The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-24
A WATER DOG or NILUS.-
The calm and Ancient wisdem Of sene'
fcru the Egyptian.

To Tur EpiToR or THE SuN--Sri Al
most everybody worth knowing has rad
There are those whose minds run 10 an
tiaue furniture or trophies OF the hunt or
rare yintages or Turkish baths: others
delight to dabble In palmistry. psychic
research or astroiogy. while many arc al
lured by the more pretentious arts sucn
as eugenics and genealogy. l have never
been particularly interested IN any OF
these diversions. But ! do Ike ped-
greed dogs. .
OF course n common. ordinary dog II
all riqht in many ways. OFTEN ne Is
good watchdog or an agreeaple coihpah
ion or n capable hunter. one OF the pest
foxhounds I ever saw was mongrei
whose reputed father was the HucK RIM
Of dogdon. but for my purpose require
q pedigreed dog. -
Preferably the pedigree should be genu-
inc. but this IL not absolutely necessary.
for IL It In gotten up impressiVely anu
goes back far enough. as every nrst CLASS
pedigrec should. very few are capaDie Oh
picking any flaws in 1t. II Is wen TO re-
member that a pedigree Is no dull, pro,
sale thing Ike statistics or "sm r,o.,.
charity, II Is full Of spice and variety
and opens UP broad vistas OF speculation,
II n man has n respectable genealogical
tree OF his own he can well aitord 10 U.
an tisfIed, but " he has vainiy searcheu
the family record In his great-Granu
fathers Bible for good OLD ancesra,
name. such as Lamech or Mahalalee', ana
cn n and nothing that savors more of an
tiouity than Absalom or Goliath. ne mas
n right to look elsewhere for consolation.
In such circumstances he naturally turns
to the lesser breeds that can be traced
back. generation after generation. TO the
bleak gray dawn OF time . -
/ I have the honor 10 own an Esypu,a,'
water dog. Scneferu. named after the nrst
historic Fgyrtian monarch. l prize MIN
vary highly not because OF MS inteii-
eenre or fidelity. for he lacks both' put
| because OF his noble lineage. l nave MS
pcdigree translated from an ancient tongue
| md inscribed in a neat ana legipie manu-
on heavy parchment with one OF Two
| unavoidable lapses IL runs back 10 tne
| time when civilization was IN swand''he
| clothes. and at a distance looks like a
diagram Of one of Henry Jamess shorter
| sentences.
| 7 bought Soneferu from retired Eng
| fish army officer who had seen long ser
vice in Egypt lie assured me that Sene.
feru's ancestors were so highly esteefheo
that many of them had been made objects
| of worship by the ancient Inhabitants OF
the Delta. ! was inclined to accept TINS
1 statement as an innocent exaeser
alton born OF enthusiasm until re
membered that my informant was an
| E.nglishman whereupon | decided I.
Judgment until could consult the proper
authorities. But ! must confess that i
never met another fellow who knew more
about dogs and antiquity.
10 YOU marvel how any one II able TO
derive pleasure or solace from RAD ike
miner Let me explain Sometimes wher
I feel that. NJ q nation. we are Indifferent
to many political and social reforms thai
are necessary TO our salvation. I seek the
austere presence Of Seneferu. l keep hin
for lust such occasions. They constitute
his reason for being. II l may be permitted
to use the English equivalent or gooc
old French phrase He Is always accessl
BILE and the closest scrutiny never dis
turbs his outward calm.
Sometimes feel the need OF him afte
listening to statesman with message
more often I 20 to him after reading OF
a new remedy to uplift the race.
Usually / find him asleep. Doubtless
he is wont to dream OF his forebears o.
the long ago. for he often growls an'
starts spasmodically, which would seen
to indicate that he Is enjoying himsel
amid allen surroundings. for never whel
awake does he show any interest In hi
petted and pampered existence.
And as I gaze upon him many things
I have heard and read about take on al
old and somewhat forlorn aspect. II re
quires little imagination. perhaps, bu
that Is what one needs In this cold ag,
of economists and calcula,ors. So ! Sc
the progenitors of Seneferu playinI
through the ages on the banks Of tn
Nile: baying the moon while dynast
after dynasty rises and falls, while isr
after ism lives Its little day, while this
that and the other social and political re
form fiourishes for n while and dies
! natural or violent death, wherever man
kind has experimental in civilization.
Modern reforms? why, good knight
; and bold crusaders. they have all bee