The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-08
TO-DAY WE CELEBRATE.
cookdns by Dog Power Now Quite
Out of Date.

Out of Date.
DoER still have many uses, such as
70 aid the police in time of peace and
70 drag machine guns and search out
the wounded in time of war, but one
OF the principal occupations of the
canine tribe in times past is now well
nigh forgotten. Cooking by dog
power appears to us a strange pro-
ceeding. yet Sin the England of two
centuries ago and in colonial America
81 was far from being uncommon.
Even as late as April, 1916, the dog
was q recognized assistant OF the chef,
as evidenced n an advertisement in
London paper OF that date in which
the fixtures of a tavern, offered for
saie. included . "dog-wheel and two
furnnpits.n
The bench shows OF today know not
b turnspit, and, as a matter of fact,
he WAS sJof NO recognized breed of
canine, U just a common cur, who
q been trained to perform his ara.
Qua duties In the culinary departments
OF inns and households. The dog
wheel was o large wheel made of
wood, enclosed in q circular box. The
dog was placed in this wheel, and the
latter connected by a running cord
with . pulley which turned a spit
before m open fire. The meat to be
roasted was placed in this spit and the
dog was kept constantly running,
thus keeping the meat turning before
the nre n roasting it evenly.
At n time practically all the
faverns and many of the households
IN England had turnspit dogs. 1t was
no "goft SNAP" they had, those canine
servants who turned the tread-wheel
OF wearyt toll, for a large roast re-
CURED three or Jour hours to cook
properly. He was taught by many
beattngs that to a for a moment
70 rest his weary limbs was to arouse
the anger of the cook. The four
scoiding and drubbing, and was given
barely enough food to enable. him to
perform his duties.
In +taverns and large establishments
tive or more turnspits were employed,
taking their regular turns OF duty on
The wheel. It is said that the animals
often had an uncanny knowledge of
tie passage OF time. n while hum
nle enough ct other times, barkea
and snaried and showed their teeth
when an attempt was made to force
them to begin their period OF servi-
fude v Q a few minutes before the
time due. Many amusing stories of
terpnpit dogs are told by old-time
$rifcrs. In NJ instance, it is alleged,
ln an establishment where two dogs
were employed. one OF them played
snooksy one day and hid himself in
the garrett. AS q result. the other
dog had to perform the duties OF both.
When finally released from his servi-
tlde, the animal which had been over
WORKED hunted out his companion,
end attacked and finally killed him.
An EHgiishman who toured Wales
IN 1900 and wrote book about it
tells Of an inn where he stopped, in
TIC kitchen OF which a dog was en-
pipyed as q turnspit. Great care is
bken that the ANIMAL does not OBJ
HerVe the cook approach the larder,""
10 wrote for IL the dog does he i'm
tnpdiately hides himself for the re-
lnefned OF the day. and the guest must
be c1ntented with more humble fare
then intended
Many centuries g DR.. caius. of
CaNbridge. the author of the first
book dealing with dogs, wrote:
sThere Is comprehended under the
eurs OF the coarsest kind a certain
Dog IN kitchen service excellent, for
when any meat is to be roasted, they