The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-25
H u M P H R { VS.

greyhound fashionable as a house dog
though ancently ii was the common COM
panion and pet of princes and mobiles. But
Prince Albert, Sir Waiter Scott and Land
seer together created the taste for Scotch
dogs as household pets, which has lasted
till to-day. Sir Walter glorifed the deer
hound ana the Dand:e Dinmont. But
Landseer, in THE Shepherds Chief
Mourner," and other Scotch pictures, Gre
ated the sentiment which first introduced
the collie TO the notice of classes
above those of the shepherd and northern
farmer. The Queen herself became an
owner of collies, and from the companions
of shepherds they became the inmates of
palaces. And still foreign dogs had not
encroached on the ancient breeds Their
first appearance was due mainly TO senti-
meut, which brought us three breeds of
undoubted worth, the Newfoundland, the
ST. Bernard and the Labrador dog, which
developed into the modern retriever The
Newfoundlands and Labrador dogs were
introduced incidentally during the long
years of search for Franklin and his lost
crew. The size and beauty of the New
foundland became known by report, while
the smaller Labrador breed were so clever
and useful that they were constantly made
pets of by the sailors on successive ex-
petitions when returning from the Arctic
seas by the northeastern coasts of North
America.
Landseer set the seal on the popularity
of the Newfoundland by his picture en-
titled "A Member of the Humane Soce-
ty" This makes the third breed "estab-
lished' as favorites by his brush, for the
deerhound like the collie. was mainly
known to England by his Highland pic
lures. The St. Bernard succeeded, and
has eclipsed the Newfoundland 1t has
every claim to admiration, except useful
ness, for though as guide and carrier in
the snow it is unsurpassed, these emergen-
cies do not occur in the land of its adop-
ton; and being, like the Thibetan mastiff,
a dog of the mountains and snow, it can
not be expected to distinguish itself in the
water like the Newfoundland. Later the
list of foreign dogs esta blished in this
country has been swelled by an ever-in-
creasing immigration of breeds, some good,
some interesting, some neither the one
nor the other, some of very doubtful char
acter and antecedents, and all differing
from the indigenous dogs in that they are
without occupation or visible means Of
subsistence" They are all either pets or
snow dogs
Poodles came into favor after the Grim
can war and the French alliance among
the classes who were equally familiar with
London and Paris, but they did not be-
come a ''craze'' among fashionable people
until recent years. and are already giving
place to less desirable animals. The en-
gaging little Dachshund marked the infiu-
ence of German successes after the war
of 1870. He has endeared himself every
where and has come to stay, though
he is useless except as an indoor watch
dog. The Great Dane, originally a boar
hound and the largest of the smooth-skln-
ned dogs was also a German innovation.
No one but fanciers-one of the most sue
cessful being a lady-keeps these dogs
but thew occupy a considerable space on
the show benches. Unless perfectly good
tempered they are not safe animals 10
keen. The little Spitz dog and black Schip-
nerkes are a continental fancy, imported
by smart people, generally ladies.
The spitz was always a equality dog
One sees him in old Dutch paintings or
wealthy burghers' houses. The Schip-
ner<e was a bargee's watch, and remains
what he was on the Dutch canaipoats'
noisy. yapping, restless, and excltaDle. our
roval family, through its Russian conhec-
ton has recently been responsible for
e. NV breed. the white Russian wolf
bound or Borzoi dog. The Princess OF
IUoIas owns some of the finest in the
,o,,ntr1, hut we venture to doubt whether
+ba, are as beautiful or as intelligent as
the Scotch deerhound. But at the pres
ont date the predominant ana most Idsn-
ionable breed is the Chinese OF Mohsolla'l
cbow dog II is apparently the ideal an
;maI of the hour and is popular among
al classes. We wonder why? Possibly
bacause the civilized world is tired OF the
hieb-bred and domesticated breeds, ana
nrefers to try it's hand in demonstrating
tbe dog of savage man. For this is what
tbe chow is by form and inheritance, and
n would be unfair to expect from 1t the
Qualities of complete domestication. In
Torthern China he has been bred for CEN
tnries for axe of his skin. The least
sentimental Of humanity, the Chinese kills
his dogs when young, skins them, and eats
them. He keeps dog farms for the pur-
nose The coat being fine and glossy, the
creature has been partly domesticated in
some districts. but retains many traces be-
sides the sharp muzzle, rough, reddish
yellow coat. and curled tail of its savage
ancestors. It is most uncertain in tenn
ner disobedient, and liable to fits of saw
aeeness It has almost none of the re-
nose of our good English breeds. 1t has
also an inveterate survival Of old habits,
the nropensity to attack domestic animals.
DIED OF PERITONITIs.