The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17
DOGS AND CARRIAGES.
An Affinity Between Dogs and the
Affairs of the Stable.
From the London Spectator.

From the London Spectator.
A London coachman, who for years had
charge of a large and beautiful stable of
superb carriage horses, told the writer
that a carriage dog owned by his master
invariably ran beneath the pole chains
the moment the carriage started, and
would make the circuit of the park several
times without moving more than few
inches from his place. the three animals
two horses and the dog-moving like a
machine. Curiously enough, the dog chose
his particular horse to live and sleep with
In the stable; when travelling and In inn
stables, it mounted guard over this horse $
box, and would allow no strange hostler
or groom to approach it,
Greyhounds also learn TO run with traps.
II was the custom for sporting farmers
in East Anglia to drive to market with a
pair of these dogs, either running with
their heads Just beneath the tail-board, or
one on either side of the cart Their pace
was a trot, step for step with the horse
The use of carts and carriages for loco
motion is much more readily learned Dy
dogs than the art of keeping safe among
being driven to the shooting ground. When
accustomed to this they will jump the mo-
ment the tailboard Is lowered and curl
up under the seat, and show great dis
content if not offered place. But nearly
all are eingularly dull at devising any
means for safe descent when the drive Is
over They usually make a violent spring
Ia the ground often when the cart has
scarcely stopped, and fractured 1orelegs
are a frequent result.
Trains present far less difficulty 10 them.
Though occasionally afraid or the rush
and noise of the cars, they soon learn to
delight in travelling by rail-lt allowed 20
accompany their masters. They rush IN
the moment the door Is opened, ana some
dogs, notably those which are accustomed
Ia comfortable drawing rooms and soft
carpets. will always select a first-class
carriage In preference TO wooden-seated
"third" But though they have learned to
reckon with the speed of a carriage, and
become so fond of railway travelling that
"railway dogs" who travel by choice, and
alone are quite common-there is "Ryde
TO Portsmouth" dog too, which travel by
boat and begs pennies for buns--no dog
and we believe, no domesticated animal,
has ever learned to judge the speed Of a
train. When once on the line, they seem,
IN this country, quite unconscious OF dan
ger. II the train Is moving at the rate Of
from FIVE to Twelve miles an hour, they
get out OF the way; but pack Of hounds
on railway line, even II they are not In
full cry are always cut to pieces by the
first fast train which overtakes them. The
first thing which the driver does when he
sees them is to shut Off steam. This
makes the engine nolseless. but the whole
train rushes on, plainly visible, but with
absolutely no terror for hounds, who
seem TO look on the swift silent thing as
perfectly harmless. II II we're a corn wa
gon or a putting traction engine, they
would get out Of the way.
When the short line OF railway was
made across the neck OF the Dobrudscha
In Turkey, from Kustendi to the Danube,
the Turks were almost as stupid. They
seem unable to realize that the train
would not stop, and would drive their
sheep a.ong the line, and one man endea-
vored to stop a runaway truck by put
ting his foot on the rail.