Evening star., 1933-03-17
Parable of the Mastiff
And the Yapping Flee
To the Editor Of The Star:


For quite while I have been a
spectator at little drama in the ami
NAL kingdom that fills me with both
irritation and amusement. The stage
OF this show is one of the exclusive
districts OF Washington and the actors
are the dogs of that neighborhood.
From what I can observe the neigh
borhood Is SO exclusive that mere resi-
dence IN 1t gives dog the right to
associate with all the other dogs living
there. If he lives there he Just has
to be recognized by all the other dogs,
even II the recognition can be con-
strued only as federation. A sort of dog
club. as it were.
Now one Of the principal actors in
this drama, or farce. is a fine Virginia
mastiff, highly valued by his master for
his faithfulness and service. When he
walks down the street he is greeted by
all the other club dogs with the re-
spect, not unmixed with admiration.
that his character and abilities de-
serve. He is a dignified chap, but
fully capable Of flash of spirit when
the occasion demands it. He seemed to
lead the very happy and satisfying
existence that we'll spent life Should
bring up until few months ago. And
then suddenly his bete noir appeared
on the scene bringing misery and
despair
A family from the extreme South
moved to his neighborhood, bringing
with them a little dog that was of no
particular breed. He is commonly
designated feist or flee" His owners
seem to be nice folks and what they
want with the "fice" IS apparently as
much puzzle to the exclusive club
dogs as it is to the people of the neigh
borhood. However, there he Is, and he
proceeds to make of himself a nuisance.
If the other dogs don't want to play
with him. and only very few do, he
snaps and yaps and barks and growls
in his ridiculous way until all the self
respecting dogs are disgusted Every
time he appears on the scene he poses
and rants and tries to make the other
dogs believe he is important. But they
will have none of him. So, in order
to force recognition, he has adopted
policy of obstruction. II the other
dogs want to dig for woodchucks he
Is against it. He Is against everything
Even this doesn't work. Finally, in
desperation. he has decided to start
feud with the Virginia mastiff in
order to draw attention to himself
The poor mastif cannot appear on the
street that the "flce" Is not yapping at
his heels or nipping at his flanks.
Being a gentleman, the mastiff usually
ignores these insulting performances.
Here of late, however, he has begun to
show his teeth when the "f1ce" appears.
When this happens one of his friends
shoulders the pest aside and whispers
to the mastiff: Don't pay any atten-
ton to him, old fellow"
And so the matter stands at present
It may be a long time, but I can look
in a glass darkly and visualize the end
of this little drama. Some wild dog
from the wide open spaces. who will
not be so meticulous about keeping his
jaws clean. is going to become a men,
Der of that exclusive club and the first
time the "fice" yaps at him there will
be q mad rush and snap. The own
ers of both dogs will appear stimuli
taneously and the following conversa-
ton will take place:
"Your dog has almost killed my dog,
sir!"
well, I'm sorry. sir. All can say
is that my dog didn't know what the
thing was-and you can't blame him. "
That's all right, sir. Don't say
another word. None Of our family
likes the way he has been acting for
the past six months, anyway. We at
tributed 1t, however, to the fact that
he was raised on pot nkker. I'll Just
take him home and finish him of and
get myself real dog"
S. H. MUMFORD.