The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-01-19

1msriean Farmer.

The farm without dog is difficult Of concep-
ton. From the earliest times this animal has
been an inseparable adjunct Of agriculture, not
only AZ companion. but as one Of the useful in
strumentalities in guarding the sheepfold, keep
ing the various domestic animals In subsection
and acting as watch against enemies Of all kinds.
In isolated communities. especially. the dog Is
indispensable. His value as an aid in hunting is
well known, and the farm boys would be de-
prfved Of half their pleasure If they had no dogs
to chase the fox to stree" the squirrel and other
small game and bark at the hole to give warning
Of the presence OF the grounding. the musk
rat, the coon and other varmints much sought
by the youthful denizens OF the farming house
hold. No sweeter sound comes to the ears Of
the lonely traveller at night than the distant
bay Of the watch dog as It floats family to the
ear from some home hidden far away in the
hills.
The dog has figured conspicuously in all the
literature Of the world, not always favorably.
but in such way as to show that every people.
no matter how far back. were familiar with some
species of the canine race. The Greeks. for
some reason not plainly apparent, were not
favorably impressed with these animals. In
their extensive writings they never allude to
the dog except with an expression of dislike.
and it is to them we owe such expressions of
contempt as vile as q dog" mean as dog"
and dirty as dog This can only be account.
ed for on the ground that the breeds known to
them were inferior and worthless. They were
not acquainted with the fine and well-bred ami
mails now so common, but we're confronted with
NANCY ours, wolhsh and thievish in propensity
and ENJOYABLE in many ways. The dog is often
mentioned In the Bible, but only incidentally to
enforce some allusion or to make comparison.
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Jews placed any great value upon dogs, OF that
they cultivated them as companions. All dogs
were originally wolves. and for long time only
the domesticated descendants of the wild howl
ers of the wilderness were known to the people
of Asia and Europe. It was only in compara-
lively modern times that skillful breeding pro-
duced superior animals of various breeds, which
lifted the race from it's primeval obscurity and
gave them high standing among men.
The dog is featured as a favorite in the best
English literature. Byron was an especial adj
mirer Of dogs and owned many of the finest
quality. Who does not recall the epitaph in
which he immortalized Boatswain as possessed
of beauty without vanity. courage without fe-
rocity and all the virtues of man without his
vices" He makes frequent mention In his glow
ing poetry Of the "honest watch dogs bark, . his
fidelity, his courage and his sagacity. Walter
Scott was passionately fond of dogs, owned great
numbers Of them during his lifetime, and uses
them with great effect in his inimitable stories.
Dickens also was dog lover and produced some
of his finest literary effects by their introduce
tion into his stories. Who does not recall Bill
Sykes dog in "Oliver Twist" and the important
part he plays in connection with the murder Of
poor Nancy. Our own Washington Irving util-
lied the dog with charming effect in several Of
his famous sketches. sWolf'' has almost as inn
portant part in "Trip Van Wrinkle" as the hero
himself, and the story would lose much of its
flavor If deprived Of its illusions to Rips hum
BILE companion. who. on the slightest move Of
Dame Van Wrinkle toward the broom, fled to
the door with yelping precipitation" All farm
ers love dogs. and they would rather spare any
other animal from the farm than the faithful
creatures whose yelping, barking and bowling
are such Characteristic features of rural neigh
borhoods and whose companionship is so indis-
r,anea1,Ia nj the chief anfidofe for loue1iness