IT WAS NEWS TO HIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 26, 27 June 1891, Page 120

IT WAS NEWS TO HIM.

Henry M. Stanley is nothing marvellous to look at, and, when wandering around, he is careful never to arouse a suspicion of his identity. The morning following his arrival at a Californian hotel, a guest named Schonewald, was taking his St Bernard dog for its customary run over by the club-house. While it gambolled around in the grass, a little man with a gray moustache, wearing a peaked cap, approached and asked him was species of dog it was. ‘Oh,' said Schonewald, facetiously, ‘that is the great elephant dog that Mr Stanley brought with him from Africa.’ ‘ Yes ?’ said the little man.

‘ The greatest dog in the world, continued Schonewald, giving his imagination rein. • Yes, my word, how he does go after elephants through the jungle ! Jumps on their backs, bites their th roats—brave ? Well !’

‘ Indeed,’ quoth the little man, ‘ I did not know that they hunted elephants with dogs.’ ‘ Oh, yes,’ the manager assured him, * That dog often saved Stanley’s life ; swam him across a liver once when he thought he would drown.’ ‘ No, he did not,’ said the little man, positively. ‘ That’s going too far ; no dog ever saved his life.’ ‘ No?’ said Mr Schonewald, with lofty sarcasm, ‘how do you know so much ?’ * I am Stanley.’