A STORY FROM POLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 146, 22 June 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

A STORY FROM POLAND.

THE TALKING DOG. My Dear Little Friends, — A friend of mine who recently returned from travel abroad had collected many stones which are favourites with the people of the lands he visited. One of the tales which he told me is beloved by the people of Poland, and is about a ventriloquist and a very clever dog. The dog was owned by a man named Kosiuski, who was able to "throw" his voice, just like the men who make dolls talk on the stage at local concerts. The dog was very well treated by its master, and in consequence it had a great affection for him, and readily learnt to move it 3 lips when a certain sign was made by Kosiuski. One day the ventriloquist and his dog were in the presence of a Russian officer, who was amazed to see the dog apparently in earnest conversation with his master. Never before had he heard of a man being capable of throwing his voice, so he concluded that the dog had been trained to speak. "What a joy it would be," he said, "to my old father, who lives all alone. Would you sell the dog?" The ventriloquist replied that the dog was his best friend, and that he -would not part with it at any price. However, the Russian was insistent, and eventually he traded his beautiful horse for the intelligent dog. Of course, the dog could not utter a sound unless his original owner was present to throw his voice and so deceive the listeners, and the Russian, when the dog remained silent, became very angry, and, taking the dog, set out to find the man who had swindled him. He found ICosiuski at the inn, where the exchange had been made, and there flew into a rage, saying that the dog had spoken never a word in all the months that he had owned him. "In what language did you address him?" asked the ventriloquist. "In Russian, of course," replied the officer. ''Then it is plain that a Polish dog could not understand Russian," he said. "Hector, why did you not answer when the gentleman spoke to you?" The dog moved its lips, and a voice made answer, "1 am not Mezzofanti to speak all languages." There was a'general laugh, and the furious officer challenged the Pole to a duel. "As I am challenged," remarked Kosiuski, "it is the custom that I should choose the weapons. We shall fight with knives." He drew a large knife from his belt, and pulling a hideous face, and pretending to sharpen his knife on his tongue, so IVT/)J/UL frightened the Russian that he ran away never again to be seen by the ventriloquist and his dog.