The Republican journal., 1914-08-06
MAX. A coRslcAN wAlF.
ffhs Animals Friend. Loodon.

= SONSeCAN WAlF.
rms Amman F.isnd, Losdon.,
The passion Of pity il noble passion
| HAPPY the ones who feel it in its fulness
even II put once in . lifetime.
The AJaceian dogs are such dear crea.
lures, 20 friendly. clearly, and self-res-
pectlng. 1t was always q pleasure to
have them with us. They were Charming
companions on walk, all 90 plump and
sleek, and apparently not generally iii
Whenever started out alone. three .or
four would obligingly follow me, az if.
seeing me unaccompained by any human
being, they felt that the duties Of
the proverbial Corsican hospitality de-
VOWED upon them. 1t was most agreea-
bic, for these dogs are exceedingly in.
teihgent, being OF mixed breeds. One
or TWO usually went on ahead to show
side, while fourth followed in the rear
At my whistle all would congrepate
about me, with tails a-wagging, and
honest faces fairly beaming with kindIi-
ness and good nature. They were indeed
most ingratiating lot of subhumans.
whom we took to our hearts at once.
never saw manned or diseased one.
among them.
Many pleasant ramble have enjoyed
thus attended.
Boudiano, which in Corsican means
tiger, since he is yellow with black
stripes here and there, was one of nv
especial favourites. Then there was
snow-white Cinto; and sagacious Colo,
named after one of the tempestuous tor
rents of his native land; the dog of the
goat-herd, Ettore Cacciaguerra. His
thrilling story l have already told in
these pages.
But this is the tale of Max.
We started out for the Pozzo di Borgo
chateau that bright March morning, a
merry party of seven persons and two
dogs, English all. with the exception of
one American, myself.
At the corner Of the Cours Grandval,
where we arrived at a. M, we were
further reinforced by the presence of an
Ajaccian dog, hitherto quite unknown to
US, who thrust a cold muzzle into my
hand, and fell into line as promptly as
if he had been expressly invited
He was smooth-coated and black
haired, splashed all over with tawny
streaks, and with but stump of tail,
which he almose wagged off his amiable
body in his joyous contortions. His eyes
were most expressive, and of deep
dark brown. From his teeth, and be-
cause he was already bit grey about
the lips, we judged him to be at least
seven years old.
All day long he willingly followed us
for the twenty-five miles jaunt, up hill
and down dale, through the odorous
Corsican maquis, always silent ard I'M
obtrusive. y
At luncheon, taken al fresco, Max
mented upon it. He sat near US, but
his eyes had wistfui look. Whatever
we gave him he took gently, but it soon
disappeared into his capacious stomach
with surprising rapidity. The dear
fellow was half-starved. His polite
ways and unassuming attitude showed
all too plainly that at some happier time
he must have belonged to kind master
He came back to the hotel with us, as
a matter of course and conscience, and
haunted the gardens for two months,
despite vicious kicks, buckets of water,
energetic chasings, and other sundry an
noyances which the hard-hearted Swiss
manager of our hotel saw fit to inf1ict
Max was fed surreptitiously by US, and
he renamed devoted in spite of the
prosecutions. He would appear sudden
ly from under some shrub, or from be-
hind palm tree, to curvet about US, and
protect and beguile our long promenades.
He grew looking, and well
repaid our united efforts in his behalf.
We finally protested to the manager,
en- masse, against any more cruelty being
practised, and we obtained, by our deter
mined miep, at least neutrality and toer-
ance, if not liking.
We feared, however, for the fate of
our dear Max whom we all loved by
now, when we should each and every
one have left the Scented Isle and gone
our separately diverging ways. After
much inquiry and search we found a
genuine lover of animals in the beautl-
full young daughter of the owner OF the
rival hotel, Corsican from Vizzavona.
We were fairly jubilant, and delighted
beyond expression. For here, indeed,
was most powerful ally.
We introduced Make to his new mis-
tress, and | even went with him to live
there, that he might not. at first, feel
lonely without US, and feel tempted to
return to the old hotel
He soon attached himself to the Hotel
des strangers, where the children made
much of him. He was blessing to
them all, for he proved to be an excellent
and vigilant watchdog, and soon quite
earned his salt.
Max has much individuality, too. He
always STOOD on guard about US when
abroad on our rambles, and no human or
sub-human dared approach US without
first presenting proper credentials +!
His coquettish whimper of satisfaction
whenever he was petted encouraged US
to further efforts. 1t was wrench to
finally part with him and leave him on
his island. But we often have news OF
him, from across the blue Medter-
ranean, and he is always well, contented,