The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-11
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

New York-Broadway's four footed actors have pretty easy time of it. Even easier when they are not working than when they are, for idleness brings comfort able stall or cage at the Ben Hur stables, with no wearying rounds of the casting offices to look for jobs.
 For many years the Ben Hur establishment, managed by Ed ward Fills, has provided nearly all the animals, from rabbits to ele- plants, for theatricals, grand op- era and even street parades. When movie companies were operating in outlying boroughs they needed a great many animals too.
 Right now, business isn't so good. The opera season at the Hippodrome Theater has closed, after using more horses and ele- phants and camels than the Met ropolitan ever did in its most prosperous days. Except for Q few dogs, most of them privately own- ed, there are no animals in the Broadway shows. And rich peo- pie giving elaborate parties and charity balls no longer seem to want horses and donkeys and char iots for their guests.
 From Stall to Stage
 These slumps como every once in 8 while though, says Fills, and you never can tell when a pro- ducer will call up and order a brace of elephants, three little pigs or a-trained bear for some new show. Anything that Fills doesn't have in stock he guaran- tees to get on short notice. He found some honest-to-goodness oxen for the filming of "The Em- peror Jones'"
 The Players Club revived "Un- cle Toms Cabin" here last sum mer, and Fills was aghast when a pack of pedigreed foxhounds was used to chase Eliza. When the show took to the road, though, he rented 1t some Great Danes, which tradition prescribed in place of bloodhounds. He also provided the donkey.
 The most famous boarder at the Ben Hur stables is horse named Brownie. He is 39 years old, and a pensioner which never will have to work again. Of all the dumb performers at the place, Brownie alone may miss the thrill of spotlights and applause, for he is a seasoned trouper-the sole horse survivor of the original pro- duction of Ben Hur." He knew his part so well that they even took him to England with a Ben Hur" show After that he ap- I~. nYa hn fore last toured the country With Canine War Hero
 Over on Governors Island lives an even more celebrated animal pensioner. His name is Rags, and he will be remembered by many former members of the First Divi- sion as the dog that went to war and got cited for heroism. l A buck private named Donovan, A. W. O. l.. in Paris, picked up the pup during an air raid one night and took him back to his outfit. The men liked Rags. even if they did make slurring remarks about his obviously mixed ancestry. Donovan, of the Signal l corps, was aSS1gneO tne tick-
 lish task of laying cOmmuni-
 cation lines to forward out posts, and Rags went along. He learned to take cover, to wear a gas mask, and to carry
 messages when the wires were.
 shot away. On his last trip
 he was gassed and wounded
 in thre places. But he crept
 in with the message, and his
 master was carried in hours
 later.
 Donovan died in an army hos pital in this country, and Ragi found 6 succession of masters n various army posts until he wei adopted by Major Raymond Har
 denburgh, at Fort Jay. A yer,
 old dog now, his once brown ant
 fuzzy coat is getting gray and thin
 A shell silver blinded one of hi
 eyes in the Argonne, and the othe
 is pretty weak. He's deaf. too
 and doesn't even perk up at tn sound of n bugie Rags jus sleeps, in n soft warm bed unde tho kitchen stove. The Harden burghs hoar him yipping softl
 now and then, and know Rags 1 dreaming Of thrilling days and gal . lnnt dnN0n In Wpan00.