The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-06
TRAM DOG BECOMES A STAR.
Joined a Show Troupe of His Own Accord and Just Delights in
 Learning New Tricks.

Washington Star.
 T guess. he Is just like Topsy-'Never | had any father and mother, pvt just growed.' At least, his birth, past life and ! his coming into the show are as myste-
 rtous as his present acts in the ring are The above remarks were made by MT. Gentry. and the conversation had turned to a beautiful white collie dog that was being rehearsed by the ring master My frst acquaintance with Ellis. as we have named him." continued MT. Gen. | try, was three years ago, while our show was touring the South. l remember 1t that walked out on the platform of my car and there huddled up against the door. lay a white dog or what appeared to be a white dog, for he was so muddy and dirty that one could hardly tell his exact color. Upon my appearance he ran
 away and disappeared under a neighbor- ing box car.
 "Thinking he was a town dog belong ing to some resident, I thought no more about the matter. and did not see him again until several days later, when again found him asleep in the same place as before.
 I've were then several hundred miles from where l had seen him the first
 time. and I questioned my dug keeper concerning the mysterious visitor. but learned nothing except that he had been seen eating with the other dogs. but al- ways ran away when approached. T determined to learn more of our tramp QOS, so the next HlOTItnS dToSc very early and made a thorough search l of the train. Away back in the corner | of the car. hidden from view by a num- Der of empty boxes, I discovered his q called to him. and you never saw | such a happy dog in all your life. He | jumped into my arms. licked my hands. and from that moment we were friends. Tt was then that I noticed the bright, intelligent look in his eyes and his af- fectionate disposition. so l decided to give him a horne with the otser dogs. First I had him carefully washed then clipped and before many days he seemed perfectly contented, and acted like real
 His affectionate disposition and his
 natural love for horses made Linn an easy
 him at once.
 The first task I gave him was what we call tipping the a barrels This is dogs. but Ellis worked so cheerfully that it required only two months to complete the act and prepare him for the regular ance he received a warm reception from the audience, and his work was as per-
 feet then as it is today.
 Tt was not until the following year. term hand training This was when taught him his wonderful bareback riding act, and no doubt the most difficult ever accdmplished by any dog:
 
 that Ellis and l worked together in the training room, but never during the six months hard work did he ever refuse to obey my commands. know that he went to bed many nights stiff and sore from hard work and many falls he re- ceived during the day but he was all
 ways ready and willing for his work again early in the morning. After had him thoroughly broken let him rest for two weeks, and then put him in the reg ular program.
 Since that time he has performed in almost every city in the United States. Ask any child you meet and they will tell you that they have either seen Ellis or heard of his wonderful acts. though none of them knows the true story of his life, for this is the first time I have re- lated it."