8
F. L. WHITE vs. J. P. LANG. (128 Mass. 598.) By Austin A. Martin. _If a person, while unlawfully travelling on the Lord's day, is injured by the assault of a dog, the act of travelling is not a contributory cause of the injury, and he can maintain an action against the owner of the dog, under the Gen. Stats., chap. 88, § 59, to recover double the amount of damage sustained.] TT was a peaceful Sabbath day, A The long week's work was done, And F. L. White, with his smart nag, Was driving round for fun; No deed of charity, or e'en Of needful work, his aim, I ween Swift fly the rolling buggy-wheels, White deftly plies the lash; A pardonable pride he feels, To think he cuts a dash. Alas! brave White, you did not know, E'en buggy-riding has its woe. Now J. P. Lang a dog possessed, As many dogs you find, Whose bounden duty thought it was, To bark at all mankind, — To bark and growl, and eke to bite Each passing steed or luckless wight. The dog, he is the friend of man, — Poets have sung his praise, Llewellyn to his noble hound A monument did raise, — But yet, sound thinkers firmly feel, The dog may show excess of zeal. -
But to our tale. The dog of Lang Rushed forth with dreadful roar. Swift at the horse's head he sprang; Away the courser tore, The buggy dashed upon the ground, And dire ruin spread around.
