SEARCH DETAILS FOR THIS PRINT Original or not?  Series Details  Publication Details  Collections Details  State Details  Print Details  Similarities  Background Details

Original Text:
Le boul-dogue (chien de garde)
Le Boul-dogue que Mr. de Buffon désigne indiféremment sous le nom de chien de garde ou de portier; est naturellement mal propre, mal bâti, curieux, grognard, et très hargneux. il aboie à tout propos et hors de tout propos. les locataires du lieu qu’il habite disent que c’est un vilain animal. le Boul-dogue ou Portier est chargé de garder la maison, mais c’est ce qu’il garde le moins. en revanche il garde très bien les lettres, les journaux, les cartes de visite, etc. il est extrêmement méchant et menace souvent de se jeter sur ceux qui l’approchent. Cependant, il y a un moyen certain de l’apprivoiser c’est, lorsqu’il montre les dents, de lui montrer une pièce de cent sous, à l’instant, il devient souple et caressant comme un Caniche le Boul-dogue ou portier habite d’ordinaire des cabanes sales et enfumées, et grâce aux gamins du voisinage les niches ne lui manquent pas.

Translation:
The bull-dog (watch-dog).
The bull-dog for which Mr. de Buffon mentions both names: watch-dog and janitor is by nature unclean, not well built, curious, growling, and very peevish. He barks at any occasion and out of relation. The tenants of the place he inhabits say that he is a villain. The bull-dog or janitor’s job is to watch the house, but that is what he does least of all. What he does much better is keeping the letters, the newspapers, the calling cards etc. He is extremely ferocious and often menaces to throw himself on those people approaching him. Yet there is a good way to appease him: when he shows his teeth one must show him a coin of 100 sous. Instantly, he becomes soft and tame like a little doggy. The bull-dog or janitor generally lives in dirty and smoke filled huts, and thanks to the youngsters of the neighborhood, he never runs out of dog-kennels.