The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-04-17
BUT WE HAVE SOULS.

DO w u TIA u OOOL0s
The city council is evidently trying to
legislate the dog out of existence.
The tax is to be placed so high that
few Of us can afford to keep our pets.
OF course we are a superior race and
have souls and consciences, which we
are informed that dogs have not.
so it is eminently proper to kill the
beasts in order that we may live in
security from rabies. except from
duly taxed dogs. and that our slum-
bers NAV not be broken by canine
firtations and futile barkings at the
moon. In our opinion the legislation
is distinctly anti Roosevelt and un-
republican. because it is intended to
discourage infant industries. A good
dog is one of the best friends man
ever had, and the enforcement of the
ordinance is bound to cause many
heart-aches even among our grown
population. There is a question if a
tax can be made so high that it is in
effect coniscatory. But if the grown
ups will mourn, how about the young
sters. Papa is poor. he finds il hard
to fill all the little mouths. to provide
clothes and shoes and school books
and the occasional pennies for sweets.
but there has always been something
for the little pet. They raised the dog
from puppy.it is not thoroughbred
of high degree. Measured by dollars
and Gems it is not worth sou. but
measured by love and friendsliness. by
the gratitude that looks from deep
brown eyes, even though the favor
be but CHEEKY word. that dog is
worth mint. Measured again by the
love of innocent. childish hearts. by
the tears that have been shed when
doggie got ruined over, - and that
dog is worth million of any mans
money. But the law does not measure
things that way and papa knows: and
mama says that he cannot afford to
pay all those dollars Just to keep
dog. And SO one day the marshal
comes and doggie is torn from the
little arms that hug him close. Doggie
does not know what it all means. The
lutte tail wags gaily. He ticks the
hand of the big man in the blue coat.
Then he is taken away. AS the pair,
the representative of the law and the
little doggie. turn the corner the little
fellow looks back. There is ineffable
love and tenderness and confidence
and devotion in the brown eyes as he
looks at the sobbing children.
Perhaps he tugs at the rope so that he
may go and comfort them. That is the
business of little dog. to comfort
them he loves. He will come back as
soon as he can get away from that
rope. Yes. that is what he thinks.
but soon there is shot. cry of
agony that is almost human. and the
end has come for little doggie. The
end has come. because doggie has no
soul like the men who make the laws.
| The children will get over it. Time
is a great comforter. even with grown
ups and in greater griefs than the loss
of little dog. But while it lasts
the grief is just as poignant. and
many times in the years to come that.
last look of Fido or Bess or Pet will
bring an ache to hearts that have long
since passed from childhood.
Such law is unfair. 1t takes from
the children of the poor but leaves to
the children of the rich. 1t is the only
pet the poor child had. the rich child
has a dozen. 1t is unfair. Pass all the
restrictions you will, have the dogs
kept chained during the heated season,
but do not enforce such discrimin-
ative ordinance. All the men in Deni
son cannot breathe the breath of life
into one little dog and few of the men
of Denison can.o will. Show truer de-
votlon to them they love than do these
same little worthless. soulless. mon
grel pets in the households of the poor.