The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-09-27
DOGS HITCHED TO CARTS
WHERE MANS CANINE FRIENDS
DO THE WORK OF HORSES.
Their Use as Draught Animals in
Belgium Described by "a United
States Consul.

Belgium Described by "a United |
States Consul.
IEGE, Belgium, writes United !
r. States Consul Nicholas Smith,
is a 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 drawnb by we'll
fed dogs are then seen striving to be
first in the market place. A pretty,
ba1e-headed Walloon peasant girl,
moving briskly at the side of flower
cart drawn by a stalwart mastif1, Is
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
all 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 greater burden in 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 as o 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" L
have also seen him treading an endless
belt in the service of wood-sawyer.
A gentleman of Liege, retaining his
fondness for lounging upon the houle-
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 master'f
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 i'll harness
would have excited as much remark IL
this city as he would to-day in Louis
vile or Memphis, though he is now al
we'll recognized an institution of the
people as the mule is in either of those
cities.
Rigorous discipline and the long
habit of wearing muzzles seems to have
subdued the belligerent instincts OF
these dogs, for they now meet as strang'
crs Mt the crossings without those SUI
percilious inspections and hostile de
monstrations which characterize botl
men and dogs till they have received
the last touches of civilization. Their,
remains, however, IA rudimentary love
of the chase, of which the artful driver
often avails himself to quicken thoil
speed; though, rs Lord Chesterfield il
his excessive refinement is said TO have
laughed without cachinnation, they
have learned to hunt without barking
But more interesting incident o
their labor is the complete extinction
of the sheep-killing propensity. Gen
tlemen bred in the country assure IN,
that this offense against pastoral NOR
tality is no longer known in Belgium
a reformation which would in itseli
Justify the harnessing of all the dog
in America.
The expense of feeding them where
number are kept, or when placed
like horses, at livery is from five tC
six cents per day, horsehosh and blacl
bread forming the staple of their food
though here, as elsewhere, the main
tenance of one or two in family il
practically without cost The expense
of shoeing, no small item to the keeper
of horses, is also saved.
All the experiments of breeding
which have from time to time beer
tried for the improvement of horse
are now being made TO produce dog
of special fitness for harness. New
fouudlands and rough-coated St. Bern
ards are ruled ont on account of theil
long hair The mastift has been founC
too long in the back and legs, and j
is thought desideratum to graft tn,
splendid chest and breathing capacit!
Of the bulldog upon this stalwar
stock. Markets are established, wher,
they are bought and sold like thei
equine co-laborers at Tattersalps, ant
] Il 4Isr.. Fgr a,