Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-26
PUT A WHEEL ON THE DOG.

= lahkee invention Ihat Proved OF Great
Value to an Elongated Daehshund.
"Ihe Major" In N. Y. Advertiser.
l see that Mr.. Merritt, the kind. hearted
United States consul in Bremen, has
sent Mrs. Cleveland three valuable dach.
shunds. This shows in what high esteem
our noble President and his estimable
wife are held by all who have the honor
OF their acquaintance, includin' those in
the consular service. | used to own a
dachshund myself before the wah, and
know something about 'em. The dach-
shund is noted for his low stature
and extreme length of body. He is
the longest coupled dog known to
natural history, science or art His fore
legs are located so far from his hind legs
that the wonder is what supports the
middle of the structure. The fact is the
middle isn't we'll supported and the
sag" is alarmin'. Nature apparently
intended to put a third pair of legs
there but neglected it until il was too
late. used to have considerable fun
with my dachshund. One day stranger
came along, looked over the brute with
much curiosity, and asked:
slow long have you had that dog ?"
mo longer" | replied, "than you see
him now-seven feet"
One day loaned Lineal to neigh
Dor for his children to play with. The
dogs full name was Iineal Measure, so
called because l bought him by the
yard-though that really has nothin' to
do with the story. In the cvenin' |
strolled over to see how they were
gettin' along, and I'm cussed if my
neighbor--he was an inventive sort Of
genius who had moved into that coun-
try from Connecticut-I say I'm cussed
If my neighbor didn't have Lineal rugged
up with wheel under his stomach.
l asked him what in the name of the
ragin' Dog-star he had done that for,
and he went on with long rigmarole
to explain by the law of mathematics,
weights and measures, bridge buildin'
and one thing aud another that a super
structure so long in the span ought to
have middle support The darned
Yankee had rugged up the wheel with a
ball and socket joint, fastened it onto
the dog with leather straps, and may |
never know peace Of mind again il
Lineal didn't spin around over the floor
with that wheel under him, maxim
better time and turnin' shorter corners
than he could without it. Lineal seemed
SO happy and contented like with his
wheel attachment, and moved about
with such ease and grace and apparent
comfort that | didn't have the heart to
take it often him.
The Yankee wanted to charge me
$40 for the wheel and riggin', Just
what it cost him, he said. told him j
charged $3.50 day for Lineal when he
went out as companion for other PEG.
Pies children, but that he needn't
bother about the 10 cents in change. Sc
| mosied off home, Lineal and his Wheel
follerin' after. We'll, sir, that blamed
dachshund got SO accustomed to the
wheel under his midriif that he wouldn't
think of dom without it. Sometimes
would take the thing of to grease the
socket joint and he would whine
and lament and carry on till Il
was buckled onto him again, AnC
no wonder. You may not believe
it, but it's sacred and solemn
truth, to which | am willin' any day
to affix my affidavit, that Lineal got tc
understand that wheel so thorough,
and could handle it with such happy
faculty that he would ride on it as if i
was bicycle, half the time. More time,
than | have fingers and toes have | sect
that dachshund scull along the roac
till he got up good momentum, anC
then, liftin' every cussed foot from til,
ground, spin along on his wheel for
block or more without touchin SO mucl
as a toe nail. 1t was the blamedest sigh
you ever saw. hope the three Cleve
land dachshunds will do we'll, though
don't know what anybody wants will
more than one dachshund, considerin
the length of 'em. You can't keep ON
of 'em in town with any comfort for tn,
reason that one end or the other of hin
has got to be over on the other lot.