KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



167 



regretting also that I should submit to what they 

 considered an imposition in paying for a railway 

 box when I carried the dog myself. There 

 might be a remark on the trouble to myself, but 

 not the most distant hint of " disgust " to them. 

 I have much pleasure in recalling the unvarying 

 good temper and obliging disposition of my 

 fellow travellers; and though imperfectly ex- 

 pressing my thanks at the time, I have not for- 

 gotten a glass of water, a piece of sugar or bis- 

 cuit, kindly given my four-footed companion. It 

 does not appear that I could have said as much, 

 had my journey been in England — could I, Mr. 

 Editor? People differ, so do dogs. Some of the 

 latter will fawn upon the first -comer, and be not 

 unhappy when left in good quarters. A poor 

 creature technically called " well broke" (some- 

 thing like a " perfect lady's horse " which is 

 generally without a leg to stand on), whose tail has 

 been docked, ears cropped, tongue slit ; "wormed," 

 I think they call the operation ; changed from 

 one person to another, must necessarily have less 

 power of attachment. Mine I brought up by 

 hand, and allowed no interference with. The 

 first time I left him behind (two days) he re- 

 fused food. The second he howled incessantly. 

 He has more than once risked his life, whilst 

 breaking panes of glass to jump out of the 

 windows to follow me where he could not be ad- 

 mitted. And because, slighting my own comfort, 

 and toilette, to which he is very detrimental, I 

 compassionately part with him as little as possible, 

 I am told — -I am outraging common decorum! 

 Mille graces, Messieurs! Dogs differ, and so do 

 people. As a young girl, I offended an elder 

 brother by declining to kiss his pet-cat. I had no 

 liking for the animal, besides a personal griev- 

 ance in having had my upper lip cut through by 

 one. And now, as an old woman, a Younger 

 Brother insists I am " horrible, disgusting, 

 shameless, shocking, atrocious" — is there anything 

 more? —because I fondle my own dog ! There is 

 an ancient story of a painter ; another I think of 

 a man, a child, and a donkey. The moral of 

 each is similar and too trite to quote. The con ■ 

 elusion I have drawn is^this, that, as I love my dog 

 — don't ask any one else to love him — don't feel I 

 am offending feminine delicacy in giving him air 

 and exercise — and as I see there are those who 

 do so whom it would be rather bold even in a 

 " younger brother " to charge with immodesty, 

 I shall, contumaciously, go on as hitherto, ob- 

 serving that I do not lavish, or encourage en- 

 dearments in public. I have seen a lady at a 

 soiree, in white satin and blond, fairy-like 

 flowers in her hair, the pearls of an Ondine round 

 her throat, take up her dog, poser as if for an 

 engraving in the " Book of Beauty/' — when, the 

 desired " sensation" produced, the " effect" rea- 

 lised,, — or perhaps a dubious smile detected, the 

 poor animal was " flounced " down (pray pardon 

 the word 7 none other offers itself to me) in a 

 manner the reverse of gentle. Jt was not " ido- 

 lised" in this instance. I would rather it had 

 been so ; having a respect for real and true, even 

 though mistaken, feeling. It may not be irre- 

 levant to inquire something of those who have 

 unwittingly drawn upon themselves such severe 

 strictures. In some instances, the delinquency 

 may proceed from a degree of coquetry. A fair 



hand looks yet fairer when caressing the black 

 silky coat of Fidele. This scarcely deserves to 

 have the lash so very heavily laid on ; indeed a 

 short period of time would provide a remedy : 

 while, if the damsel possesses a spice of " saucy 

 Kate" in her temperament, the evil complained of 

 is more likely to be rendered persistent by over- 

 energetic opposition. Amongst others, may be 

 found some who have b°-en sacrificed " even on 

 the altars of their household gods" — who, dis- 

 appointed in their hope, when hope was rea- 

 sonable, may (pardonably) not be inclined to try 

 further — who, without being misanthropes or 

 misogynists wishing well to all, yet shun a con- 

 tact for which, having no longer a share in 

 common interests and pursuits, they are unfit, 

 and which must necessarily awaken a keener 

 sense of the dreariness of their own path. Let me 

 avail myself of an abler pen. " " Some are born 

 to more ill usage and more exposure to blights, 

 frosts and blasts than others; while, from an 

 excess of sensitiveness, they can less bear them. 

 Some have found friends, and cheers, and praise, 

 and exaltation, who do not seem very well to 

 deserve them. While others with innocence, and 

 energy, and capacity,have been thwarted at every 

 step." It will, I think, frequently be found that 

 something of this exists when exaggerated affec- 

 tion is observed. Exaggerated, but oh! not unna- 

 tural. Mr. Editor, it is not unnatural to love a crea- 

 ture that patiently bears its owner's every mood, 

 gives a share of his affection to whatever she 

 loves, and would die for her! In the cases I 

 allude to, and although unobtrusive it may be 

 feared they are not rare, the remarks of your 

 correspondent are calculated to give pain ; and on 

 this account I really must contest their justice. 

 " Contempt is seldom deserved where it is felt ; 

 or felt, where it is deserved." I think a 

 Younger Brother's animadversions will not be 

 taken to heart by the happy and heedless, but by 

 thos^ who are neither. Individually, I will 

 observe my dog has a malady, which endear- 

 ments may soothe, but cannot cure. He is 

 getting old, and could ill bear a change of treat- 

 ment he has not merited, — possessing, in a re- 

 markable degree, the good qualities of his race. 

 Moreover, we do not shock people's nerves by 

 saluting in public, — only once, when I had a 

 tooth extracted, and he could not help showing 

 his sympathy. It were needless to add I am not 

 wroth with the Editor of Our amiable Journal. 

 "Cocoa" still remains "a solitary instance;" 

 and my object will be attained if, " dear Mr. 

 Kidd," you will only admit "" there is no rule 

 without an exception." If after all y I deserve " a 

 penance," I have imposed one on myself. I have 

 translated an article principally from a pretty 

 book, called Voyage autour de mon Jardin, by 

 A. Karr, in the hope (should it not appear to 

 you too badly done), to please your cor- 

 respondent, the amiable Sylvia, whose gentle 

 heart would win all to participate in the enjoy- 

 ments she herself so well knows how to appre- 



Clate ' FORESTIERA. 



[The sincere esteem we entertain for you, 

 Forestiera — " gentle" Forestiera — induces us 

 to let you have the last word ; the more readily, as 

 we have said all we wish to say on the subject, 



