The Washington times., 1902-12-13
Dogs and Children.


is a book addressed, as the author ex-
presses it. Ito all who love children and
dogs" The author. whose Tommy
Anne" and other books have made her
name known as a writer OF Juvenile lit
erature is a devoted lover OF dogs. and
the four-footed characters in this book
are simply delightful There is a most
interesting beagle family known as
"Waddles." Mrs WaddIes," and Jack
and Jill;" there is the big dog Lumber
legs and the French poodle Hamlet, "
and there are many other dogs Of vari-
Gus breeds and sizes, belonging TO the
residents Of a suburban town which.
from the size Of its canine population,
receives the name OF "Dogtown." Tom
my-Anne, now known as Anne, reappears
in this story as a tall girl Of sixteen.
with a small brother. Tommy. who has
taken the first half Of her baby name
away from her. and there are other
interesting human characters. though
they are rather cast in the shade by
the quadrupeds.
The readers OF this book are likely to
know more about the ways Of dogs when
they have finished it than they ever did
before. unless they are familiar with the
animals and unusually observant into
the bargain. Mrs. Wright has evidently
Incorporated in It much material gained
from actual observation Of her own pets.
This includes pictures. for the illustra-
tions are obviously from photographs of
real dogs, and they hint at many good
times in the home whence the stories
come. There are no extraordinary dog
anecdotes in this book, nothing that is
at all uncommon among intelligent dogs.
but the knowing ways Of almost any pet
animal which is considerably treated
are interesting to other owners Of pets
bit OF description midway in the book
is rather amusing. 1t concerns Jack
and Jill. the puppies.
'In the early morning. before the sun
had crept around the apple tree, the
doorway 10 the burrow, with their moth
er lying on the grass nearby. The two
places were not equally good. as from
one side the entire length OF the path
from the gate. as well as the garden and
stable. could be seen at a glance. while
from the other they could only see one
way at time without much neck twist
ing
"Jill nearly always managed to Sc
cure the best place and II Jack happen
ed TO get there in advance OF her she
resorted to vari,as tactics to dislodge
him. First she wclld amble down the
walk with an eager expression on her
face. and give a bark OF two as II at an
intruder. II this did not bring Jack out.
she would sniff a1 the ground and then
begin to dig frantieally, giving the most
Iudicrous growls the while.
Jacks curiosity usually overcame
him at this point. for toad hunting was
one OF the twins favorite sports. and
he never tired OF digging out a fat old
patriarch with a spotted hide who lived
under a stone by the pump. and making
nm uOp-ubp-AD until Ac itAuStu 10
bulge another step and fattened him
self obstinately In the dirt. when he
was allowed to go home and rest for
the next days excursion, and, strange
to say. the toad rather seemed to like
the performance.
If both these lures failed Jill would
resort to force by sitting squarely ON
top OF her brother Soon he would move
a little in order 10 breathe more freely
or stretch his legs. AS soon as he stir
red. Jill settled more heavily until she
was wedged between her brother and
the stone side OF the burrow. then one
determined push settled the matter. aud
he would roll over. look at her rue
fully, stretch himself, and take the sec
ond best place"
There Is no plot to the book. TO
speak OF. but there is an absurdly
funny chapter about dogs rea party
which was not in the least like Mr..
Harry Lehr's Newport dinners TO pet
monkeys. and there is a bit OF TO
nance toward the last. II is pleasant,
out t-of-door book likely TO afford It's
readers much innocent enjoyment. New
York: The Macmillan Company