In the Jungle

1905

William Astor Chanler was one of the guests as a dinner given in Washington by Count Cassini. During this dinner a young woman congratulated Mr. Chanler on his energetic and successful life. She praised ardently his two books, "Through Jungle and Desert" and "Travels in Eastern Africa." Finally she asked him to describe a real typical jungle for her.

Mr. Chanler smiled. "A real jungle, a typical jungle?" he said. "Well, I should describe a jungle of that sort as a forest of fishhooks, relieved by an occasional patch of penknives."


Intelligence of Dogs

It is well known that dogs of certain breeds especially, have a considerable amount of intelligence. As the constant companion of man through generations the brain of the dog has been developing, until at the present time it is probable that this animal can be more easily trained than any other.

For something like eighty years the monks of St. Bernard have trained and used dogs to rescue travelers lost in the snow. In Europe many of the armies, inspired by this idea, employ dogs to seek out the wounded on the field of battle and thus aid in the work of the ambulance corps. In Germany dogs are attached to the ambulance service in many regiments, and were employed in the Herrero expedition in Africa. In Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Russia and America dogs are utilized in ambulance work.

A Street Incident and Royalty

1896

A significant circumstance occurred during a visit of the Emperor of Germany to England. The kaiser was for one day the guest of the lord mayor, and the city of London received him and several of the queen's children on that day.

The old city was splendidly decorated, and set for a great public function. The streets from Buckingham palace to the lord mayor's mansion were lined with infantry and cavalry, back of whom was a solid mass of people.

Between these lines the royal carriages slowly passed. They moved in almost absolute silence, save for the perfunctory salutes of the soldiery. The queen was not present, and for mere royalty as royalty, there was apparently no popular feeling save that of curiosity.

When, however, the carriage of the Princess of Wales appeared, and her sweet, kind face was seen, the applause grew enthusiastic. Suddenly a burst of cheers was heard, as a low, black wagon came swiftly down the thronged street. It was the ambulance of a hospital, which has precedence everywhere, carrying some wounded man to receive succor. The crowd paid homage to charity in a sincere though inappropriate fashion.

In it was a hint which the scions of the ruling families of Europe present should have understood. Queen Victoria knows that her people pay allegiance to her more as a wise, good woman, wife and mother than as one of the House of Hanover.

"The divinity which doth hedge a king" must now have its bases in humanity and personal respect rather than in descent or etiquette.


Standardize the Bike

A proposition has been made recently by bicycle riders to several agents and manufacturers of bicycles that the manufacturers get together in a convention and agree to reduce numerous parts of their different machines to standard proportions.

Lover Fell From Tree, Washing Machine Company President

Cincinnati, 1903

LOVER FELL FROM TREE

Andrew Smith Driven to Sore Straits by Teasing.

CINCINNATI, March 2 — The ambulance of F. & W. Siefke was sent to Groesbeck, Ohio, at an early hour this morning for the purpose of removing an injured man to the City Hospital. The request for the ambulance came from the postmaster of that village.

According to meager information received by Mr. Siefke the injured man is Andrew J. Smith, who is the President of the "Latest Invention Triple Action Washing Machine Company," at 812 Elm street. Mr. Smith was violently in love with a young woman, and that as a result of his courtship he was subjected to the jibes of his associates. This affected Mr. Smith greatly. Last evening, in his wanderings, he climbed a tree, lost his balance and fell, sustaining internal injuries. Now the jokers are sorry.

—The Daily Republican-News, Hamilton, Ohio, March 2, 1903, page 1.

Comment: It'd be terrible to wake up and see this about yourself in the paper. Plus, the report could be a bit mangled up, since there doesn't seem to be any obvious connection between the jibes and his climbing the tree and falling out. That the jokers are sorry is probably an unwarranted conclusion of the reporter, since it all happened at an early hour just this morning.

Note: I made a change. The name of the company in the original article had the word "Sriple" that probably should be "Triple," going with Action a lot more. And isn't that a great old-fashioned name from those days of inventions and progress, "Latest Invention Triple Action Washing Machine Company." Thinking about it, it doesn't sound right yet, but, we must let it go...

Ambulance Horse Sad To Be Replaced By Monstrous Motor Ambulance

Atlanta, 1913

Replaced by Motor Ambulance, "Faithful John" Dying of Grief

Faithful John awoke in his stall attached to Grady Hospital one morning not so long ago and began munching the customary breakfast of hay. As his eyes roved over the familiar interior of the stable they alighted upon a bulky intruder which looked as if it had come to stay. There was something suspicious about the monster-on-wheels that stood near Faithful John in the stables, and when he had finished his morning meal he began to inspect it and to meditate. In the midst of meditation there came a whirr and clang clang from the big gong at the far end of the stables. It was the emergency ambulance call.

Faithful John threw up his head, champed his bit and stamped and pawed the ground in eager anticipation. The stable attaches never did come quick enough for the loyal horse when the overhead gong summoned him to a wild dash across the streets. Faithful John awaited nervously, but no attache came to unloose him and lead him under the swinging harness.

Instead, a small, alert young man leaped to the seat of the suspicious monster who had come that morning, started a roar somewhere in its depths, clanged an unfamiliar gong and yelled a precautionary Lookout. The huge thing snorted and raged and chugged through the door of the stable, leaving a choking, blinding cloud of vapor behind.

John realized his doom. They were replacing him with one of the horseless devils he encountered every day on the streets — one of those things that whizz by with a snort and a roar. He had been a good horse and faithful and had never failed to answer the joyous summons from the big gong overhead. But now they were done with him, he was out-of-date and science had furnished something that could do more than he, and do it better and faster.

That was about a year ago. Ever since Grady's auto ambulance has performed the duties that once were performed, unassisted, by "Faithful John." The only runs he makes nowadays are when the machine ambulance is in the repair shop or on another call. And, although he dashes through the streets with the same avidity as of old he is breaking down with grief and his heart has been broken by the automobile.

He is 23 years old and has been in service for the hospital for seventeen of these. Dr. W. B. Summerall, superintendent of Grady, estimated yesterday that Faithful John had made as many as 25,000 runs and had covered fully as many as 50,000 miles, or more. In that time he is estimated to have saved as many as 100 lives or better. He is the fastest horse ever connected with the hospital or with any ambulance service in the city.

So far as can be ascertained, this horse's record outrivals the record of any heretofore brought to notice. Recently a fire horse in New York claimed a record of 15,000 runs. This was said to have been the highest ever attained.

Even though he becomes of no use whatever to the hospital Faithful John will be retained by Grady until his death. Then he will be buried with deserving honors and his grave will be somewhere in the fields where there are no roadways and where no rival automobiles can snort their noisy way to disturb his final slumbers as they disturbed his peace and happiness in life.

— The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 13, 1913, page 2B.