Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28

DOGS IN SOCIETY COLLECIlNP
PITAL, OF
According to the plans made, the dog
clrcuses, with which the United King
dom is familiar. will be completely out
done. Mrs. ANingham is in daily re-
ceipt OF many offers from owners or
clever canines rendering the services OF
their pets. Thus far more than one
thousand dogs, III capable Of performing
various tricks. have been placed on the
eiigible list II is intended TO utilize as
many Of these as possible These enter
tainments. while they VIII first be given
I'm London are not to be confined TO this
city. but VII be held al over the United
Kingdom. patronesses being selected for
them, as for any public affair when so
ciety endorses Regular programmes
will be outlined and the dogs viii solicit
contributions from those who attend
The first OF these entertainments was
given a few days ago at the residence Of
Mrs Henry Maioribanks. in the West
End Mrs. Majoribanks Is one Of the
London social leaders and her home was
thronged with guests to see this, the
most novel performance Of the sort
which London has seen. The receipts.
all Of which were given individually 10
canine solicitors. reached a total Of 10
los Sd. The scene at Mrs. Majori-
Dalkt nome was bttduSrs WHY
the hostess acted in a way as mistress
Of ceremonies, every action that could
be left TO the dogs was executed by them.
The company present gathered in
the ballroom of the Maioribanks resi-
dence at one end of which a miniature
stage had been erected. An orchestra
had been secured. and the overture was
played just as well as IF II had occurred
in Her Majestys Theatre. only in lesser
degree. Following this. a huge St.
Bernard marched solemny out from the
wings. and barked what was charitahy
supposed to be an announcement of what
the programme would contain. At the
conclusion OF his speech the big dog sat
upright for half a moment. in place of
the customary bow, and then retired.
barking gleefully in response to the APP
pause.
The first performer was a Skye-terrier,
belonging to IL. c. Williams. of Grosvenor
Square. She trotted to the front Of the
stage. sat up primly for a moment, sur
veying the audience, and then, Selling
her tail in her mouth-and every ona
knows how diminutve a Skye-terrier'S
tail is-enacted the part OF the wirllgig.
until the onlookers' heads were fairly dir
zy/ Next came French poodle. with
barrel. which he proceeded 20 roll back
and forth across the stage, with his front
and rolled it along while turning solemnly
about He rolled himself into the wings
and out Of sight without leaving his perch
At this point the big master of ceremo-
mics again issued from the wings ano
barked a mysterious announcement TO the
audience. Following this. a curious pro-
cession issued from behind the curtains
at one side of the stage, led by the st.
Bernard. The procession which followed
the big canine. and marched In single file,
consisted OF the Skye-terrier. the French
poodle, and several other dogs OF high
degree. The audience had been arranged
In a semi-circle. leaving considerable
space I'm front OF the stage. Into this
space marched the procession Then II
was observed that one dog held plate in
its mouth, another one Of those silken
bags, somewhat resembling that familiar
article which, placed at the end of a rod,
sometimes serves n place OF the plate In
taking the collection in church. Solemnly
the dogs ranged themselves about the
space which they occupied, and In Gig
nified manner each executed a pas seul
-Four OF the dogs held In their mouths
the articles mentioned In the preceding
paragraph aud while the four whose
mouths contained nothing performed
clever tricks. the first four on their hind
legs walked about among the spectators.
stopping as near as possible in front OF
each one, making mute appeals, which in
variably brought responses. Pounds, shiI-
lings. and pence were showered into the
receptacles the dogs held tightly I'm their
mouths and the shouts OF laughter that
greeted their remarkable performance
seemed In no whit 30 disturb the canine
charity workers. AZ given signal. the
-FOUR dogs marched 10 taale that stood