The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-09-27
Some Dogs and
Some Folks
By c. B. WHITFORD

handsome pointer as he walked into
the doctors Office.
"AH right, Ponto. that's what I'm
here for. just to give out dope for all
manner of complaints. But what's
the matter with you"
do l look all right?"
"Never saw you looking better.
Your coat is sleek, your eyes are
bright and your pulse beats pretty
WE'LL"
THAT may all be true. still l amt
right. l wish you would tell me what
the trouble is and then give me some
thing for it."
That's about the easiest job we fell
lows have. And it's one of the most
profitable, because when we get hold
of patients that amt sick, we just give
them a little dope that will give them
a few cramps and take their appetite
away. Then we give them something
to tone them up, and there you are"
Say, Doc, dogs are a good deal like
folks, but they amt that bad. I've
known dogs that were there with a lit
tie con- all right. They would side
up to another dog, wag their tail and
smile as though they were tickled
nearly to death to see the stranger,
and then just as they had got his
confidence they would pounce on him
and give him a good licking before
the confidilg dog woke up to the fact
that he had been conned. A dog
like that is pretty near as bad as
some folks. But that bunk Of yours
Doc, has got anything beat a dog
would do. Getting down to business,
what can you do for me? I'm a wise
dog and won't stand for any game
of cons"
you're wise are you, Ponto? Now
you are just my kind. You may not
know it, but It's the real wise ones
that take the salve in large doses.
l don't want anything easier than
a wise man or woman who thinks
they are sick when they are well. One
of those wise women came in to see
me the other day.
".Doc:or,' she said, sim all out OF
sorts. l wish you'd see what you can
do for me-
.1There was nothing the matter with
her except that she had too much
money and things were coming too
easy for her. She was fat and car
ried q gloom around with her like a
mar who was about to be sent to
prison. L looked at her, put the light
out of my face and slowly shook my
head.
cts it anything serious?' she ex-
claimed.
"'Well,' 1 said very slowly, 1T is a
puzzling kind of a case. You really
look WELL
"'That's what every one tells me
Doctor she said.
".But you amt we'll. You have been
gaining flesh. That's a bad sign Then
l shook my head some more and felt
her pulse. Worry! Worry! Trouble I
You haven't got neuresthenia."
"sMy,' she exclaimed with a start.
"'Still, your whole nervous system Is
affected Well to make a long story
bIOEL WuCu 4 SOt thlouSh OVhAi6
different kinds of looks at her and had
given various sorts of head shakes,
she would have looked In the glass and
been sure she was in a fair way to be-
come a nervous wreck. OF course,
you understand, she was a very wise
plenty Of money, while 1 was just a
little short. l didn't hurt her, but l
scared her some. made her sick, made
her well again and got the money"
1--WE seen a hungry dog scheme
around to steal n bone, but you can't
blame a hungry dog much for lying
to get something to eat. l know some
folks that have got us beat at this
game. l guess l had better be going.
You are too slick for me, Doc"
"That's all right, Ponto. I wouldn't
con a poor dog any more than I would
poor folks. We fellows are just like
you dogs. We have got to live and
we must get the money from the rich
and help the poor"
Can you really tell what ails me?
l know for a fact that something's
wrong with me. No bunk, Doc"
you're all right and you amt all
right. You're like some folks. You're
in wrong. Here you are a great lIg
fine looking pointer dog trying to live
the life Of a good-for-nothing pug
dog. You're itching all over to go to
work at your own job of hunting
birds. You're a failure at the job
you have, just as a lot of folks get
the wrong job. Many a doctor who
saws peoples bones ought to be saving
wood, and many a poor wood saver
would make a good doctor. Folks get
the wrong job and fret and never
amount to anything. They are mis-
fits. Now If you could find a new
home and get n chance to hunt birds
you'd be all right. OF course you
would get wet and cold and come home
covered with mud. Perhaps you'd
bring a ravenous appetite with you
and not find anything to satisfy it.
Then you might have to sleep in a
woodshed, but you'd be more con-
tented than you are now, living on
the fat of the land and sleeping on a
soft cushion next to the radiator.
Every man to his graft, Ponto, and the
same for every dog. Lots Of folks
have money they don't know how to
use. 1t just makes them miserable"
."That sounds good to me, Doc. I
hate to give up my soft warm bed and
pOod eating. but what's the use7 Some