Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-24
DOG DASHES THROUGH
VALUABLE PAINTING
LOCAL THEATRICAL MANAGER is
STUNG
John BIackWood Believes He Will
Have to. Put on "Uncle
Tom" to Catch
Even

John Blackwood was perturbed. HIS
anger was magnificent.
He stood against the brass rail- whlcn
shields the box office from the onrushing
mohs at the Belasco theater and gazed
savagely into space while gentle zephyrs
cavorting in the rotunda waved hlther
and thither dainty blue note which he
held in his hand.
Course my black luck!" muttered the
manager in tones reminiscent of the
Grand. Curses, a thousand of them!'
What is it, John?" queried Hobart
Bosworth, the mild-mannered stage direc-
tor. 'Trouble?"
'Trouble? Well, read this-read, Bos-
worth read!'
Bosworth read:
Strive will, on the first day of August,
draw on you through the agency of our
local bank the sum of $74.50 for damages
to our art gallery caused by savage
dog owned by you on the Goth ult. We
expect you to protect the draft. In the
event of your failure to do so we will be
compelled to resort to other methods,
etc, etc.
LADIES ART LEAGUE,
Peru, Ind"
John Is Stung
"What means this, john" asked Bos-
worth.
Just what it says" answered John.
"I have been stung. The kid wrote me
all about it, but 1 didn't think 1t would
go this far
Then in relays, Mr.. Blackwood told the
doleful story of a pet dogs perfidious
finish.
Years ago, it seems, long before David
Belasco discovered him and gave into his
keeping the destinies of Mrs. Leslie Car
ter and company on the road Mr. Black
wood had a production of Uncle Toms
Cabin" touring the far west 1t was one
of those ultra realistic productions, under
tent big enough to accommodate some
thousands of admirers and half that num-
Der of actors and bloodhounds.
One of the hounds that signed out with
Blackwood that season was Great Dane
about the size of a weaned calf and twice
as tame. He looked fierce. all right, but
when the other beasts used to make their
fiendish dash after Eliza as the heroine
scampered across the canvas ice, the
amateur hound would casually glance at
the idiotic spectacle, give grunt or dis
gust and go back to sleep.
Hence he inherited the name OF Tran
quill"
Tranquil Is OVer-ZeaIous
Now, Tranquil had cost Blackwood up
wards of $25 when in his Tranquirs) In
fancy And the manager wanted in some
way to get the worth of his investment
out of the reluctant piece of dog meat.
So he took up an earnest labor with the
hound and after weeks of coaxing ana
special training, augmented by great
slices of liver and beef at 10 cents per
pound, Tranquil caught the spirit OF the
situation and proclaimed himself leader
of the awesome beasts.
Blackwood declares that before the end
of the season it took three stage hands
to prevent his personally educated pet
from leaping through the back river drop
during the frightful pursuit of the dusKy
lady.
The habit grew on him. In Wlntry
weather he would plunge over SNOW
and ice. yelping mad until checked by
barb wire fence, coal shed or otner
obstacle. All that TRANQUIL eve
learned in fact was his one CUE CUE
sight of snow-and he acteu a00o-N
ingly when not chained. a,sh
The '"rom" show came to sau nn1sl =
in Logansport, Ind, the lnn1eu ~
cause being that "Bill Stebbins Euchre
Party" had played there the night pe-
fore, causing a run on the pank'
Ice Is His Cue
The actors departed in various oiIeS-
lions. but Manager Blackwoou was "a.
behind with tranquil on ms liz.
Rather than take the amman ~ hi,,
York with him John II. entruseeu m
to the keeping of an ambitious y S,on
in Peru, few miles away; On q
which time Tranquil mas enjoSer
ouiet restful home, while ms real
awner has been sending on money FOR
his keepine and urging the lad not to
mart with the beast unless hes should
send for him.
Now comes the sad end of 1t.
few days ago the keeper OF iran,
quill wrote Mr.. Blackwood that ne nau
attended the annual exhibit of the
ladies', Art league. TRANQUIL, carefully
muzzled and led by a rope, had accom-
nanied him AS they entered the large
hall Tranquil, in the dim light, saw
something familiar at the far end OF
the ROOM
1t was ice!
That was enough for Tranquil with