Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-10
l'ISLE DIES CHlENS.
The Dogs Cemetery at Asniere Out.
side Paris

The Dogs Cemetery at Asniere Out
side Paris.
MAN cher petit Jack je no t'oublier-
ais jamais." Cut in golden letters
upon a massive granite slab these
words do not describe the condition
of a broken-hearted mother. The in
consolable lady mourns her dog whose
portrait hangs above the tomb upon
which reposes a wreath of purple
head violets.
The laws of France are severe;
there can be no trifling with the
body of dead dog, he must be buried
somewhere. On no account must
the corpse pollute the waters of the
Seine-men are stationed night and
day on some of the quays to watch
that no unlawful parcels are consign-
ed to its depths.
Many people in Paris live in flats
and it became a custom when the
pet dog died to make a cemetery Of
the Seine, or even of the main sewer,
while it was no uncommon thing to
see poor Fihne's remains reposing
in the gutter awaiting the arrival of
the scavenger. People with house
and no garden were known to bury
their pets i'll the cellar in defiance
of the laws Of hygiene. But now all
this is changed About nine years
ago an animal cemetery was formed
on business lines and it is now in
a f1ourishing condition.
LIsle des Chiens at Asniere, be-
yond the northern ramparts of Paris,
was originally DOGGY piece of land.
In former days only narrow neck
of land connected it with the Seine
and it was then haunt Of holligans
and others wishing for retired life
free from the attentions of the po-
lice. L'Isle des Ravageurs was its
sinister and well-deserved name. A
smiling garden has now taken the
place of the wilderness of brickbats
and broken bottles. Shady paths
lead to secluded hooks, the flower
beds in summer are a blaze of color
and a fountain in the centre mingles
the sound of its falling waters with
the songs of the birds.
Everywhere there are memorials Of
departed pets. From an ornate jap
anese pagoda in stone with a rusty
chain and collar attached to tie door
post, to humble piece of wood with
only a number or single name
upon it, they are there by hundreds.
Some of them are very elaborate.
Toilette has a small stone house with
all the blinds down, "Je f. regret
terais toujours," says her disconsol-
ate mistress. Caro- rests under a
huge block of granite; to Judge from
his portrait in a glass case at the
head of his grave he was thorough
mongrel from the point of view OF
breed.
"Adieu mon petit WOW wow" says
Tiny's owner, while Sultan has SON.
net all to himself, and Poull an acros-
tic in somewhat hating verse. A
large gilt crown and monogram adorn
the stone above another Miss. Her
aristocratic owner says Ellie TAFT
toute ma vie" On many Of the graves
ar chung wreaths OF dead flowers or
punches of fresh flowers and leaves.
The attendant said that some ladies
came regularly once week with fiow-
was left for a wreath to be hung
every week upon the grave of a dog
which, according to the inscription on
the stone, had saved his mistress's
child from drowning fifteen years
ago. The number of English names
upon the graves is striking. l think
/ counted nine Misses, seven Jacks
and four Bobs.
Burial in the cemetery is within the
means of all. For five francs a dog
can be buried In the fosse commune
common grave. The lease OF a
grave for three years can be bought
for Is francs, and so on up to 100
francs for thirty years lease.
One of the rules says that all re-
ligious emblems and anything re-
sembling human graves is strictly
forbidden. At one corner of the
cemetery there is a storemason's
yard, where monuments may be in
spected and designs obtained
There is a corner for the burial of
cats, but poor pussy. as a rule, only
has a china effigy sitting in her lit
tie garden" this being presumably
considered sufficient monument. A
pathetic little gilt cage hung above
the grave of a canary, and a fear
some photograph at the head OF one
grave showed that a monkey OF ap-
palling hideousness reposed beneath
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