The record-union., 1896-11-04
TRUE STORIES OF DOGS.
Many Instances Of Devotion in Dumb
BruteS.
HOW Truro Won Pension for Guard
ing His Dead Masters Sheep
Dogs Tried for rlurder.

In the long, long struggle for exist
ence that has lasted through the ages,
selflshness has become a marked char
acteristic of the human race. 1t is
found as an alloy even in some of the
most beautiful stories of love and
friendship that are handed down to us,
ringing in our hearts like the sweet old
songs we heard in childhood. Not among
men or women must we look for the
type of devotion IN which there is no
egotism; but in history, in the fiction of
life, there stands against the dark
background of aff1iction the humble fig
ure of mans true and only unself1sh
friend-the dog. Not romantic fig
ure this, though oft-times an heroic
one.
When sorrow comes to the rich man
there are many who sympathize With
him; he has much to give. When sorrow
comes to the poor man there still may
be a few to feel for him; he has yet
something to bestow which one or more
may value. But when the outcast of
society suffers, who is 1t that does not
look upon his sodden face askant and
say, however kindly, 'he brought 1t on
himself" Is there a single creature
who watches this pariah IN his drunken
sleep, with unchanged love, who never
criticises, who Identifies himself so
thoroughly with the object of his affec-
ton that he cannot know disgust?
There is one-his dog.
Little is said or sung of the heroes of
the canine race. Man can spare them
little thought and less return foY their
love; but a few lonely, shaggy figures
stand out on the pages of history, dogs
whose deeds We're remarkable enough to
find place beside those of their masters,
the lords of the world.
At the session of the Legislature Of
New Mexico, held in the year 1879, a
pension for life was granted to dog
belonging to the Territory. The AMI
mails story excited much interest at the
time; but the nine days allotted for II
10 run in the minds of men have long
since passed away, and even the hero
name is forgotten. We will resurrect
the story, and, since better may not be,
manufacture a name. We will call him
Truro.
THE STORY OF TRURO.
Truro's master was a sheep-rancher,
living far away from civilization, in the
hill country of New Mexico, where long
marches are required to take stock to
water The foot of man seldom pressed
the grass on which graZed the wild
eyed f1ocks; the nearest neighbor was
unnumbered miles away, and the shep-
herd dwelt alone with his faithful doe
for many years in content.
At last one day, being too Ill to sc
out with the sheep. he called Truro ano
ordered him to conduct his charges tt
pasture The intelligent animal did as
he was bid watching by them through
the day, and driving them home a
night as his master was wont TO DO
Having safely discharged this duty anc
penned up the flock, poor Truro rar
eagerly into the room where his be-
loved owner lay. The man did not an
swer the greeting bark of his faithfu
follower; the hand that the dog Hckec
affectionately was cold, Alone in tht
wilderness a soul had gone out into The
great unknown. Truro'S heart was
with his lost master but he remembered
in the midst of his grief that the dear
hand that could no longer caress hin
had pointed out the flock of sheep tt
him that day, and had given him
charge TO keep. Let him who love!
ire. follow me-" and the dumb FRIEND
walked in the footsteps that he loved
most faithfully.
For three days the dog went withou
food: but on the evening OF the thirc
6av. as he drove the flock into the pen
the last sheep to enter served him fol
rations Thus TO provide for his necessl
ties became part of his daily duty. IL
the morning he drove the flock to th'
best pasture and watched them Whil'
they cropped the hillsides all day; whel
the shades of evening began to gathe
he conducted them home, deyoured hi
supper Of mutton, and then lay doWi
tefore the gate OF the pen 70 ward of
danger during the hours of darkness
This continued for two years, and II
the meantime the flock increased il
numbers When the ranch was finall!
visited the sheep were found in fin
condition; the date Of the rancher'
death was ascertained by papers fount
on the body and Truro was rewarded
as stated above.
THE SOLDIER DOG OF FRANCE.
Moustache, known as the soldier dot
OF France" was a war-Worn veteran
OF considerable notoriety. Thrown ol
his own resources early in life, at tn
age of six months, In fact, ana havint
a taste for a military career, he joined
q company Of grenadiers and went owe
the Alps with the French army Will
Trey were encamped on the hight
above Alexandretta. Moustache. by hi
vigilance, saved his command from
su prise by the Austrians For thi
fidelity he was rewarded by being regu
Iarly placed on the roll of the regi
raent. receiving the same rations as tn
ofker soldiers per diem.
This canine grenadier did not pas
through the war unscratched He los
. nav at Auterlltz, and won a few NOR
honorable scars. The Emperor present
ed him with a collar and a medal huns
round his neck by a blue ribbon, bot
of which decorations bore an inscrip
tion telling of his name and courage
4 little tombstone was erected TO hi
memory. with the legend, Here lie
the brave Moustache."
Another brilliant illustration Of tn
fidelity OF his race was the dog at tn
Court Of Charles V. Of France, VIII
avenged his masters murder. Their
were two young men of high social po