 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
INDIGNATION MEETING.
THE enforcement of the law requiring
our canine friends and
fellow-citizens to wear collars
about their necks — a servile
mark, which no dog of spirit could for a moment consent
to wear — caused, as might be supposed, much growling
among them; and many teeth were shown, and much
dogged determination was evinced to resist the law.
Acting upon this feeling, the more energetic of the Caninites
went round among their brethren counselling them
to withstand the law, and telling them, besides, that the
rights of universal puppydom were in their keeping, and
asking them, in tones of earnest entreaty, if they would
see those rights sacrificed without a struggle.
This appeal was effectual, and a meeting was forthwith
assembled at the old slaughter-house, on South Boston
flats, to discuss the great question of resistance. It was
composed chiefly of dogs whose necks had never chafed
dogs, bone-gnawing dogs; of dogs not nursed in the lap
of luxury or pampered by the indulgence of favoring
masters; none of the silk-eared and soft-footed aristocracy;
but there were the Huge Paws from Roxbury
Neck, the Shagbarks from the North End, and the Tough
and Roughers from West Boston, and many of minor
note. Not a smile marked their meeting, not a tail
wagged, not a bark disturbed the stillness, and anybody
with half an eye could see that each heart was nerved
with mighty resolution.
The meeting was organized by the choice of Cæsar,
the biggest dog present, for president; and Plato, a lean
dog in specs, who had been very active in getting up the
meeting, and who was known to be an excellent reporter,
was appointed scribe. Some said, in an under tone,
aside, that the scribe had nominated himself, but his
well-known modesty precluded the possibility of this, and
it may be set down as a slander.
The chairman, on taking his seat, stood up, and, after
wagging his tail in silence for some moments, expressive
of his deep emotion, he then proceeded to make a speech
describing the object of the meeting, characterized by all
the profundity, eloquence, brilliancy, and power, that has
rendered the name of Cæsar immortal, and that has
more or less marked the efforts of every chairman of every
meeting since when the memory of man or dog knoweth
not the contrary. We regret very much that we have
not this great speech to print. In recommending union
in their action, he related an original anecdote about an
received with tremendous applause.
There was a struggle for the floor as the chairman
ceased, and, amidst much yelping, it was assigned to
Cato, an old setter, who called upon his hearers to keep
cool and not be in too much of a hurry; they would
accomplish more by masterly inactivity than by thrusting
their necks in the way of the danger; they must remember
the conduct of an ancient member of their race, — he
must refer to it, although it was humiliating to think that
a dog should be such a fool, — who dropped a piece of
beef he had in his mouth for its shadow in the water.
Prudence, with both eyes wide open tight, would remove
them out of the way of trouble; as a last word he would
advise them to lay low and look out for bricks — a species
of dog-bane inimical to canine constitutions.
A heavy old, dark-browed dog here arose, who commenced
to bay violently against the law and those who
were enforcing it. He was astonished, he was paralyzed,
he was dumfounded to hear dogs counsel coolness in this
crisis! The policemen are upon us! We have already
felt our tails within their degrading fingers! I hold
them and their leader in detestation! He! I would
bark at the woman who does his washing, I hate him so!
I would point at him in State-street, though not naturally
a pointer! I would show my teeth at him wherever
I met him! His excitement overpowered him, and he
sat down.
Ponto, a large, gnarly, hard-looking dog, here arose,
and it was doubtful for a time if he could be heard, for
the noise and confusion which prevailed among the opposers
sacred a thing to be handled without gloves; it was the
palladium of our liberty. If the law was oppressive, as it
doubtless was, he would suggest, in his reverence for
law, that they grin and bear it; if their necks were a
little chafed, the evil would be mitigated by the reflection
that the law was inviolate. Individual grievance was
nothing in comparison with this grand idea. Everything
that is legal is right; what is wrong in the individual
may become right in law. Did the law require him to
fasten the collar upon his own neck or upon the necks of
those with whom he was allied, he would not hesitate
to do it, in his regard for the law; he would” —
He was here pulled down by his tail, when, amid the
shaggy hair which thickly covered his neck, a collar was
discovered, fitting closely to the skin! Amid the confusion
attending this discovery, he sneaked away.
A sandy-haired dog, named Carlo, next took the
floor, and snarled ominously as he commenced. He had
but few words to say. He would ask them if they were
going to allow this law to be enforced? For his part he
would fill his pockets with pistols, and with a twenty-four-pounder
under each arm would he go alone to
oppose it!
His remarks produced an immense sensation among
the younger portion of the audience. A cry was here
made for “Bones.” A venerable dog arose, whose appearance
excited respect. He gained his feet with much
difficulty, and it was perceived that he had a wooden leg,
and bore about his person sundry other marks of dilapidation.
“My brethren,” said he, when the cheering which
had greeted him had subsided, “you have before you but
a sorry dog; but such as I am is all that was left over
from that fatal nineteenth of April, when so many of our
race were served up cold. I was then young and ardent.
At the first howl of danger, I left the bone I was gnawing,
and threw myself into the front rank of the defenders
of my race. Alas! my friends; I soon found that I
was barking up the wrong tree, and discovered, too, that
canine sagacity, however good it might be in saving
children from drowning, or worrying cats, could never
cope with humanity armed with clubs and actuated by
the love of money. In a bloody fray my leg was broken
with an ignominious brick; in another my termination
was curtailed; in another my right eye closed in darkness
on the world forever. With this view of the power
of man, and of our own weakness, I would counsel
caution — submission, even — for the present, resting in
the assurance of the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy
of the good time coming, when `every dog shall have
his day!' when, basking in the broad sunshine of
beneficent law, we may catch flies in peaceful security,
fearing not the butcher's art, fearing not the urchins'
mischief, who, so reckless of our feelings, persist in
ornamenting our extremities with cast-off culinary utensils.”
This speech produced a great sensation, awakening the
president, who had fallen asleep during the pathetic part
of it; and a few sensitive pups near the door were so
deeply affected that they had to go out and take a little
whine to restore their strength. The scribe, who had
not to submit them, and let them drop back in his pocket,
to read some other time to private admirers; and the
meeting dissolved.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
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