Judge, 1916-03-04 · page 16 of 28
Judge — March 4, 1916 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a fable-style story (by R.A. Ballinger) about a fire company's bulldog proving his worth. A fire horse dismisses the dog as merely a mascot—useful only for carrying fleas and making faces. The dog, patient and humble, awaits his chance. When a fire alarm sounds, the dog takes the driver's seat (the driver mysteriously absent), grabs the reins in his teeth, and helps extinguish the fire through swift arrival. Upon return, the horse admits the dog is now "a celebrated fireman," having proven "honor comes from deeds, not thoughts." The moral is straightforward Victorian-era sentiment: character and worth are demonstrated through action and duty, not mere appearance or status. The anthropomorphic animals deliver a lesson about humble service and redemption—themes common to Judge magazine's genteel humor and moral instruction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
At that instant the fire gong rang and the fire horse rushed to his place at the engine, while the dog leaped to the driver's seat. The di appearing as the doors swung open, the dog ver not gathered the reins in his teeth and away they went to the fire. By their celerity in arrival, the fire was quickly extinguished. On returning, the dog said to the horse, “How now? Do you say Tam only a mascot?” “No,” replied the fire horse, “ your deeds have shown you are more than a good luck attendant. Vou are now a celebrated fireman. You have proved the rule that honor comes from deeds, not thoughts!” -R. A. BALiincrr. \ THE REWARD OF NOBLE DEEDS N OLD fire horse was nosing about his manger while the fire company bull- dog was scratching himself on the horses’ legs. The horse said to him, “What use are you in this department, except to carry fleas and make a face at other dogs? To ride with the driver to a fire and bark all the way don't make the engine pull any easier or throw ler! any more % “T have waited thoughtfully and patiently,” replied the dog, “‘to show you chaps my useful- ness, but opportunity has so far made me only ¢ mascot.” os a mc Zn e ~ BD ee eee he comicbooks.com