Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-04
LADD|E BOY SLOW
. TO GRASP REASON 4
CAPITALS SORROW

Washington. Aug. 3.-(By A. P)-
There was one member of the White
House household today who couldn't
quite comprehend the air Of sadness
which hung over the executive man
sion.
1t was Laddie Boy President Hard
ings' airedale friend and companion.
Coming to the White House a raw
boned. callow pup. Laddie Boy has in
two years grown to the estate of dig
nifty and wholesome respect for his Of
fetal surroundings.
Laddie Boy knows that his master
and mistress made frequent trips away
from home and he always watches for
their return. OF late he has been cast
ing an expectant eye and cooking a
watchful ear at the motor cars which
roll up on the White House drive. For,
in his dog-sense way, he figures IAN
automobile took them away, SO an au-
tomobile must bring them back" and
today, as on the other days, he was
watching the motor cars, listening for
voices he knows so we'll. The White
House attaches shook their heads and
wondered how they were going to make
Laddie Boy understand as Of course he
will in time, as every good dog does.
Laddie Boy reflected the love and
friendship Mr.. and Mrs. Harding be-
slowed upon him and their feeling for
him typified the feeling for both for
all animals. Mrs. Harding never lost
an opportunity in Washington to give
her aid to any cause which stood for a
decent chance for all animals, and in
Alaska, recently. the president took as
part of his oath of membership in an
Alaskan organization vow never to
be unkind to horse or dog.
Warren Harding never referred to
them as dumb annals he often said
they were far from dumb, that they
had their own ways of expression. 1t
was not fad or fancy with him.
Years ago when he was active as ed
itor of the Marion Star somebody pois-
oned a pup he knew, and Warren
Harding published an editorial about
it that showed how he felt. This is
what he wrote:
"Edgewood Hub is the register, a
mark of his breeding; but to us. just
Hub. little Boston terrier, whose
sentient eye mirrored the fidelity and
devotion of his loyal heart. The vet
Urinary said he was poisoned. Per-
haps he was. His mute suffering sug-
geSted it.
"Ons is reluctant to believe that a
human being who claims mans estate
could be so hateful a coward as to
ruthlessly torture and kill a trusting
victim. made defenseless through his
confidence in the human master, but
there are such. One honest look from
Hubs trusting eyes was worth a hum
bred lying greetings from such inhu-
man beings. though they wore the ha-
bilimcnts of men.
Perhaps you wouldn't devote these
lines 10 a dog. But Hub was Star
office visitor nearby every day Of the
six years in which he decpened attach
ment. He was q grateful dog, with
dozen lovable attributes. and it some
how voices the warnings OF broken
companionship to pay his memory de-
served tribute.
1T isn't orthodox to ascribe soul
to q dog-if soul means immortality.
But Hub was loving and loyal. with the
jealousy that tests its quality. He
was reverent, patient. faithful; he was
sympathetic. more than humanity SO.
sometimes, for no lure could be devised
to call him from the sick bed of mis-
tress or master. He minded his own
affairs, especially worthy of human
emulation, and he would kill or wound
no living thing. He was modest and
submissive where these were becoming.
vet he assured a guardianship of the
home he sentineled, until entry was
properly vouched.
He couldn't speak our language,
though he somehow understood. but he
could be and was eloquent with utter
ing eye and wagging tall and the other
expire ssions of knowing dogs. No. per-
haps he has no soul. but in these things
are the essence CT soul and the spirit
of lovable life.
whether the Creator planned il so.
or environment and human companion
ship have made it so. men may learn
richly through the love and fidelity of
brave and devoted dog. Such loyalty
might easily add lustre to crown of