Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-09-18
THE Love: OF A DOG
~ MADcE ARTHUR.

There are few among us who "a,
look into the eyes OF dog and with.
stand the appeal for friendship ana
comDanionship which seems to owen
there, who can resist the enthusiasm
OF affection expressed by the wildly
waving tail. the leaping. gambolin,
body, and the dirty paws, so annoyinr.
ly willing to leave the trademark q,
great regard on the trimmest an.
parel.
There are few OF Us, say, WIN
can refuse this friendship, so de-.
lightfully and spontaneously offered.
few Of US who would not say that
we love dogs and like to have them
about US.
And yet, how do we discharge the
guardianship which we have freely ac.
cepted? How do we requite the whole.
hearted affection, the one.ideaed loyalty
which makes the life of q man thu
fixed and unalterable center OF the
life Of dog?
Oh, know all you can tell me Of
your thought and care for your four.
footed friend, Of the lavish arrange
ments which you have made for his
comfort, and OF the pats and caresses
which you are always willing to give
him in plenty.
And still l say that our attitude
yours and mine, II you will-toward
the dogs whose allegiance should re-
ceive. in return, the thoughtfulness
which is due from one real friend to
another, is more often than not charac-
terized by almost criminal careless
ness. ...,A
My thoughts were set in this par
ticular direction by two friends have
recently made in the world of dogs,
and by contrast of their particular
surroundings.
A town house was the scene of the
first meeting. have nothing to say
against the house as habitation Of
human beings who live In a town
from the choice of their own free will.
Its charmingly arranged rooms con-
tanned the usual treasures with which
most people like to surround them
selves, and the soft carpets and COM
Portable chairs were, I am sure, all
that its owners desired.
But from doggy's point of view, I
can imagine many deficiencies which
would be Immediately noted on first
acquaintance. l am not speaking Of
the petted little darlings, the over
whelming supply Of tiny artificialities
which has arisen to meet the demand,
but Of real dogs possessed of the su-
perabundant vitality and vim which
is as much q characteristic Of
healthy dog as Of a healthy child.
There was not in the equipment Of
the whole establishment SO much as
q patch of grass on which a fellow
may roll and kick when life seems so
beautiful that no other and calmer be-
havior is possible. There was not even
long and empty corridor for the
stretching of restless limbs, and
tragedy oft-repeated had taught the
lesson that gamboling in a-~.oorn
crowded with the treasures Of the hu.
mans is not thing that pays.
All this and more read in the
wistful eyes of Rolf, as he came and
laid his head on my knee in that
crowded house, and said as plainly
as q dog may speak:
Come, I can see that you know
something about US and our likes and
dislikes. Take me for q long, long
run; go where there are shadows to
chase and leaves to rustic in, and
wild adventures to be found with
every turn in the road"
I told something Of the longing
read in the dogs eyes to his owner,
but was laughed at for my fanciful'
ness.
"Why, Rolf has half an hour every
day in the park" was assured,
"and, however inconyenient 1t may
be to spare, my maid never misses
that"
And so l had to leave Rolf, a young,
sturdily built terrier, with the JOY OF
life flowing strongly in his veins. to
the life of a spoiled lapdog, with half
an hour in the park at the end OF
leash, held by a decorous woman,
with no feeling for the longed-for ad-
ventures, for his sole outlet.
My friend, am sure, is convinced
that she is kind and thoughtful mis-
tress, never grudging food and warmth
to the dog for whose life she has
made herself responsible: But l can
tell her that in her thoughtless selfish
ness she is as cruel to the faithful lit
tie animal who shares her home as
il she rewarded his fidelity with beat
ings and revilings, for she has not
troubled to think out, alphabetically
his likes and dislikes, the necessities
OF his active nature, but has imposed
her life on his in the high handed
manner which is all too common IN
- TwoY ".