The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-10
The Vail Of the Little Dogs.

educated out OF IT, L nave a little nYe-
pound dog. as white as snow, and
cleaner in her keeping than many
people, which ! once carried into
river with me whittier I had gone to
bathe. Among the bathers was a
woman, who, when she saw my little
dog in the water, at once left the
stream in a huff. and remarked that
it was not her habit to battle with
dogs 1 do not know that any one
has such a habit; but do know that
people often choose ilthier compan-
ions than a clean little dog. The
good woman lacked culture-a cul-
ture which no sort Of training or edu-,
cation could impart.
A dog is mans best friend, the
one friend whom misfortune can new
er drive away Not far from Gray
Friar's Church, in Edinburgh, Scot
land, is the monument erected to
Gray F'riar's Bobby, by the Countess
Burdette Coutes, who but lately pass
ed away. Bobhy's master was buried
there in the old graveyard, not far
from the Trough Stone" on which
the immortal Covenanters signed
their names with their blood. For
wears after is masters death, Bobby
refused to leave the old yard for any
length of time. He slept night after
night beside his masters grave, and
became known as Gray Friar's Bob
by. The people who lived near by
learned to know him and care for
him, and children from wealthy
homes in the city brought food to
him from time to time. For fourteen
wears, Bobby was quite a character
about the old church, and when at
last he was found dead near his mas
ter's grave,.he himself was buried near
by, and the sympathetic countess
erected monument and drinking
fountain for dogs in memory of his
lifelong faithfulness.
Stories about dogs-about their
love and faithfu1ness and their mani
fest gift of the reasoning faculty-flll
many books, and some Of the most
tender poems in our English tongue
were written about dogs. 1t may be
a weakness to like dogs, but it can
not be said that only weak people
have the weakness. Some OF our
highest masters of thought have had
the love for dogs to develop into a
passion.
A dog is an uncomplaining little
beast. He accepts bone or a bea-
ting, and still clings 70 his master. He
has no gift Of words, but only cow
ed and broken look when abused,
and a merry switch Of the tail when
petted OF fondled. It seems to be a
habit of us to legislate about dogs
periodically. Sometimes it may be
done in wisdom, sometimes without a
forethought manifestly. Our city
fathers-all Of whom I hold in the
highest esteem--have seen fit of late.
to go into the business Of leglslatlng
about dogs Whether it was to pro-
tect our citizens against a dreaded
hydrophobia madness or to increase
the revenue Of our treasury. I am not
prepared to say. But I do feel free to
say that, in either case, the law is
working great injustice and is a fail
ure upon its very face. To protect
us against the canine madness, all
dogs must be kept away from con-
tact with us upon the streets; for the
very fellow that is not confined at
home may be the one mad-if, for
sooth. dogs ever do such thing any
more than people do. But as the law
now stands, it is unjust and discr1m1-
native, and belongs virtually to the
orc r of class legislation. The free
holder who has a dog and is attached
to him pays his dollar, embelllshes
his dogs neck with collar and
badge, and turns him loose to prey
upon a frightened and horrifed pub
lie: but the poor man Who loves his
dog and has no dollar which he can
spare from his scant store of coin,
must bird MS pet to the yard fence,
or allow him to wander freely about
and fall into the hands of a man dep
utized to inipound and then to Kill
him. L the redemptive dollar is not
produced. The result is that now IN
the midst OF this burning weather,
the howl of the little dogs can be
heard ali through the night on al
most every city square. If under this
sore treatment. together With the bit
ing Of heas. the torment of the flies
and the burning Of the sun. some or
them so into unnatural madness,
some philosopher will come around
and remark upon the fact. and wisely
rub his nose and say. Il told YOU so.
But would he not himself go mad un-
der sech treatment? a great many
centuries ago, a very wise man wrote.
"A wise man resardeth the life OF his
beast" and = strikes me the time is
now at hand when we are called upon
10 consider the wisdom or unwisdom
Of his words.
Dooc NAV 90 mad: men certainly