The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-10
MISCELLANY.
A Canine Summer Resort.


Up on the western side is an odd
summer resort. 1t is an establishment
conducted exclusively for the enter
tainment and recreation of dogs whose
masters and mistresses are abroad or
are summering at remote points in this
country. Here all sorts and conditions
of dogs are gathered. There are dogs
whose pedigrees stretch far down the
vistas of canine genealogy and pups of
ambiguous breeding but ass ured posi-
ton in the esteem of their owners /;
great dogs and small doge, short dogs
and long dogs, ugly tempered brutes of
incisive teeth and constant growls, and
frolicsome fellows of immutable good
humor. 1t is sort Of canine democ-
racy wherein dogs of high and low de-
gree fraternize. Some of them belong
to prominent politicians; many belong
10 particularly conspicuous pillars of
the social structure, and few are the
property of members of Uncle SANS
fighting forces.
From an architectural point of view
the summer resort for dogs is not beau
tiful. 1t consists of number of small
enclosure several feet below the sur
face of the street. Long stretches of
denuded ground intervene between the
buildings and contribute an clement Of
desolaton. Three or four peach trees
surrounded by tall picket fences are
the only ornaments the place boasts.
The host is an Irishman, who has
been occupied with the care of thor
oughbTed pups for thirty.fve years.
He is well known to bench show COM
petitors and the intimate of many lights
in the sporting world. He enjoys a
high reputation for his proficiency in
dogcraft, and is recognized authority
on the English bull terrier and other
dogs of foreign birth and culture. His
conversational gifts are ample, and he
delights to expatiate upon the points
and merits of his most important board
ers.
To reach the resort you decend
steep flight of stairs and pass through a
number of gates which guard against
surreptitious excursions by the inmates
and lead to one of the stretches of de-
nuded ground. Here food of white
puppies come surging about your feet
TO worry your boots with all the affect.
ed ferocity of adolescent doghood and
to plead for attention and pats. The
first of the small buildings exhibited
by the host is long and low and as
clean as a new pin. 1t is also most
carefully guarded, for within are the
star boarders, all English bull terriers
of noble birth, each lolling upon fresh
bed in his or her compartment. They
have heard the rattle of the key within
the lock, so when the door swings
back there is a long, unbroken row of
bright eyes glistening with inquiry and
expectation.
''This is Billie" begins the host,
stocking the sleek head of the nearest
terrier who favors the visitor with
ncn-committal stare. you've read of
him most thousand times, and seen
his pictures in the newspapers, 100,
I'll wager year cut o. life"
The possibility of both is admitted,
but present ignorance as TO the identity
of Billie is confessed.
"Why, Billie, TO be sure, is a Demo
Graf and Tammany pup at that" re-
turns the host. DOESN'T that give you
the hint?"
To all appearances Billie possesses
much of that tenacily of purpose as
cribed TO fellow members of the organ
ization, but he is still mystery.
"ro be plain, them" continues the
host, "'Billie' is Richard Croker's ia.
nous pet-him that is called the Boss
by some, you know. He is a beauty,
too, isn't he? Small, very black eyes
ard black nose. Look at the lines of
his head-this breast of his All, 'tis
a good dog, is Billie and most highly
does the Boss esteem him. Just be-
fore he left for England he turned
Billie over to me with many injunc-
tions as to the good fellows welfare.
But have had Billie here before. In
fact, Mr.. Croker always provides for
his dogs this way when he goes abroad"
A low whine of dissatisfaction at the
exclusiveness of the attentions bestow-
ed on Mr.. Cookers pet comes from a
dog at the other end of the star board
ers' kennel. The host glances up
quickly.
You jealous rogue" he cries, bring.
ing the dog out for closer inspection
"He doesn't like to see the petting mo-
nopolized unless lie is the recipient,
and then tits well enough, for this is a
terrier used to great deal of favor and
notice. You've heard of him, too.
His name is Ki-Yi, and he belongs to
Willie Tiffany of Gel. TEDDY Roose-
velt's famous rough riders. I've had
him as guest ever since Mr. Tiffany
marched away to thump them jabbei-
ing Spaniards, and it's mighty proud l
am TO have The dog of such brave and
fearless man as Mr.. Tiffany. God pre-
serve himl
"Let me show you famous pair of
chums," says he, shutting up the star
boarders' kennel and crossing another
stretch of denuded ground. Here a
giant mastff and fat little cocker
spaniel are rolling and tumbling in mad
frolic.
"The mast if has an indirect connec-
ton with the army, too" asserts the
host, with a consequential air bern of a
sense of the importance of his trust.
"His name is Alert, a..d his owner is
Captain Dwyer II he Twelfth Regi-
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