[ "A Useful Dog" / New York Times ]
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper which began publishing in 1851 and continues to this day. It has won more Pulitzer Prizes than any other newspaper, and has the 3rd-largest circulation in the United States.
This item appeared in the May 7, 1875, issue:
The White Pine (Nevada) News of April 17 relates this incident: "Judge Davis has a Newfoundland dog that seems to be endowed with extraordinary intelligence and is very fond of children. The other morning during the very severe snow-storm, Judge Davis' daughter and the dog passed our office on their way to the school-house. It was all the little girl could do to wade through the snow; but the dog would run a little way ahead and break a trail, and then rush back and take hold of her cloak and pull her along. This he did until he got her safely to the school-house. He then took up a position opposite the building, where he could see the children coming from all directions, and staid there watching until after the school bell rang and all the children were in, and then quietly walked away. This is not the first time this Winter that we have seen this noble dog accompany his young mistress to school. No harm will come to her when he is with her."