The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-26

in it, but mostly a deep pathos. And it Is all so real-one feels that every word of it is true. In it genius touches the lives of the lowly. awakening a chord which finds a response in the heart of humanity
 n OB AINSLIE and his friend John N B. were coming up Infrm-
 - ary street from the Edingurgh High School with their heads together and their arms intwined as only boys and lovers know how or why. "A dog fight" sud enly shouted Bob, sec ing a crowd at the Iron Church, and off they went running and all but praying that the fight would not be over before they reached the scene of action. This is boy nature and human nature, too No really decent boy would set dogs to figh ting, but most normal boys like to see a doghght if one happens. Why? Because they see in it three of the great cardinal vir- tues of dog or man-courage, endu- rance and skill--in intense action.
 Bob Ainslie knew at a glance that there was a dogtight on, because the crowd around a couple of battling dogs is different from an yother crowd. It is crowd masculine mainly, with an occasional active and compassionate woman fiuttering wildly around the outside and using her tongue and hands freely upon the men whom she Jumps under the general and compre- hensive designation of "Brutesr' It is a crowd circular, compact and mobile with it's heads all bent downward and inward. The fight was by no means over when Bob and John arrived, and they squirmed into a place where they could see it. A small thoroughbred white bull terrier had throttled large shepherd dog unaccustomed to fight ing but not to be trified with. The collie was fighting with great courage but wildly. It was the militia against the regulars and, as usual, training and science won.
 The Game Chicken, as Bob called the terrier, worked his way up, took a fine grip on poor Yarrows throat and brough. the shepherd dog to the ground where he lay gasping and done for Then there was a great to-do making the terrier let go his hold, something which was finally accomplished by the application of a pinch of snuff to his nostrils. The most valiant warrior in his most determined moments must respond to the laws of phy- siology and snuff Napoleon at Austerlitz or Wellington at Waterloo must have sneezed if a pinch of snuff had suddenly been presented to his nostris. So it was with the Game Chicken. He sneezed and so lost bis hold upon Narrow. The col lies owner, a big, brown, handsome young shepherd from Tweedsmuir, picked the beaten dog up and walked off with him in his arms, comforting him.
 But the bull terriers fighting blood was up, and off he ran looking for more trou- ble, Bob and John and some other boys panting behind. Under the arch of the South Bridge was a huge mastiff, saun- tering down the middle of the road as if he had his hands in his pockets He was old, brindled and as big as a small High land pony. The terrier made straight for him and fastened to his throat. The mastff did nothing but stand still and, lifting up his head, gave vent to a long, roar-yes, a long, serious, remonstrative roar. He was muzzled. The bailies had proclaimed a general muzzling, and the mastiffs master. evidently studying economy and strength mainly, had en- compassed his huge jaws in a home-m made apparatus constructed out of the leather of some ancient "breechin" His mouth vas open as far as he could get it, and lad in, rible grin-whie his teeth gleamed out from the darker recess. His whole frame shook with indignation and surprise. His roar seemed to be asking all around Did you ever see the like of this?"
 "A knife!" cried Bob, and cobbler in the crowd gave him a knife-one of the sort cobbler uses, worn away obliquely to a point and always keen. He put the edge of the knife under the leather of the muzzle, the leather ran before the blade and then-one sudden jerk of the immense head sort of dirty mist about the mouth, no noise-and the fierce little ter rier is dropped limp and dead. There was a solemn pause-this was more than any of the crowd had bargained for The mastif looked down at his victim ap- peased, ashamed and amazed, sniffed him all over, stared at him and then, if taking sudden thought, tuF&ed around and trotted off. Bob took the dead terrier up, saying to John wen bury him after tea," and the two started to follow the mastiff.
 He trotted up the Cowgate at a rapid swing, turned up Candlemaker Row and stopped in front of the Narrow IKp. A carriers cart stood there ready to Start and the carrier, keen, thin, impatient dark -visaged man, was at the horses head and looking around angrily for some lining. "Rab, ye thief"' cried the carrier as the mastiff came up-and he aimed kick It the dog, a kick which was 'ukillfully avoided, and, looking at his masters eye, Rab slunk off under the cart, ears down and the two inches of tail which he had down, too. Bob and John looked upon the little carrier in ave. "What a man this must be?" they thing. Ito whom this tremendous hero turns tail.'' The carrier saw the muz-