Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-15
PENNSYLVANIA TOWN HAS
DOG THAT CARRIES MAIL
PET CANINE is PoSTMASTER's
CAPABLE ASSISTANT
Collie Eagerly Rushes to the Station
When He Hears Whistle of
Mail Train and Brings
Sacks

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. IA. = Fern
woods citizens rejoice in novel ard
most effective mail system the most in
teresting portion of which is a big dog
who carries the mail from the station
to the postoffice, a distance of two
squares. His name is Collie" and he
is owned by the postmaster, William B..
Evans.
At the first warning rumble of the ap-
preaching mail trains Collie is on the
alert, whining eagerly for the command
to go. He rushes off to the station as
soon as Mr.. Evans gives the word and
the station agent, who shares the COM
munity's pride in the shaggy carrier,
fasteps heavy bag between his teeth
and starts him homeward
"Collie is a clever one" said the sta
tion agent, land he always carries the
bag, while Colonel, his twin brother,
stumbles alongside as a guard. They al
ways travel together, and when Collie
comes after the mail bag 1 give it to him,
because Mr. Evans has trained him to
carry it straight to the postofice but
I see he has an awful time with his
brother"
The two dogs are remarkable in many
ways, and have been taught number OF
clever tricks. Mr.. Evans has fitted up a
little bell inside the postofhce, beneath
which chair is placed.
''Fire!" says Mr.. Evans in an excited
undertone. and away races the dog, leaps
on the chair, and paws the little bell
Its musical little tinlxle evidently appears
to Collie to be sufficient to alarm the au-
thorities, since this is the favorite of all
his. bag of tricks. He and his twin
brother are three years old, and have
been trained from their earliest puppy
days to open and close the postoffice
door.
Beg for Crackers
They sit obediently on their haunches
and beg for crackers, lure to which
they are never Indifferent, though they
are often tired enough of the continuous
performance which they pull off for tn.
neighbors as well as their visitors.
Mr.. Evans asserts that his dogs under.
stand quite number of English words
and they certainly obey his command.
intelligently.
Colonel, you come this way, while Col
lie gets his picture made" said Mr.
Evans yesterday, and the humble Col
onel, who is bowed down with the weigh
of his brothers. superior intelligence
went obediently out of the spotlight as h,
had been told.
Both dogs are very strong and hav,
splendid heads, and when they stand up
the postmaster their paws rest light,
on his shoulders. The dogs are quick tt
learn according to Mr.. Evans, and tn,
mailbag trick, which has threatened t.
deluge the modest Collie with undesirec
publicity, only required a few days II
which to be mastered.
The immortal commentator who ex
claimed. by what strange freaks we liv
in history, has voiced the sentiments O
the collies, whose peaceful summer ha
been one round. of showing off for tn
benefit OF incredulous strangers, to whom
the reports of the mail carrier have an
peared too fabulous to be credited. /
Collie and Colonel improve. however tn
remainder of their allotted span as the
have their first three years, under tn
watchful tutelage of Mr.. Evans. thei
days in the limelight are not limited an
national recognition may. come to them
distinction as unsought and unwel
coined as their present notoriety.