nd canine population of the City; and while it was
impossible for him to comprehend the _reason_, he accepted the _fact_
philosophically.

There was, for instance, Oolik Lomen, who was born on Amundsen's ship
the "Gjoa" when on the voyage that resulted in the discovery of the
Northwest Passage. Possibly on account of his celebrated birthplace, or
because of his unusual appearance, Oolik was haughty to the verge of
insolence; and to Baldy he represented the culmination of all the
charming but useless graces of the idle rich. He did nothing but lie on
the Lomen porch on a soft rug, or wander about with a doll in his mouth,
much as a certain type of woman lolls through life carrying a lap dog.

Then there was the tramp Nomie, the pet of the Miners' Union, and the
Fire Department. This fox terrier was a constant attendant at all
important affairs of the town--social or political--at parades,
christenings, weddings, and even funerals. At concerts or at the theatre
he walked out upon the stage, and waited quietly near the wings till the
program was finished. He went to church quite regularly, but was
non-sectarian, and was just as apt to appear at the Eskimo Mission
Chapel as at St. Mary's when the Bishop preached.

Rarely did he fail to be at all Council Meetings, informal receptions,
and formal balls. At these he was untiring, and would select a couple
for each dance and follow them through the mazes of the waltz and
one-step with great dexterity; visiting between times with his many
acquaintances.

The knowledge that Nomie assisted at every fire, and at all of the
drills of the Life Saving Crew on the beach made Baldy feel that these
social diversions were only an outlet for abundant vitality, since there
were not fires and wrecks enough to keep him busy; and a poor little fox
terrier, no matter _how_ ambitious, is debarred by his size from the
noble sport of racing, or the more prosaic business career of
freighting.

So it really seemed, on the whole, that Baldy was exceedingly liberal in
his estimate of dogs in general. And it was only his desire for a high
standard in his own Kennel that prompted his aversion to those waifs and
strays that she collected; who, of no possible use, were neither
professional beauties like Oolik, nor society favorites like Nomie, and
so really had no claim to any sort of recognition.

Neither did Baldy, because of his new associations and ambitions, gauge
his opinions of all dogs by r