The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-30

spectators cheeks. In some curious way
that abandoned old dog could suggest
holy martyrdOm combined with a desire
for social reform just when he liked
L remember seeing an old woman so
carried away by the dogs air of noble
patience that she gave old Billy six
pence and then CROPPED blindly in her
bag for biscuit for the dog. Whether
she was so overcome with emotion that
she didn't notice what she was doing
can't say, but instead of producing a
biscuit she handed the animal temper
ance tract entitled Shall 1 get Drunk
Tonight"
The dog rose to the occasion superbly.
10 be sure, when she CROPPED in her bag
there was a slightly worldly look in his
eye, Which reminded me of the expression
on PERSONS face when the plate Is be-
ing carried round; but when the tract
was produced the old missionary express
sion returned, and with glance at the
heading he carried it to his master and
wagged his tail
regret to add that as soon as the old
Woman's back was turned Alcibiades led
the way to a public house.
But when AIcibiades went through his
performance in a music hall his man
ners were quite different The look Of
noble resignation gave way to one Of
reckless and diabelical enjoyment. Thera
was a sly twinkle in his eye that sug-
gested comic songs with double mean
ngs, and he seemed to be on the point
Of telling yarn compared with which
French farce would be innocent and
pure.
am confident that if the abandoned
expression on that days face had onoa
caught the attention Of the county coun-
ell they would have refused to renew
the license of every hall where he an
peared.
Several years elapsed between the
breaking up Of cur provincial melodrama
ana my next encounter with Billy and
his dog. [ believe they rubbed along in
their usual fashion. When things wzre
very bad he was capable of abstra ctire5
piece OF meat from a butchers shop
and bringing it in triumph to BiIlv's
lodgings, His master would then era;eI,,
reproVe the dog and COOK the meat
once Billy sold him to a young dog
trainer, who thought Alcibiades would
exercise good moral influence over his
younger pupils. The price agreed upon
was 30 but within a week Billy bought
the old sinner back for 20 shillings the
reason being that Alcibiades not onIIy
obstinately refused to perform tricks Of
any KIND Tor stranger, but DISPLAYED
mis- annoyance at things in general nv
killing a valuable fox terrier.
came across them again at brighton
Billy and his dog were giving brief nov
formances on the beach. They both
locked little older, and a iitt1a wici,-
eder: Poor Billy was going down hin
rapidly. Strange as it may sound he
was man of high education. and had
cnce held a good appointment as master
In public school. The downfau had
been brought about by the usual cause
and now he had degenerated into a thor,
ough vagabond.
1t was rather a pittable spectacle IN
see the good-natured. weak old fellow
and his dog going through the same
tricks; Alcibiades looking as pious and
Tiglant as ever, but a little more ragged
and triAe stiff in the joints.
But 1t was here that AIc;biades mt tho
finishing touch to remarkable career
1t was a crowning stroke of dIpIonac,,
and sagacity for which at least tbros
people owe him an everlasting debt ~
gratitude "a
1t happened that at that time 7 uo-
working extremely hard to win tho oS
fections of a certain young woman Mr.
weighed me in the balance with a indiciaJ
exactness which was rather exasperatino
However, We had at least one con,roo,,
peculiarity-a profound respect for So
and when 1 told her of Alcibiades ond
his master, who were then performine
~ 49, - ~ LAzz at o., 60