Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1875 — A Faithful Dog. [ARTICLE]

A Faithful Dog.

In the Scotsman of April 18, 1867, the following narrative appeared: “ A very singular and interesting occurrence wss yesterday brought to light in the Burgh Court by the hearing of a summons in regard to a dog tax. Eight and a half yean ago it seems a man named Gray, of whom nothing now is known, except that he was poor and lived in a quiet way in some obscure part of the town, was buried in Old Grayfiriars’ Church-yard. His grave, leveled by the hand of time and unmarked by any stone, is now scarcely discernible; but, although no human interest would seem to attach to it, the sacred spot has not been wholly disregarded and forgotten. During all these yean the dead man’s faithful dog has kept constant watch and guard over the grave; and it was this animal for which the Collectors sought to recover the tax. “ James Brown, the old curator of the burial-ground, remembers Gray’s funeral, and the dog, a Scotch terrier, was, he says, one of the most conspicuous of the mourners. The grave was closed in as usual, and next morning ‘ Bobby,’ as the dog is called, was found lying on the new-made mound. This was an innovation which old James could not permit; for there was an order at the gate stating in the most intelligible characters that -dogs were not admitted. ‘Bobby’ was accordingly driven out; but next morning he was there again, and for the second time was discharged. The third morning was cold and wet; and when the old man saw the faithful animal, in spite of all chastisement, still lying shivering on the grave, he took pity on him and gave him some food. “ This recognition of his devotion gave ‘ Bobby’ the right to make the church-yard his home; and from that time to the present he has never spent a night away from his master’s tomb. Often in bad weather attempts have been made to keep him within-doors, but by dismal howls he has succeeded in making it known that this interference is not agreeable to him, and latterly he has always been allowed his own way. At almost any time during the day he may be seen in or about the churchyard ; and no matter how rough the night may be nothing can induce him to forsake the hallowed spot, whose identity, despite the irresistible obliteration, he has so faithfrilly preserved. “ Bobby has many friends, and the taxgatherers have by no means proved his enemies. A weekly treat of steak was long allowed him by Sergt. Scott, of the Engineers; but for more than six years be has been regularly fed by Mr. Traill, of the restaurant, 6 Grayfriars Place. He is constant and punctual in his calls, being guided in his mid-day visits by the sound of the time-gun. On the ground of harboring the dog proceedings were taken against Mr. Traill for payment of the tax. The defendant expressed his willingness, could he claim the dog, to be responsible for the tax; but so long as the dog refused to attach himself to anyone it was impossible to fix the ownership; and the Court, seeing the peculiar circumstances of the case, dismissed the summons. “ Bobby has long been an object of curiosity to all who have become acquainted with his history. His constant appearance in the grave-yard has caused many inquiries to be made regarding him, and efforts without number have been made to get possession of him. The old curatory -of course, stands up as the next claimant to Mr. Traill, and yesterday offered to pay the tax himself rather than have Bobby— Grayfriars’ Bobby, to allow him his full name—put out of the way.” Four years longer the faithful little dog kept his loving watch, and at last died, to the regret of all who knew him, never having been out of reaqh of his master’s grave; though in his later years the infirmities of doggish age forced him to accept a partial hospitality of the curator. I am sure that Lady BurdettCoutts gladdened the hearts of many lovers of animals—as sho certainly did mine—when she perpetuated his memory by a lasting monument of granite and bronze. The monument is a drinking-fountain made of Peterhead granite, and surmounted by a life-size statue of Bobby in bronze. During the many years which elapsed between the death of his master and his own departure the lowly grave was forgotten by all but the dog. No stone guarded it, and not even a mound marked it. The grass and weeds grew luxuriantly over it m over the level soil around. There has been for years nothing that could mark out the grave from the surrounding soil, but the little dog knew the sacred spot under which lay his master’s remains, and for hours used to stand upon it, keeping his guard. A little way from the grave is an altar-tomb, under which Bobby used to shelter himself in bad weather, and to which he always used to take the bones and other food provided for him by the generous persons whose names have already been mentioned. I possess three photographic portraits of Bobby, from the best of which the bronze statue was taken. In it he is sitting on the altar-tomb above mentioned, and is looking upward with that wistful, patient, longing, yearning expression of countenance which was peculiar to the animal, and is conspicuous in all the photographs, however imperfect they may be.— Harper' t Weekly.

A native Japanese journalist who has evidently traveled in Europe has published an article on woman’s rights in his newspaper, in which he says that, “ from the practice of Europeans, it would appear that the power of the wife is greater than that of the husband, and this error has been brought about by the want of a correct view of the dictates of nature. We will point out examples of this. In going through a door the wife passes first and the husband follows her; the wife takes the best seat and the husband the next best; in visiting the wife is first saluted; in forms or address the wife is first mentioned. Moreover, while men are in the company of ladies they must be particular in their conversation and are not permitted to smoke without the ladies’ permission being first obtained. These and like customs are innumerable, and the power of the women is far greater than that of the men.” The Supervisors of Pennsbury Township, Chester County, Pa., have been held to bail to answer at court the charge of non-performance of duty in not keeping the roads in good condition. Consolation for favors the bowled.