Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-02
HUMAN POODLES OF EUROPE.
Tolerated by Husbands Who do not
Like to be Bored.

Poodle is the name given on yonder
side of the water to what is sometimes
here described as the tame cat'' of an
establishment-that is, the only recog-
nized admirer of the lady of the house,
whose devotion to her is tolerated
alike by husband and by society be-
cause it is known to be harmless and
been imported into England from the
continent, where the admirer in ques-
ton is known as the "cavaliere ser
vente,' and today in Great Britain, as
everywhere on the mainland of Europe,
all women with any pretension to fash
ion and to society have their human
pOOdles.
Poodles of this kind seldom, if ever,
figure in the divorce court. The women
regard them as all very we'll to fetch
and carry for them, to act as their
escort, to entertain them, to give them
flowers, ETC., but they would never
dream of compromising themselves
for the sake of a poodle. The poodle
is usually a single man, with enough
leisure. His poodledom furnishes him
with a nice house, where he feels at
home, and where he can go without
any formal invitation, no matter
whether it is in town or in the country.
Single men get dreadfully tired of
mems society and find great relief in
that of a pretty, brilliant, witty wo-
man.
Besides, it is so very convenient for
the husband The poodle saves him
no end of trouble, acts as his wifes
escort everywhere and serves as a sort
of lightning conductor for all i'll hui
mors. In fact, today poodledom has
become such a recognized social in
stitution in Europe that it is only the
evil-minded and the people without
any experience of the world who see
any harm in it.
Nothing is more amusing than }
watch the attitude of the husband to-
ward the wife's poodle. His manner
is characterized by a sort of mingled
condescension, patronage, just touch
Of contempt, and dash of gr7ttLde.
the woman bearing his name without
all those little attentions of which a
fashionable woman stands in need,
and yet which he would consider a
bore if obliged himself to furnish
them.
A woman makes a mistake if she
chooses a poodle who is more brilliant
or distinguished than her husband,
and is particularly blameworthy if she
selects one who is richer than the man
whose name she bears. 1t is only cases
of this kind that excite talk. No
stones would have been cast at Mrs.
Cthe "Violet Fame" Of lit
erature) had she not chosen as her
poodle a man such as Lord Currie,
who was so much more wealthy and
brilliant than poor, dull, insignifi-
cant Mr.. Singleton. And in the same
way the present duchess of Devon
shire, while still duchess Of Man
chester, was the object Of much SANDER
owing to the circumstance that her
preux chevalier, Lord Harrington (now
duke Of Devonshire), was SO much
more clever and well to do than the
late duke of Manchester. That the two
ladies were entirely innocent Of any
real wrong-doing is, however, shown
by the fact that both are frequent
visitors of the queen at Windsor
castle, and that while one-nameiy
the duchess of Devonshire-is the wife
of a cabinet minister the other is Brit
ish ambaSsadreSs at Rome.
No one ever hears anything Of the
poodles Of the young duchess of
Sutherland, of Lady Dudley, Of Lady
Wolverton, Of the young duchess of
Bedford, of the duchess of Portland, Of
the marchioness of Cranky, yet they
all have their poodles, only they have
the tact and SAVIOR fair to choose for
fhe purpose men more Insignificant in
every respect than their husbands.
That is why their names remain ig
nored by the general public, although
they are, of course, sufficiently well
known to society itself to render it a
breach Of good manners to invite a
great lady to any entertainment with
out at the same time asking her
poodle.