Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-12-30
XMAS PARTY is GIVEN
WITH dogs AS GUESTS
Limit Reached in Society
of PupdOm.


New York, Dec. ga Pittsburg
(Pal dispatch to the Press SAYS: Two
hundred dogs of high and low degree
were guests of Our Teddy, an Eng
fish bulldog with a magnificent set of
teeth, in the Hotel Sterling, this city,
Christmas day, and they so far for
got the Christmas spirit and the re-
spect due their host that they engag-
ed in a royal battle. The fray grew
20 such proportions that within a
minute dogs were worrying one an
other over the entire first floor of the
lotel. A Christmas tree which had
been the chief exhibit in Our Teddy's
entertainment program was wrecked,
md by the time police reserves reach
ed the scene of carnage a dozen poo
lies and Skye terriers were lifeless
on the floor
To add to the excitement, the own
ars of the dogs went at one another
With their fists Each man was de-
9rmined in attempting to save his
pct from hostile jaws, and this con
fliet OF aim quickly led to the ex-
change of blows So men and dogs
mixed UP in a general encounter. The
parlors, corridors, office and dining
room of the hotel offered a space too
cramped for the combatants, and be-
fore the police took hand duels were
merrily in progress on the sidewalk
The wholesale fight resulted in
flight of the regular patrons of the
hotel, : and as grand climax,
all traffic was blocked Before order
finally was restored fifty policemen
were on the spot.
The Christmas tree as a treat for
dogdom was the happy conceit of
James Griese and John Beymer, the
proprietors of the hotel. The men
are the joint owners of Our Teddy,
winner of several blue ribbons and
who rests uneasily in swathes of cot
on bandages. Our Teddy proved as
valiant fighter as ever played host
to a motley company. At the first
snarl he was eager for the tussle,
and he disported himself gayly
antil he worked his own undoing by
fastening on a pOliceman's right
calf The patrolman brought down
his club with merciless force and
Our Teddy was unconscious to the
havoc around him for full half hour.
The hotel men issued invitations for
the Christmas tree week ago, and
dogs responded from all parts of
Pittsburg. Many of the guests ar
rived in automobiles, but the major
ty were content to trot to the festi-
val on foot. The Christmas tree was
fesplendent in colored balls, tinsel
md tiney electric lights. Brass
studded collars, leashes, combs,
brushes and dog biscuits hung in pro
fusion from the branches, as gifts
for the guests. When the folding
doors were thrown back and the
Tree was exposed to view there was
reclamation in babel of yelps and
5arks On a platform, draped inl
eed plush sat Our Teddy" in iso-I
ated glory, as on a throne. Griese
elected himself spokesman, and TAX
lng his stand near Our Teddy" be-
ga nan address.
Il have been directed to announce,
began Griese, "by the host of the oc-
casion, the great and peerless, Our
Teddy, that it warns his heart this
merry Christmas Day to greet you
all as his guests"
Griese got no further A scrappy
customer, half bulldog, half Irish
terrier, launched himself straight at
a daschund which had been squat
ting with a bored expression on
table. The dischund was a dummy,
stuffed with straw, but it answered the
purpose. The belligerent mongrel
with growls of glee carried it trium-
phantly to the floor, and in an instant
the 200 guests were at it with might
and main Our Teddy sprang lightly
from his perch and as lightly ac-
cepted the chance of showing his
prowess. Fifty men ran together in
a struggling group, pulling on ears,
tails and legs in a vain attempt to
separate the combatants. In short
time the warlike spirit infected the
men themselves, and they abandoned
the dogs to vent their rage upon
each other.
Not only was the Christmas tree
reduced to wreckage, but much valu-
able furniture was wrecked The
dummy, daschund tnat caused all the
trouble was scattered in pieces over
the hotel rugs and carpets. Many of
the weaker and less spirited dogs
escaped by going straight through
the windows, and when a roundup
was attempted it was found that nfty
dogs were missing.