4 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



have been pressed into the service of the many and 

 some highly accomplished troupes of performing dogs, 

 which the great increase of music halls throughout the 

 kingdom as well as the continent have brought for- 

 ward. I have at different times seen Great Danes, 

 Scotch Deer Hounds, Dalmatians, Poodles, and many 

 members of some of the Terrier and Spaniel families 

 and hosts of undoubted mongrels taking part in these 

 entertainments, as well as occasionally Greyhounds and 

 Collies, but these were, I think, exclusively engaged in 

 jumping competitions, when a sort of steeplechase was 

 arranged. These come under the category of " utility 

 dogs," as they assist their owners in gaining a living, 

 and the same may be said of the blind men's dogs, 

 which are a great multitude, and enjoy freedom from 

 taxation, on the ground of their value to their helpless 

 owners. 



Another interesting class of utility dogs are those 

 we see at so many of our railway stations and 

 other public places with a small box hanging under 

 their chins, in which may be placed any donations the 

 charitable are disposed to give to the " Railway Ser- 

 vants' Benevolent Association," or some other charita- 

 ble object, and from the way the animals run up to 

 passengers, to be noticed, and wait, patiently, while a 

 coin is found, and placed in their boxes, gives one the 

 idea they know what is going on, and that the credit 

 of a " good haul " at the end of the day, will be in 

 some measure reflected on the carrier of the collecting 

 box! I have often been surprised to see mentioned, 

 in the newspapers, the large sums a single dog has been 



