PATHOS. 



Mr. H. G. Jeffery, of the Fifth Mounted Infantry, stationed at the Modder 

 River, Cape Colony, sends "Owr Dogs" the following interesting and pathetic 

 account of the retnr* home of the Boers after the war: 



"Peace has con . u last. Mothers, both English and Dutch, have been relieved 

 of great anxiety; the aaily searching of the papers, the terrible uncertainty; is all 

 over. Briton and Boer are now united; the latter are now returning to their 

 homes. 



"Let us accompany a young burgher who has escaped from the terrible con- 

 flict. Go with him back to the old homestead beneath the 'kop,' on the threshold 

 of what was once his happy home now nothing more than a desolate ruin. He 

 sits down on all that is left of the 'stoep,' lost in reverie. He is fighting all his 

 battles over again, thinking of those who had sat on that same 'stoep' three years 

 ago. The sun is just settling with that gloriousness for which the African veldt 

 alone is famous. The stillness is more than he can bear, and he could almost weep 

 for very loneliness. But hark! He is not alone; softly a cold nose pushes itself 

 into his hand, and two wistful, loving eyes are upturned to his. 'Tis his old 

 dog, a skeleton of former days; too weak almost to stand, but who has remained 

 faithfully watching the old home, never expecting to hear his beloved master's 

 voice again. I know there are plenty of canine hearts and tongues left amongst 

 : the ruined homesteads that will give a hearty welcome to their long-lost masters." 



THE ENGLISH BULLDOG, 



"There is probably no dog who boasts a longer pedigree, or of which the breed 

 has been preserved as pure as the bulldog. The ancient Romans knew and appre 

 ciated his dauntless courage. There is little doubt that only one race of "broad 

 mouthed dogs" existed at this time, and that the dog so-called was the progenitor 

 of our bulldog of today. These early bulldogs, however, were of a somewhat dif- 

 ferent type, being much iarger ] broader in the lower jaw and longer in the upper, 

 but always underhung; they had larger ears, lips more pendant, and long tails, as 

 they appear in paintings during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. 

 Dr. Caius, in 1576, gives an excellent description of these dogs under the name ot 

 'Mastyne/ or 'Bandogge,' and they were so-called until bull-baiting came into favor 

 in the reign of James I.; from this brutal sport they derive their name, bulldog. 

 In 1835 bull-baiting was abolished by act of Parliament, but up to about 1875, when 

 the English Bulldog Club with its standard of points was established, the dogs 

 were mostly owned by sporting men, and weighed from eighty to one hundred 

 pounds, but have been bred down to their present weight, which is forty to fifty 

 pounds. I will give only an outline of his general appearance. He impresses one 

 at first glamce with his enormous head and forequarters, short back, small hind- 

 quarters, head carried low, and the movement a rolling or sloughing gait. As we 

 examine him more closely we find .that the underjaw is very broad and heavy, pro- 

 jecting beyond the upper one, showing the small, even teeth, lips and nose 

 always black, broad cheek bones, nose rather small, set well back between the eyes 

 and lower jaw. In addition a dog should have a deep indentation between the 

 eyes and nose called the 'stop.' Eyes very dark, small, sour looking in repose, set 

 wide apart. Ears small, fairly thin, placed well up on side of head with an inward 

 fold and semi-erect, forming the 'rose-ear.' Add to this plenty of wrinkle, a good 

 'lay-back,' and a heavy dewlap, and the head is complete. Shoulders and chest 

 broad and massive, forelegs a little bowed and wide apart, big ribs, a short 'roach' 

 back, well cut up loin, hind legs apparently longer than the fore ones, and medium 

 length tail, crooked for choice, set low and carried downward. The most popular 

 color is a rich dark reddish brindle, though the lighter brindle, fawn or Dudley 

 colored, or white with brindle markings are all permissible. 



"Much has been said and written against the disposition of the bulldog, claim- 

 ing that he is ugly, ferocious, quarrelsome and lacking in intelligence. It has been 

 my experience that they are tractable, full of affection, and possess remarkable 

 reasoning powers and a wonderful memory for either kindness or injury. They 

 are very sensitive to praise or to ridicule, and while they are excellent watchdogs, 

 are very quiet, seldom barking, and when they do only one or two short muffled 

 barks and a deep growl. They do not start a fight, but if thoroughly roused are 

 difficult to stop." 



