The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-10
JUST PLAIN DINK.
Unpreteniious Name Of a Dog That
Earns $4,000 a Year.
Fearless and SagacIuus His Sensational
Dive From a DIZZY Height


Just plain Dink is the unpretentious
name OF this dog. He is common
mongrel, of shaggy hair and without
pride of ancestry. yet he is the greatest
performing dog In this country.
on the street he might be kicked
aside as an ordinary ugly, good-for-
nothing cur. yet this dog has earned
for the past two years $4,000 every
twelve-month. and will probably keep
on earning this amount for several
years 10 come.
How many men who have devoted
their entire lives to study receive the
same saiaryY How many college pro-
fessors earn $4,000 year? Yet this
animal simply through his fearlessness
ana sagacky earns more money than
some OF the most erudite OF the world.
Dink is at present playing al keith
new theater. lie is one OF a group OF
GOgs known as Herbert's dogs, AMI
while his canine friends on the stage
contribute something toward the
amusement of the audience, Dink can
nevertheless Almost be called the whole
show in himself. There is nothing
which he can not do. His versatility
is omething marvellous. He does all
sorts of somersaults, jumps through
hoops and over ropes, rolls barrel
across the stage. He also does cake
walk on the stage, keeping step TO the
music. and strutting on his hind feet
with the staggering self-consciousness
OF "A negro performer.
But the feat for which Dink is most
noted is his dive into net from
platform erected 80 feet above the
stage. a common step-ladaer leads
from the stage TO the platform, and this
he is requires to climb.
Step by step Dink ascends the lad
der like man, occasionally looking
down from the dizzy height. Finally
ne reaches the top and steps upon the
platform. Six stage hands are on the
stage holding a canvas net. The dog,
with more than human precision,
judges the angle at which he must
jump so as to land in the net, and at
word from his trainer, leaps into the
air.
AS he comes down he Gurns several
somersaults. During the few seconds
that elapse between the jump and the
lanuing in the net the house is so quiet
that a pin couId almost be heard 10
drop. Ii seems as If the animal would
surely be dashed to pieces on the stage.
When, finally, he lands safely in the
net a sigh of relief is heard all over the
house
The distance between the net and the
ladder must be judged by the animal
with exactness. He must jump at the
proper angle or IL is death.
I Dink could not be bought from his
trainer tor any amount OF money. Man
and dog are attached TO each other TO
such an extent that one has almost be-
came part OF the life of the other. They
are ! lie two inseparable friends, always
in each others company.
The dog is just as intelligent on as Oh
the stage. He seems to understand
everything said TO him. lie is but three
| and half years old and has been on
the stage for two years.
His breed is "a mystery. but he seems
to be a mixture between a Yorkshire
and French poodle. He knows no fear.
vet he never engages in "A street brawl
with other dogs. He seems To thorough
ly realize his position as the greatest
performing dog, and lives up To IL. he
treats his canine contemporaries with
the most supercilious scorn. and his
vanity is only equalled by his faithful
ness 10 his master. For him he will do
nything.
He will bring Mr.. Herberts shoes 20
his bed in the morning, carry home
small basket or "A newspaper. and VIII
not disdain To chase "A cat out OF the
back yard. But he will only do this for
his master. Any one else's orders he
treats with the utmost contempt.
Dogs who have not risen to the dig
nifty of "A performer he will not even
recognize They are entirely beneath
his notice. Performing dogs he will
occasionally play with. but with the
most patronizing of airs.
Like all great artists, Dink has his
various moods and tempers. When he
Is sulky and angry the only thing To do
Is to let him retire by himself until he
gets over them. There is no use argu-
ing with him, for when he says no he
means 1t.
II is seldom. however that Dink is
ANYTHING but good-natured and tie
cheerful eagerness with which he seems
To anticipate everything that is expect
ed of him on the stage as well as the
keen enjoyment ne appears 10 take in
his work, Is one Of the things most
quickly noted by the audience.
Dnks associates include the most re-
markable jumping greyhounds ProIi-
dence has seen; but. wonderful as IL
their work. cunning and cute" as
are the tricks OF the poodles and others
Of high and low degree I'm the troupe
there is. after all only one Dink; and
TO see him alone IS to see tho most re-
marl<nble dog show now before the
public.