A POPULAR DELUSION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue IV, 25 July 1896, Page 103

A POPULAR DELUSION.

Thbrf. is a popular belief in the colonies and everywhere else, for that matter, that the professional tramp has an instinctive fear of the canine race, but the following interview with * a gentle man of the road ' shows that we have been relying without good reason on the protection which a big watch dog is supposed to afford : — • Am I afraid of dogs ?’ repeated the tramp, as he leaned against the wall to rub his itching shoulder. « Well, that’s a queer question to ask a feller who’s been on the tramp for fifteen years. What's dogs got to do with it?*

•It is said that dogs have an instinctive aversion to tramps,’ replied the interviewer. • Mebte they hev, but the tramp ain’t worryin’ about that as I knows of. If dogs was all we had to look out fur we’d be a happy lot. 'Who’s bin stuffin’ you about dogs?’ • Weren’t you ever bitten by a dog ?’

’Of course, but that was when I was green at the bix. After the first six months no dog ever hankered art er my legs. When you read about a farmer's dog humpin' a tramp over the fence, don't you take no stock in it. It’s all guff.’

■ Well, how do you protect yourself?’ *ln the first place, dogs are afraid of tramps. Nine out of ten of ’em will growl a few times and then sneak awav. They seem to jest figger that a tramp wouldn't be sloshin' around like he is if he wasn't loaded for dogs. The books all tell ye to look a dog in the eye. but no tramp is fool 'naff for that. If you do he’ll figger that ye are defying him and bite ye sure. Jest look at his paws instead. That’ll bother and annoy him and make him turn tail. If a dog rashes out on me of a sudden I stand still. When he sees that I don’t run he argues that I’m dangerous. I’ve had fifty farmers "sic” a dog on me. but I simply back slowly away and never got a bite. I’ve run onto dogs in yards, barns, and sheds and skeert ’em half to death by making a “ buz-z-z-z-z-z" with my teeth shut.’

■ But you do find a dangerous dog once in a while ? persisted the questioner.

‘ Oh. of course.’ replied the tramp, as he scratched the other shoulder. * Yes. we find a dog now and then who lacks good sense and we hev to help him out.’ ’ How do vou do it ?’

• With a handful of dry sand or fine-cut tobacco. As he jumps we throw the stuff into his eyes, and if the owner of the dog hain’t clus behind him a feller kin hev ten minutes of solid fun watchin’ the circus. That dog mav live for ten years arter that date, but he’ll never meddle with another tramp. Dogs—humph 1 Say. gimme a quarter and bring on yer bulldog and tell him to climb fur me '.’