he said, Il shouldn't have
done so if that dog had really been
his. Upon such little things do great
things depend -