Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1878 — Dogs in Boots. [ARTICLE]

Dogs in Boots.

“Puss in Boots” is a mythical personage, but the dog in boots is no imaginary creature. Tn the regions of eternal snow and ice, where the only beast,of burden is the dog, the cold is sometimes so intense that sharp icicles form between the claws of the canine sledge travelers. This causes a most serious obstacle to the speedy progression of the dogs, and would, after a few days, render them utterly unfit for their laborious duties, as the icicles grow larger and larger as they go on, until the poor creatures are quite unable to stand. The older dogs, however, will every now and then stop and bite off the icicles from theic feet. Not so with the novice. He trudges wearily along; every step he takes adds to his torture, ana after a time every imprint of his foot on the snow bears a red stain from his cut and bleeding paws. At such times the dog-boot is called into requisition by thedriver, principally for policy, but occasionally, let us hope out of humanity. The dog-boot is generally made of raw-hide, and is simply shaped like a small bag or pocket. This is drawn over the foot of the animal and made securt by tying it round the ankle with a leather string. Thus protected, if the surface of the snow is pretty level, these wonderful Esqui maux dogs will travel at the rate of forty miles a day for many days in succession.— Journal of Chemistry. -Wilkie Collins is said to be a short man. He has got lots of company.