Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-30

| be good to their owners, for the race of
people in the Eskimo country, though
they are dependent upon the service Of
their dogs, do not repay the animals
with any comforts whatever
"1'he dogs carry all burdens of their
masters, drag their sledges over the
trackless SHOWS, and as a reward get a
| very scanty allowance Of grub and
plenty of beatings. At least" he said.
| .sthat was the case when I was up in
| that part of the world in my youthful
days. The dogs then assisted their
masters in hunting the seal, the rein
deer, and even the bear. and they have
to perform journeys from anywhere
! from 10 to 80 and even 40 miles a day.
'"rhe Eskimo dog is a type Of a
| faithful and patient slave, and his en-
durance never seems to tire. He
growls and grumbles a good deal, but
he never rebels.
"rhe women, unlike the men, treat
| the dogs with much kindness. They
nurse them and take care of them
when they are sick and as a consc-
qucnce have an unbounded command
over the animals They can at any
time catch them or -entice them from
| the little huts to yoke them to the
| slcdgcs even when the dogs are almost
starving, for they are very amenable
| to kindness.
Il have a great deal OF sympathy for
| tnis breed of dogs, and / learned much
about them in my youthful voyages up
| in the arctic country.
"They have their sport also, and love
| to go on a chase for other animals;
and no matter how ferocious bear is
the Eskimo dog wifi fasten upon him
without the slightest hesitation. but
tney don't like the idea of having
fight with wolves. and that is the
only foe they really dread
"Yes; I agree that it is a wonder
they are so faithful. They can get wal
rus plubber to keep them fat in the
summer, but they lead q very pre-
carious life in the winter. I suppose
their conditions may be better now,
but from what / recall of their coun-
try. I don't believe ever have any sort
| Of luxury set before them.
"The prettiest dog, however. in my
| IMPRESSION" remarked the doctor, rs
the italian wolfhound. They are some
| what lighter than the Newfoundland
| dog that everybody is familiar with,
but equally as peaceful and courage
Gus, and in the case of necessity,
either for his master or himself. would
| just as soon fight as eat.
"Unlike the Eskimo dog, he doesn't t
care a continental about set-to with
a wolf. These dogs of beautiful Italy
are snowy white in color and they love
| their masters.
II could tell you gentlemen long
stories about dogs, because in my pro-
| fession earlier have treated scores of
them of nearly every breed. and l
| know all of their characteristics, but l
don't want to keep you here all night.
Being asked if he had ever been bit
| ten by dogs the old man held out two
| badly scared hands. "Often," he SAID.
'"rhis scar all over my hand and wrist
7 received from a mad dog; that is to
saw. he was mad with the dog he was
fighting with, and both of them at the
time were in my infrmary. They BIT
| each other savagely, but both OF them
| suffered no special inconvenience. l
can saw for the benefit of persons who
have been bitten by dogs and tear
| hydrophobia, that in SO cases out OF
| 100. if they are in reasonable good CON
| dition OF health themselves. there Is
not the slightest danger. l have peen
So often bitten, and by sick dogs at
that, that / am used to it."