Giants in Those Days
Lincoln and Washington: they’ve come up before here at the blog. Bernie looked them up. Here are a couple.
Washington: 12/18/2009
“Anyway, Washington liked dogs a lot. He bred them for his fox hunts, so he had lots of hounds especially. Some were Truelove, Tippler and Sweet Lips. At the Battle of Germantown in October 1777, a little terrier got loose from the British side and wandered onto the battlefield. The dog was rescued by the Americans and from the collar they could see he belonged to General Howe. Some wanted to keep him as a way of annoying the enemy, but Washington called a truce and had the dog returned. He even wrote a note to General Howe – I think it’s in the Library of Congress.”
Lincoln: 12/15/2009
“Speaking of Lincoln,” Bernie says, “he had a mustard-colored dog named Fido. A real ol’yaller who followed him around Springfield. And one of the first dogs ever photographed. But he left Fido with a neighbor when the Lincolns went to Washington, something about Fido being frightened by all the cannon fire and bell ringing that was going to happen on the trip.”
Cannon fire? Bell ringing? Sounds good to me.
“When they brought Lincoln back to Springfield, Fido was still alive. He went back to his original home that day and spent time with the mourners. There was also a White House dog named Jip who often ate lunch with Lincoln, sometimes on his lap so he’d be in a good spot for treats.”
“And now,” Bernie says, “for my annual recitation of the Second Inaugural.” I get comfortable under the kitchen table, listen to the words streaming by. Love the sound of Bernie’s voice, and the whole thing’s over too soon.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Tags: Lincoln, Washington
This entry was posted on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
4:17 am on February 15th, 2010
I love dogs. I'm glad to see that some of our Presidents did also. Though holding them up by the ears??
Anyhoo, Can't live without dogs, but sometimes? I am reminded of not one of our pack, but a story of one of our pups who went out into the world. Merlyn as a puppy liked to move the living room furniture. You know, the heavy stuff. But that isn't the story.
His owner left an unopened bag of sugar on the counter for less than five minutes. She had taken Merlyn for a walk in the rain prior to that absence of mind, and when she came back??
Merlyn met her at the door as a glazed Newfoundland. Sugar glaze from nose to tail. She said, "Just what have you been into, young man?"
So tail high and wagging, he took her to the kitchen. She had a glazed kitchen. She's not sure how it got in the toaster.
Having brain fog for awhile, I just discovered how (Was it Mollypop?) found the log. Interesting, always wondered why some names were different.
MORE HOT CHOCOLATE!
4:27 am on February 15th, 2010
Melanie – I found your website easily. I could say because I'm a standard poodle with a poufy (fierce) tail that I'm extra smart and good at that stuff, but then Cmdr. Rio will have something to say about that. Or maybe I could say that you furnished the url when you replied on this DogBlog. Either way, those newfs are great, glazed or unglazed.
4:38 am on February 15th, 2010
How come everyone can find Melanie's Newf website except us cats?? Mom really wants to see the Newfs…Somebody help??
5:37 am on February 15th, 2010
Wow,
Chet, I have water in my eyes, just a little, from Bernie's recitation of the second inaugural. Pay special attention Rio to the "malice toward none, with charity toward all" bit.
To whoever posted that picture of Alice after you were through with her (my memory is like Chet's) you are wrong…that looks like Alice when her present staff found her years ago, homeless and starving. And look at her now, as B.Stover noticed, "very intelligent and alert".
Melanie: Frosted Newfoundlander – now there's a clean up job. Wonder if you could get that Pug screen cleaner to help.
5:40 am on February 15th, 2010
Gus and BooBear, my Mom left a comment the other day, you must've missed it – but all you have to do is click on any name that's in blue.
If you click on my name it goes to my Mom's blog where there's lots of drawings of Moi, if you click on Melanie's name, there's here site with all the Newfs, if you click on A-Kat's there's another blog!
That was one other thing Mom mentioned, that B.Stover's and Megan/Lexi's links don't work – we hope you can find out what's wrong so we can check them out!
5:46 am on February 15th, 2010
Wonderful post Chet, we enjoyed it eventhough it had nothing to do with book three, although that was kinda disappointing, we had our hopes up.
Maggie, that's so cool your Mom got to meet Prez. Obama!
Great frosted tail Melanie!
Jenifer, sorry to hear your friends can't see our members in the nation unless they sneak us in – wow, that's even more amazing that I get to go to lots of hospitals and schools and they don't blink an eye – except the library though. My Mom wanted to start a program with me where kids read to me who have trouble and they won't let her! We're just going to keep looking. Give your friends a big slobber and tailwag for me!
6:20 am on February 15th, 2010
Hey Guys (and Gals too). Great article in today's Washington Post about a golden retriever (my breed too) named Salsa, who helps track lost dogs so that they can be returned to their human families. Is that cool or what. Sounds a little bit like what Chet does, but perhaps without all the perps. Let's hear it for Salsa and all the other members of the nation within a nation whose "work" makes like better for all of us. Seems like a great way to celebrate Presidents Day. P.S. More snow on the way here in Chevy Chase, but hopefully only a couple of inches. P.S.S. This is the link to the Washington Post article (you may have to register first, not sure how that works). Yours faithfully, Wooks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
6:26 am on February 15th, 2010
Thanks, Cosmo!! Mom is pretty techno-ignorant so she never would have figured that out. We'll check out the pics!!
6:51 am on February 15th, 2010
Chet, I think Bernie know too much about everything. He has weird mood swings, such as these. And I was SO looking forward to the scene from book 3!!!!!
Rio, I think ALICE is our next target! Dont you think?!
7:05 am on February 15th, 2010
Lexi!…Why Yes!…Grunt!… just imagine a Great Big Red Dot on her lovely face…. Snort!
10:19 am on February 15th, 2010
Gasp!…Chet’s post doesn’t look at all like an excerpt from book 3….Snort!…Snort!… You just couldn’t help yourself, could you Alice??…growl!!
Snort!… I wonder how you did it?…Growl!… maybe it was something as simple as Spence’s bad memory….Snuffle… maybe you moved stuff around on his desk and then when he sat down to do this morning’s post…Grumble!… he was confused and disoriented…Snort!…and just to make sure he wouldn’t remember his PROMISE about book 3!…Groan!… you left copies of a couple of his old Posts about Washington and Lincoln’s dogs lying around…SNORT!… Clever Alice, very clever!
10:20 am on February 15th, 2010
Damn!… I blew my diet today….Snort!…
Gruff!…do you guys think Bernie is rich now?… grunt!…what with his Tin Futures and all…Snort!…If we ever get to see Book 3 …snort!… I just wonder if his finances will be sorted out…Grunt!
[img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1266265216-rio_candy.JPG[/img]
10:30 am on February 15th, 2010
On the subject of Presidents, my Mom got to meet our right-now President. No sure what that is, but I think it is like a really big Pack Leader. This was way before my time, when she says he was trying to be a smaller Pack Leader in our state. Nobody had heard of him yet, so she went to this little meet and greet thing, and got to talk to him and even shake his hand. That’s something humans do, but I like our sniff method better. Mom says he was way cool, but I could have told her that, cause he has Bo, one of our tribe, living with his family in that big, big house. Maggie
11:11 am on February 15th, 2010
Listen Commander!
Reese's Peanut butter cups – while tasty – aren't good for…
(who am I kidding – I love them too).
You're definitely a cutie-pie – for a Commander.
11:56 am on February 15th, 2010
Rio, You a looker! When I was telling you all that nice stuff about Pugs that Mom read, I left out the part about snorting and rumbling like an old man. But you're still cute. Mag-pie
12:05 pm on February 15th, 2010
Aww – Cmdr. Rio – How are we going to accomplish our espionage when you look so darn cute. Now my Mom wants to go to your house and give you huggie-wuggies.
12:25 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wookie – enough of this snow stuff. Remember I said I live in Buffalo, NY, for crying out loud. Mom is unhappy about not getting snow because she skis, so I have to have her in the house singing (and dancing) this Mollipop oh Molli Molli song. A-Kat gave her the whole youtube thingy! Maybe it was secretly Alice Johnson who was trying to drive me crazy. Aha! It was really that Alice!
12:47 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wha!?…’Cute’ wasn’t exactly what I was going for in that Pose…Grunt!… I think you guys all need glasses…snort!
So!?…no one has any opinions about Bernie and his Tin Futures in the future??…Grunt!
1:27 pm on February 15th, 2010
Westminster starts today!! Sure wish Chet could get there. He would create a whole new atmosphere.
This link will take you to the video of the show. We're waiting for the Breed videos to come up. They haven't yet for today.
Tomorrow the Newfoundlands will be on at 9:45 am or there about. Can't wait to see that video.
A group of us went down on the train a few years ago to attend the show. A friend's dog was in it. The stories abounded!! None I can tell here. The conductor had a great time listening in. The laughter was great.
Good luck to all the great dogs! (Even the poodles, Mollypop)
http://video.westminsterkennelclub.org/player/?id…
1:45 pm on February 15th, 2010
My groomer, Sandy D'Andrea, has TWO of her big wolves (she calls them malamutes, but I mean, ya gotta see 'em) in the Westminster show this time. Wowie! Miss Sandy puts a leash on them (good thing here) and then runs around the show ring. The running part is just like Chet and Princess.
2:10 pm on February 15th, 2010
There's definitely going to be some channel changing back & forth here between Westminster & the Olympics & 24 (1 of Mom and Dad's favorite shows) What a night. No offense to Pugs, Rio, but we're pulling for the working dogs!!!
2:29 pm on February 15th, 2010
Well Commander Rio, I must say I think I know why you are jealous of the beauteous Alice Johnson. On the other hand I really really like your picture and think it reveals the essential Rio. The Reese's peanut butter cup wrapping is just the perfect touch of color in the photo.
You sort of remind me of Yoda of Star Wars fame.
AbbietheKitty (or is it?)
2:33 pm on February 15th, 2010
~ As to Bernie being rich? Nope. I don't think that is in the plot line. I think Bernie is going to live on the edge because it makes a better story. We would like Bernie to be rich but I think it would make the stories a little boring.
PS~Hi Jenifer Dawson and Lonnie. We are thinking about you up there in the cold.
Abbie the Kitty for sure.
2:44 pm on February 15th, 2010
Nice mug Rio! Diet, what's that? I used to be a trash hound so I'll eat anything.
We'll be flipping back and forth between the show and Olympics too…ahhh, I'll never forget UNO from a few years ago – now HE was a beagle!
2:48 pm on February 15th, 2010
Can someone tell me what channel the Dog show is on? I love to watch them trot around so nicely. Very un-cat-like.
I have trouble with changing channels and have to get someone who understands SAT TV to help.
AbbietheKitty
2:48 pm on February 15th, 2010
Here he is after his big win!
[img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1266281289-uno-the-beagle-robert-caplin-for-the-new-york-times.jpg[/img]
2:50 pm on February 15th, 2010
Hey A-Kat, the show is on USA, enjoy!
2:53 pm on February 15th, 2010
OHhhhhh Uno is indeed a beauty! Abbie might be in love. He is sure the right size for her.
Thanks Cosmo!
A-Kat
3:09 pm on February 15th, 2010
Molly!…Grunt!… I hear what you are saying Loud and Clear about Alice!…snort!… I’m telling you guys…snort!…Alice will detect your weaknesses and then attack you in the subtlest of ways…Grunt!…for instance that Damn Song Molly is talking about.
Gruff!… be on alert and be careful!… Snarl!… I have Wookie standing by if anyone gets into serious trouble this week…SNORT!… it has started off badly already what with the excerpt from book 3 not coming out today…. Wheeze!… I think it will go downhill very quickly, just like the Luge… Wheeze!
3:11 pm on February 15th, 2010
I bet Bernie gives a lot of the money away. Hope the ex doesn't want to come back because of the money. I don't think she's that great, because she didn't let Chet sleep in the bedroom. I mean, where else would Chet sleep, except next to the door when it's hot and maybe with Charlie or maybe with that "she" in the canyon?
3:13 pm on February 15th, 2010
AlleyKat!… I mean A-Kat!…I guess I have to agree with you about Bernie's finances always gonna …Snort!… be in a mess. It wouldn't be as much fun if he was rich!… Money corrupts..or so I've heard….Grunt!
3:19 pm on February 15th, 2010
Kats!…24!!…SNORT!…anyone who likes 24 is okay in my book!…I like you Puss N' Boots more and more…Grunt!
4:15 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wow!…we just watched Bodie Miller on the Downhill..SNORT!…wots up with all the Blue markings on the ski slope???…Grunt!!!
4:42 pm on February 15th, 2010
I thought there was supposed to be Ice Skating pairs tonight? Am I wrong? I had to let the staff's hubby watch 24 so I am back on the computer.
A-Kat
4:47 pm on February 15th, 2010
A-Kat!…someone has already watched 24!!…SNORT!…how can that Be??…it hasn't started yet!…Growl!… TIME WARP!.. its a damn Time Warp!…
4:55 pm on February 15th, 2010
According to staff 24 is on now. Maybe the people who have already watched it were abducted by aliens. I hear you can lose time if you get abducted by Aliens. It says so in all the best science fiction books.
And NO! Rio! Alice is not an alien.
She is just a beautiful cat.
AbbietheKitty
5:11 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wow,
I tried to make Book Two last as long as possible by forcing myself to watch the Olympics occasionally, but now I'm done. Chet and Bernie you rule! I got very emotional at the end with relief that Suzie was alive (even though I already knew). Spenser you really know how to build up the suspense. Hey, is that why you're called Spense?
A couple of typos: on page 43; fourth line up from the bottom, "It made we" should be It made me…and on page 271; sixth line up from the bottom, "Down of the floor" should be Down on the floor… I did get printed credit once for proof reading a book a friend wrote and I'm available to proof read Book Three anytime. Heh heh.
Rio: I really don't believe you are evil any more than Alice is. And you are very handsome. I'm glad to see you don't color your gray – makes you look distinguished.
Cosmo: My grandson reads to one of your kind in a library in Bellingham. It's great because there is no pressure or judging and it's a win/win situation. And my thanks also for the tip about clicking on the blue part. I"m techno challenged too but am learning new things on this Blog.
5:15 pm on February 15th, 2010
Chet,
I have to say that you are my hero. Ever since you saved Bernie by pulling him up from the cliff in Dog On It. You two are the best team in the world. What could be better than that? Chet, Bernie and Suzie, that's what.
5:28 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wow!… Dawson!… you have…Snort!…just about the Biggest Fattest Mouth…Grunt!… I have heard in a very long time…Snort!…you just Spoiled a major portion of the story to maybe ALOT of folks…Grumble!… Thanks Dawson…such a welcome presence…Growl!
5:50 pm on February 15th, 2010
Oops! I was wondering why no one ever mentioned it. Can somebody put a spoiler alert on this? Admin delete it? Yikes.
6:01 pm on February 15th, 2010
Wha!?… you "wondered"..why no one ever "mentioned it"…SNORT!..Lexi has it All Over You!… Clueless.. and Loud Mouthed…GRRR!.. are not a good combination of attributes Dawson.
And!… you claim to know Alice!… thats even more unbelievable!…WHEEZE!
6:19 pm on February 15th, 2010
Gorgeous pics on here today– Rio, you are awesome!
I still stand by what I said about you and Alice Johnson though– you can find lots of examples of cat-dog love on Youtube. One of my favorite things to look up, there, actually.
Wojo is still getting lots of Good Dog Lessons from Sirius, although I think honestly the old man is having a harder time getting worked up as often as he used to. He knows that Wojo is just an irrepressible (if moose-sized) pup, and it's hard to muster any lasting annoyance with him. Even for a 13-year-old cat.
6:25 pm on February 15th, 2010
A-Kat!… always a spark of Sanity in a field of Insanity… Gruff!…I just read your ‘alien’ post. …snorkel!…We like Science Fiction here too!…Frackin’A!… I know Dawson is your 'friend'. Snort!…As you once alluded to, a Zipper would be a welcome thing in this case!…GRUMBLE!…
6:29 pm on February 15th, 2010
Rebec!… I just love you no matter what nonsense you say.. and Diane too!…squirmy hugs from me to you…GRUNT!… coughing and farts and hiccupping too!… SNORT!…Will you guys adopt me!????
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