Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
POINTS AS TO DOGS.
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
sHEEP-KILLIyG ANIMAL.
Day OF the Watcher Over-The FASH
fonsbIe Canine and His Traits
The Mastin-sOme Ancient and
Present superstitiOns.
Correspondence of the Dlspatch)

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
ALTON. VA. March z.-The Virginia
| Legislature accomplished other good
things the past session. besides posing for
the photographers, notably the bill In
hibIting the killing of cartridges, was
| much needed. and gives great satisfaction
1 10 country people. Though the coveys
| left are small and so few In numbers
that the little broods are known and
watched on some OF our farms. the re-
| prieve will give poor Bob White a
chance to extend his family name. while
| 1t relegates the reckless sportsmen back
to a less toothsome diet OF meat and
bread. However. the meat Is also en-
| daugered French folk have a way Of
| saying "revenous nos moritous" but
some day, not far distant. we may be
unable to follow this, literally, unless our
solons pass a dog-law. There are few
! weeks that the killing OF lambs by dogs
might not be chronlcled, and a single
| vicious dog OF a neighborhood has been
known to destroy over fifty sheep In u
| single season.
| The evidence of wise men shows US that
| nothing created lacks a mission, and I
| believe Plato points the truth In four
words: Whatever is. is right" II really
needs all the sustaining power Of opti-
| mlstic literature to find out why the
| sheep-killing dog was created. He belongs
| 10 the species that was blank-versed as
every dog has his day." and II our
| legislators would look at his mission in
the past tense sheep-raisers would re-
| ioice
| This particular dog has had entirely too
| many days fof good luck. / doubt II this
| may not also apply 10 other specimens OF
| the race. for 1t 10 a grave question
whether any or all o. the possible uses
| for dogs will offset the injuries that come
| from them. Before thieves and burglars
| became expert in handling polsons, a
| elias, Of CANNES were useful as watch
|! dogs. but that dog has had his day.
! though quite number are still kept
chained In back-yards to bay at the
moon.
SUPPOSED ECONOMIC VALUE.
When entire business-houses are given
over to dogs furnishings, suppose they
have an economic value in commerce. In
Weather classes dogs are given Turkish
baths they have their own soaps
brushes. and perfumes: sleep on eiderdown
cushions. and eat dainty food on fine SER
vice until the phrase treated like a dog
Is out or date. And so are many dogs
Fashions change in dogs kept for pets.
just as they change for every other within
The SPITE was formerly the favorite. then
the pug and the Scotch had each his day
The latest fad seems to be a cross be-
tween the three. and a kind OF composite
canine in temper. He Is steel In color and
constitution, and bit strong-mlnded as
becomes the pet OF the new mistress. I
saw him in Washington. tagged with his
price. slO-and left him there. Tobe
Quick. knew. had his twin brother--for
ugiiness-up here at his cabin on the
mountain. and would swap him any day
for plug OF tobacco or a hame-string
This new dog-star has a long, bull body,
squat legs, q coat as wiry as a clothes
brush, and no more manners than a pig
In q parlor. He may develop the high
bred caprices Of society dog In time.
but at present he doesn't care for fiattery
and caresses. and had rather nose around
a rat-hole than lie upon the softest cush-
ions. no matter how chic the bows.
There are dogs and dogs. Yet. how
ever. the wolf In him may crop out To
every dog, even TO the least little mongrei
cur, has been given the highest attribute
known to msn Tho II faithful 7 mistrust