Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-17

ble-bound pool built In lc60 by 81. Louis
for returned crusaders with the leprosy.
But as today. the passing stranger had
no touch with the higher regions.
Few went out. None came In. Noun
taineerS lived where born Numerous
middle-clafss Luchon families trace gene
alogies back 70 the thirteenth century. al
ways on the spot and there are peasant
laborers whose families were rich mobiles
before America was discovered. Often
they do not know it, and the local anti
quaries do not tell them.
In a word, an individuals family Is REQ
ognized by glance at his features, ana
If an inhabitant OF ore valley can pass
for one belonging TO another. promptly
the knowing will be able to call Off such
and such marriages at such and such
periods. according TO the degree OF re-
mblance
AS the types OF the men and women are
fixed, so are those OF their dogs.
If strange men came seldom. strange
dogs came less. Those of the Pyrenecs
were necessary part OF the population.
They not only kept the flock. but de-
Tended it. They stayed in their valleys.
This accounts for the different looks OF
the splendid animals, who are all OF tho
same pure ancient race.
Even more readily than man. the dogs
OF one valley are recognized from those
of another, and they say that each has
its six or eight dog types. almost cor
responding to old local dog families.
Some are immense. as big any st.
Bernard: yet they invariably have GER
tain curving grace and flrmness of fea-
ture due to the ancient shepherd strain.
Some are shorter and burlier. compact
yet ig-boned. not due to any mastf in
termixture, but mere inbreeding OF the
more constant fighters. Such are the GAL
MT hoo Of h, - lob ut,,
singly will give battle TO a bear I be-
leve this fact To be perfectly established.
There are stories OF one. two or three
dogs holding Off a greater number OF
bears, and getting themselves killed be-
fore dog reinforcements or shepherds with
guns could arrive.
Still others. slightly smaller and moro
elegant, recall the shepherd strain more
wildly. 1t is not reversion. This il
one race, remember, fixed nearly 2.GD
years. They are OF the dog families OF
intelligence and ruse, as courageous as
the next, but also possessing brains.
They are oftenest met In the lower val
leys, where life has been easier for
few centuries. High altitude herders.
breeding dogs for size and strength,
often buy up a few such To balance the
pack intellectually. Then their progeny
is straightway lost again IN the big
type.
The make perfect watchdogs for sub
urban villas. Even on the hot plain Of
Toulouse they remain hardy Tor, say.
three years at stretch. After that
they ought to have year back In the
mountains. because. while they do not
fear heat-the mountain summers are
bllsterrg-they ultimately need winters
Of bracing cold This being understood.
they ought to thrive In almost any part
of America.
have seen six American families buy
dogs of the PyreneeS this summer. in
Guiding the Deweys and Boases OF New
IL % 4 IL
of Philadelphia and DIR. Ehrhardt of 81.
Louis. American families settled in Pau,
like the Ridgways, Posts. Forbes-Mor-
gans and Thorns, have long owned and
cherished them above all other CANNES.
They make perfect companions. They
are the true dog aristocrats. For 1000
years their unchanged race has been
treated almost as mans equal. and away
back in the mists of their subconscious-
ness there are souvenirs OF stern 1berfan
progenitors, the deep-fanged dogs of war
that served against Rome and Serto7ius.
STERLING HELLO.