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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 246, 8 December 1880, Page 4

; The Pacific WeekUj teW the:fdl- ! low ing, little; anecdote ■:--« * The agents j fbr the well-known bull; dog ale pur>" i chased, at the late Exhibition* one of j those beautifully executed specimens \ of the ceramic art which so frequently gaye unwary visitors to the stalls oi chinaware a start of fear or surprise. I allude to the admirable of a, bull. dog, which, in a crouching attitude, with gleaming eyes and glistening teeth, seemed like a thing of life, in the yery act of springing upon, the intruder from beneath the stall where it was cunningly placed. As an emblem of their trade mark the china bull dog was a desirable acquisition to the agents and cheap to them at four guineas. Before- the counterfeit dog was delivered, however, a real one was sent out to the agents as a present by the manufactures of the ale — Messrs Read Brothers, of London. Everybody knows the principles upon which a bull dog does business. He wastes no'time in argument, and does not trouble himself about a nice arrangement of preliminaries when entering upon a negotiation. Just for fun, the imitation bull dog was placed under the office table, with a view to test what eflect it would produce upon the real one, who happened to be out. at the time for an airing with a delivery, cart, Byand»bv be returned but fpr a

the little plot against.his peace of mind was forgotten. The merchant was sitting at his table absorbed in the preparation of lengthy statements and letters to be posted by an out- going mail ; the dcor of his office was ajar, when tbe dog sauntered in just to see if there was a stray bone about anywhere. _In one second; there was such an uproar in that calm retreat as could only be mitched in the' infernal region's. The table was upset, the merchant was on bis back on the floor;, the china dog was in fragments, and Pluto, the author of the mischief, was met by thie; frightened attendants who came rushing to the rescue, bearing away a china hind leg in triumph. The merchant says he doesn't want any more counterfeit dogs. Being hoist by one's own petard is not a pleasant conclusion to a practical joke."