Buttons: Boston’s Patriotic Dog
Apr 21st, 2014 by bachmann
This short pamphlet, issued after the Americans had entered WWI, was offered as both a humorous and inspirational message to those back on the homefront. The ideals of sacrifice and support for the troops abroad was not limited to the people of the U.S., as Buttons, a poodle from Boston, provided his own small contribution to the war cause. Wool was in constant demand for military and hospital use, and shortages along with high costs were a constant concern for the government as uniforms typically lasted only 6-8 weeks in the trenches. The idea of supplementing the wool stock with dog hair was not a joke, as the British promoted this alternative source of wool as the war lingered on. In an article from 1918, The Grand Rapids Press reported:
The keeping of canine pets by society women may be regarded for the duration of the war at least, as a patriotic duty instead of as a wasteful and demoralizing luxury; but only if the dog be of the long-haired species. It has been demonstrated that an exceptionally high class wool can be spun from the combings of all breeds of long-haired dogs. Samples from chows, Pekingese, poodles, Bergers d’Alsace and sheep dogs have been submitted to wool experts who are emphatic In their commendation.
This pamphlet is written from the dog’s perspective and describes his eagerness to donate his wooly fur for the use of knitted socks. The cover illustrates Buttons sitting proudly with the finished socks.
Buttons’ says:
“I’m just a little white poodle, but
I feel so pleased I just want to
tell everyone about it. I was
born in Boston ten years ago last
February, but when I was three
months old I was sold to a gentleman
in Somerville, and as he has
paid my license ever since, I feel
like a real citizen. Of course I can’t
talk, but I listen, and I hear lots of
things about dogs being useless, and
the boys needing all the wool supply…”
“So this is what happened. They trimmed
me carefully and my good friend carded
and spun it into soft wool, and she
said it was lovely. Then my mistress’
sister in the West knitted the
wool into a pair of socks, and I hope
some Sammy will get them to wear
if he needs them next winter.”
Buttons fight song:
“I cannot sew, I cannot knit,
I wish that I were wiser ;
But I resolved to do ” my bit “
To help to down the Kaiser.
The days grew warm, my hair was long
And softer far than chamois ;
They sheared my coat, and spun soft wool
And knitted socks for Sammy.”
–The term “Sammy” was British slang for the US soldiers, referencing the iconic poster imagery of Uncle Sam by James Montgomery Flagg.
- Description:
- Thompson, Josephine. Buttons’ bit :the story of a patriotic dog. Boston : Hudson Print. Co., c1918.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:2034843
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University