Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-09-22
DOGS HITCHED TO CARTS.
WHERE MANS CANINE FRIENDS
DO THE WORK OF HORSES.
Their Use as Draught Animals I'm
Belgium Described by IL United
States Consul.

belslum DeScrIDeu Dy Ou1teu
States Consul.
IEGE, Belgium, writes United
r. States Consul Nicholas Smith,
/ is II city of large wealth and
great industrial activity, pos
sessing the largest mandatory of
machines and machinery in the world,
and employing as many horses as any
other town of its size in Europe, and
yet for every horse at least two dogs
are to be seen in harness on its streets.
They are to be met at all hours of the
day, but in the early morning the
boulevards are literally alive with
them. Traffickers mostly women)
with gaily painted carts drawn by we'll
fed dogs are then seen striving to be
first in the market place. A pretty,
bare-headed Walloon peasant girl,
moving briskly at the side of flower
cart drawn by stalwart mastiff, is q
pleasing vision to the early riser. But
not only the gardener, but the butch
er, the baker, the grocer, the porter,
the xpressman-common carriers of
oil kinds, indeed engage his services.
His step is so much quicker than that
of the horse that he will in an hour
cover twice the distance and carry with
him a greater burden i'll proportion to
his size.
Six hundred pounds is the usual
draft of an ordinary dog, though a
mastiff is often taxed with as much
again. They are driven single, double
and sometimes three and four abreast,
and are hitched indifferently, in front
of, beneath, or behind the cart or
wagon. When the vehicle is loaded,
the driver walks, directing its course
and in emergencies laying his shoulder
to the wheel; but when the load has
been discharged, he often mounts the
box and rushes like Jehu through the
streets.
1t will not surprise those who know
that the steam engine was familiar to
the Romans rs a toy to be told that
the hollow revolving cylinder used in
squirrel cases has been turned to ac-
count here in the movement of light
machinery by enlarging its scale and
substituting "Fido" for Bunny" 1
have also seen him treading an endless
belt in the service of n wood d-sawyer
A gentleman of Liege, retaining his
fondness for lounging upon the boule.
ward after losing the use of his legs,
had perambulator SO constructed
that Danish hound which had been
his companion for years could be
hitched and almost concealed between
the wheels and now appears as regu-
larly in his old haunts as any of his
friends. The hound is not only as happy
as when he loitered Mt his masters
heels, but is manifestly proud of the
service he renders him.
Let it not be forgotten that the Bel
gians are among the most refined and
cultivated people ON earth, and that
this new use of the dog is one of the
latest and most approved developments
of their civilization. Thirty years ago,
] have no doubt, dog in harness
would have excited as much remark in
this city ms he would to-day in Louis
vile or Memphis, though he is now as
well recognized an institution of the
people rs the mule is in either of those
cities.
Rigorous discipline and the long
habit of wearing muzzles seems to have
subdued the beliigerent instincts of
these dogs, for they now meet Us strang.
crs ut the crossings without those SUI
percilious inspections and hostile de.
monstrations which characterize both
men and dogs till they have received
the last touches of civilization. There
remains, however, rudimentary love
of the chase, of which the artful driver
often avails himself to quicken their
speed though, as Lord Chesterfield in
his excessive refinement Is said to havo
laughed without cachinnation, they
have learned To hunt without barking
But more interesting incident of
their labor is the complete extinction
OF the sheep-killing propensity. Gen
tlemen bred in the country assure mo
that this ofiense against pastoral NOR
tality is no longer known IN Belgium
a reformation which would in itself
justify the harnessing of all the dogs
ia America.
The expense Of feeding them where
n number are kept, or when placed,
like horses, at a livery is from five to
six cents per day, horsetlesh aud black
bread forming the staple of their food +;
though here. ms elsewhere, the main
tenance of one or two in family Is
practically without cost Tho expense
of shnelng, NO small item b. the keeper
Of horses, Is also saved.
All the experiments of breeding
which have from time to time been
tried for the Improvement Of horses
are nov being made T. produce dog
of special iiiness for harness. New
foundlahia aud rough-coated 81 Bern
aFsla are ruled ont on account uf thrir
long hair Tho mastih has been found
too hong ia the back and hgs. aad IL
is Thought desiieratnm a. graft the
arlendid chest aud breathing capacity
uf the bull,log npon THE stalsart
stock Markets are established, whetu
they are hauehi and Haid like th,ir
eqniue ca lahnFers al iaittrsall's AMI
ID Is u0 unlauai thins iof a compaetlNs
Iutlt atI prll. Irak.u H.. a. afll fsr