The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-26

II 4. sypsy Secret Most Prontshis TO ths
Old Jerseymrn who Learned n.

Oid Jereeymnn VINO kearhNN Ns
One Of those strange and profitable gifts :"
which seem peculiarly to belong TO gypsies. IL
the power to entice dogs to follow them
away even in their masters presence. This
power is also possessed by queer old man who
lives in one OF the small towns suburban to
Jersey City. For fifteen years or more he. like
the Rypsies, has put his gift TO practical and
successful use
His house is situated about eight miles from
the nearest ferry to New York. and every
morning the old man rises at o'clock. and. IL
the weather is fine. starts on his long walk to
tho ferry. His journey lies through pretty
residence villages and cottage cites inhabited
mainly by well-to-do and often wealthy people.
Many OF those suburban residents have a fancy
for the Keeping OF valuable dogs but often they
are unable to keep them permanently owing
TO the dolngs OF the aforesaid venerable
Jerseyman. who knows the gypsy mystery.
The scret Of tho old mans influence over
dogs he has confldentially impaired to few
chosen friends. 1t is tho pnfnperlng OF the
canine appetite for the parings from horses
hoof. that part which the horseshoer cuts away
after burning the impression OF the shoe into
tho hoof. Duly equipped with q pocketiul OF
his dog coaxer." the old man strolls toward
the river keepiag sharp eye out for
knows the locality like a book. and the houses
where they have dog worth his while. At
some places the servants have. as he puts It,
disagreeable habit OF rising early, but they
seldom interfere with his plans. silently APP
preaching the house he has selected IL the
dog Is In sight he gains its attention, and the
animal dashing out at him, usually barking
iuriously, he losses toward him niece OF his
CoaNor,' which is eagerly snapped no.
Almost at once the furious beast is. trans-
formed into a quiet orderly dog as docile az
lamb. ard, leaplnR the fence. the animal
whines and grovels Mt the old mans feet and
rolls over and over on the ground The effect
be something similar to that OF catnip upon
cat
The old man humors the dog and let's him
roll and cavort around for while. Then he
low him. Never once calling to the beast the
old man continues onward to the forty with
the dog at his heels. II the dog at any time
shows u reluctance to follow. another niece OF
" coaxer" thrown to him dispels the hesitation.
and IN this manner they keep on until the
ferryhouso Is reached
The old man with the dog still following
generally manages to board the boat at an hour
assumes proprietorship of the animal, and
often sells the dog before he reaches Now YoTk
II the dog Is not sold on the boat. however, he
takes IL to Wall street and disposes OF 1t to
some one among the brokers who make no
comes by the valuable dogs which he offers for
sale day after day. The old man owns that he
got the recipe for his coaxer' from
gypsy; ANA he says he has never known II to
fail. He thinks that he runs no risk at all OF
legal penalties In his peculiar traffic. You
see." he says, the dogs lust simply follow |
me- don't take them by force"
The old fellow, who Is close on to seventy |
years old, is well preserved and hearty. He
his beliefs which nothing can shake. being |
that he Is not dog stealer.