The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-10-11
Concentration of Thought

w ilhluSOH udu WlIltCii ubl SlA lth'o
Of his essay on "Consecration of
Thought" when a dog began to howl,
Wilkinson didn't know what dog 1t
was that howled. 1t wasn't easy to
specify dogs in the Wendoyer. The
Wendover sheltered "a families, each Of
which owned dog, and none but an
expert could differentiate the various
canine war cries.
But whatever dog 1t was, he had
practiced in bowling. H. voice was
well trained and not likely to give out
soon. He began on kind of dog pi-
anissimo, which to the human ear is
fortissimo; then, with expressive
crescendo and staccato movements, the
volume Of tone swelled rapidly till
the Wendover airshaft and the ad-
Joining rooms were alive with barks
and yells.
Wilkinson tried to reason away the
revelry of sound by Christian Science
methods. He fixed his eyes on space,
as represented by the window curtains,
and said, with grave emphasis:
There is no dog" Another frantic
howl, following close upon this asser-
ton, made Wilkinsons major pre-
mise seem rather shaky.
''The dog does not howl" be amend,
dog howl"
Another series Of yelps convinced
him that even this concession was So
phism.
THE dog does howl" he said, and
Internally loud, too, and I'm going to
stop im!"
Wilkinson darted out of his own
apartment and went first to the part
ment above.
us ! lat your dog making all that
racket" he demanded of the white,
aproned maid.
The maid was properly indignant,
"Of course not" she said. "'E's asleep
in is basket. e amt opened Is 'ead
to-day, except to eat an then e didn't
make no noise about hit-not arr so
much noise as some folks makes wen
they goes about pryin' into other peo
pies business
Wilkinson made his next inquiry at
the door Of the apartment beneath his
own. The maid said the dog was
not theirs. Their dog was likewise
asleep in his basket Wilkinson next
directed his steps to the fourth floor.
Their dogs a bull that weighs 100
pounds If he weighs anything" he re-
flected, ''and I'll bet five dollars he
amt asleep in his basket"
But he was. la, no" said the maid
"'tain't Billy t's maxim all that fuss, "
81 suppose" said Wilkinson, with
fine sarcasm, that he is asleep in his
basket"
'He sure is," said the maid. And
she shut the door in Wilkinsons face
Wilkinson didn't dodge about much
after that. He visited the remaining
20 apartments in regular order and in
response to his 20 inquiries he learned
that the 20 dogs were asleep in their
baskets. BY and by he went back to
his own apartment to mediate.
"Twenty-four dogs asleep in their
baskets" he mused Dogs Of high de
gree and low degree; dogs big and lit
tie; dogs young and old; dogs white
black, buff and brindle. all asleep in
their baskets. They must be doped
to sleep through all this racket. And
one Of ems got nightmare. l wonder
which 1t is?"
Wilkinson picked up his six lines
on Concentration OF Thought.
Through the door he heard tumble
OF tones thrown out by the mouthful
now with the sonorous effect Of drum
now with the shrill cadence OF the
flute. Presently he heard something
else The janitor was ringing the bel
and demanding admittance.
Say, said the autocrat Of the Wend
over, "w'ere's that dog?'
Search me" said Wilkinson.
WELL" said the janitor, II vii
search you The rest Of the folks say
they can't stand this hullabaloo any
longer, an If you can't give i'm any
thing to make I'm dry up, wy you've
got to choke i'm, that's ALL"
Choke who?" gasped Wilkinson.
ivy your dog.
my dog?" said Wilkinson. "My
dog Is asleep In his basket"
He smiled family at this trite re
joinder, but he knew ii was the trutl
and he had to let It stand. The JAM
tor, however had his doubts.
Gust show me the basket" he said
"Sometmn's got to be done. I've seer
all the rest Of the dogs. They're al
right Now, trot yours out"
Instead OF trotting the dog out, Mr.
Wilkinson trotted the janitor In. III
led the way back to the storeroon
| near the airshaft with the air OF con
Queror.