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Show If CHATTER. I aieinc tho personal opinions of tho til. I writer and for which no one olso I is in any manner responsible.) Was I During my varied and somewhat ntle checkered career I have made tho ac- nuaintance of a groat many men and an' I a great many dog3, and after duo ro- flection and consideration have ar-up ar-up I rived at the conclusion that I hart I rather trust most dogs than most men. M I Tako the dog by and largo and he is more faithful In his friendships than '"d I the man. Bo a man ever so close to you there will como a timo when he I will see an opportunity awaiting and IB he seldom falls to take advantage of it. H while tho dog Is always on tho square. B Now when I began th'r I did not in- B tend indulging In an', homilies; what B was intended was a tribute to dogs in B general and ono or two dogs In par- B tlcular. B Gibson, the man whose business of B dealing In stocks camo near being B abolished by tho late legislature, once B owned a dog named "Rex." Ho was a 1S I king for sure. That dog knew more H than some whole families. Ho under- for B stood English and could count monoy, 9 make change, pick out different cards M H from a pack and do all sorts of II things. He knew how to enter Gib-jot Gib-jot H son's place of business and got on mm the table and ring tho bell for the B porter to como and comb his hnlr, and me HJ did it day after day. Ho could select B n's owner's or any ono elso's articles tie HH on request and was all, in all, as smart HH a dog as one could wish for. Ilex th HJ died some timo ago from- old ago. Jim- B mv Dickson had a cocker spaniel that ilj B tne writer heard Jim refuse ?1,B00 H cold cash for, who was also smart. Id Ho would go out in tho morning, get the paper, bring Dickson's shoes or Lst I slippers, when asked, and know tho I difference between shoos and slippers, ts He also would get-Mrs. Dickson's foot- H wear when requested and could tell "11 S tno difference between tho shoes of Mr. Dickson or his wife without coach- Hj lag, and would bring tho pair asked for at HJ without hesitation. Ho would open or le B c'oso a ('oor 011 rc(lucst and acted al- most human. When tho Herald was re Mb on west Tomplo Jimmio bet a fiver mm that he could take a parcel to tho of- ,j HJ ilco and on any given day send Ills M dog after it and ho would go get it. it I IIe Placed n Parcel under Keller's M desk and it was there a weak. When HE it was desired Jim simply remarked '' M to the dog, as ho stood in Hoglo's, t I Go over to t,ie Herald antl Bet that parcel." The dog trotted out and per- formed the errand. This dog was poisoned by some low born scoundrel, whoso life Dickson righteously thirst- 3 ed for, but opportunity never camo to permit Jim to take a just revenge. 1 There is ono dog in town now who deserves some mention. He belongs 5 to blind Charlie Emery and may bo seen leading his master around every ' day. "Sport" is his name, although no is no sport, but a steady and sedate 1 old chap, who knows ho has a job sup-! sup-! Plying eyes for a man. Ho Is a St. ' Bernard. Now as a rule St. Bernards are tramps and good for nothing, but i 1 to destroy victuals, but Sport isn't that kind of a dog. Ho will tako iCharllo anywhere ho wants to go and jas accustomed himself to his masters mas-ters step to an extent that most people peo-ple think tho animal has rheumatism in his front feet. Ho will stop him between tracks and let street cars pass in both directions and never make a miss. Ho takes Charlie to. supper at a regular hour and then home to his room in tho St. Elmo. Ho guards his clothes at night and awakens him Promptly at ten in tho morning and assists him to attiro himself, bringing garment after garment as it is needed. need-ed. When Charlie goes to tho show ana leaves him behind as he "does (many times, having company with him Sport takes a position at tho head of tho stairs and never moves until fcmcry returns. H0 permits no other dog to monkey around and stands guard over the afflicted man like a so! f,'i e. u0WS whon 1)el)l0 aro diking dik-ing about him and listens with great gravity and approves commendatory HvP.vkSny 7agB,1,lg lllstaI1 Pcta-ive Pcta-ive y. Ho s friendly with all men to tho point whore frivolity begins and then quits in disgust, becauso ho knows thoro is no foolishness in his life, but all is stern duty. Ho likes h s work becauso his instinct teaches Mm that ho is hero for tho purposo of taking care of a man who is unfortunate. unfortu-nate. When that dog dio3 ho will go to heaven. If ho doesn't then a lot of men are going to bo disappointed. Be-causo Be-causo if Sport is shut out and a parcel of fellows that say they are going nro lot In, tho gate keeper above ought to bo supplanted by another angel. Senator Vest onco mado an address to a jury regarding a dog that seems to express my own ideas better than 1 can express thenv myself. A man was prosecuting a chap for shooting a dog and Vest, was counsel for tho state. This is what Vest said to tho jury: "Gentlemen of tho Jury: Tho best friend a man has in tho world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that ho has reared with loving caro may provo ungrateful. ungrate-ful. Those who aro nearest and dearest dear-est to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. Tho money that a man has ho may lose. It illcs away from hlni, perhaps whon ho needs it most. A man's reputation may bo sacriilced in a moment of ill-considered ill-considered notion. The people who aro prono to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may bo tho first to throw the stono of malice when fniluro settles its cloud upon our head. "Tho ono absolutely unselfish friend that man can have In their unselfish world, tho ono that nover deserts him, tho ono that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, Is his dog. A man's dog stands by him In prosperity and in poverty, in health and sickness. Ho win sleep on uio com grounu, wnero tho wintry winds blow and tho snow drives fiercely, if only ho may bo near his master's side. Ho will kiss tho hand that has no food to offer; ho will lick tho wounds and sores that como In encounter with tho roughness of tho world. Ho guards tho sleep of his pauper master as If ho woro a prlnco. When riches tako wings and reputation reputa-tion falls to pieces ho is as constant in his Jove as tho sun on its journey through tho heavens. "If fortuno drives tho master forth an outcast in tho world, friendless and homeless, tho faithful dog asks no higher privilego than that of accompanying accom-panying him-, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when tho last sceno of all comes, and death takes tho master in its embrace, em-brace, and liis body is laid away in tho cold ground, no mntter if all other friends pursue their way, thero by tho gravesldo will tho noble dog bo found, his head between his paws, his heart sad, but eyes open in alert watchfulness, watchful-ness, faithful and truo oven in death." When Vest finished tho jury wanted want-ed to hang tho man who shot tho dog. That jury was about right in its desires de-sires and wishes. |