The Meeker herald., 1905-12-09
LAP DOCS;
How They Have Figured In History and
Now They Are Made.

| LAP DOGS;
How They Havs Figured IN History and
| HOW They Are Made.
The making of new kinds of dogs has
been a profitable industry since remot-
est history, and promises. especially
| in the case of lap dogs, to 60 on for
ever.
The --latest thing in lap dogs" has
been very clearly defined ever since
the days of the Greeks and Romans I'm
Europe and from much earlier period
in Europe.
In the sepulchral halls Of the grent
pyramids sculptures have been found
in which small species OF elegant
greyhound is seen following members
| of the royal family. Both are chiselled
in the stiff zone foot in front Of the
other" style of old Egypt, but the dog
| is Enthusiastically special artificin
breed just as much as a modern dnchs-
hund.
China evolved her Pekinese spaniel
| in her progressive days. some 5000
years ago. Chinese inertia has pre-
served the breed unchanged to this
day in the regal palaces of the Elm
press. When the Summer palace in
Pekin was searched in 1850 by Euro
pean troops six specimens were found.
| These dogs. whose unbroken ancestry
is older than any royal family, even
that of the Empress. were found upon
! silken pillows. each in Its own special
apartment. Each had special retinue
,,fn Of who bn1 nnd
or nil the lap dogs of Europe and
America, perhaps the first 10 he mem
toned is the Maltese dog" or Maltese
terrier" MS it was once called. This
silky little toy of creature Is said
to have been originated in the town
of Melitn. In Sicily. whence 1t was ex-
ported to Rome and Athens IL their
days of greatness.
Strobe. the histOiian describes them
as mot bigger than common ferrets or
wensels yet they are not small in I'M
Outstanding nor unstable in their love"
| From the first century until the nine
! teenth the Maltese dog was only heard
| from occasionally. but that 1t retained
Its individuality and feminine favor
are shown by Its description eighty
years ngo in the European Magazine
ns ''pnmpercd creature wnddling and
wheeling its pampered way after It's
fashionable mistress
| In the eIghteen-sxties new and Sill
perior breeds of dogs appeared ms
rivals of the Maltese, who rapidly lost
his supremacy. Dog shows gave great
impetus TO Improvement and variety OF
the little CANNES. III the efforts of
their breeders to hold their place the
Maltese was reduced to five pounds in
adult weight
| 1t Is said that one of these little anil
mails could be placed in a lady's glove.
This apparently ungallant Inference
to the size of feminine hands of the
time is explained by the assumption
that the glove" was hawking gannt.
let with sleeves reaching almost to the
shoulders.
| The pocket beagle enjoys popularity
so-dNy among many women. M
Anne of Denmark and Mary OK Mo
denu, two Queen consorts of the Stu
arts. both -fnncied'' Italian grey
hounds and in the well-known painting
by Ward, II. a., OF James H.. hearing
OF the landing OF William of Orange
an Italian hound shifts suspiciOusly a:
the messenger. while court lady CT
tertains the infant Prince of Wales
with King CHARLES spaniel pup.
At one time, not so long ago. it was
so fashionable and sought after that
an attempt was made to improve OH
nature by interviewing the Italian
greyhound with the toy terrier. hui
with most lamentabie results: and II
was with the greatest difficulty and
patience that the i'll effects of the mes
alliance were overcome. and the breed
purified by the infusion Of fresh blood
from Its native Italy, until it once more
displayed those true traits and tina
exquisite grace which makes this
fragile little creature so admired by
ladies' OF taste and refinement.
There arc doubtless several new
types in formation mt this time under
the careful experiments Of breeders
Each one should have its day of popu.
larlty and high prices to be succeeded
by n later canine freak.
Eainforrln~ Hia Exnt.untfnp