658 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



names, and have occasionally waned in popularity, they are 

 both ancient, and have maintained their existence in the 

 canine world against frequent neglect on the part of the 

 public, coming down to this more appreciative and dog- 

 loving age in a remarkable state of purity, all things con- 

 sidered. Still we have cause to regret, deeply, that these 

 beautiful animals are not more popular to-day than they 

 are. They are far more intelligent, affectionate, and beauti- 

 ful than many of the other breeds that are so extensively 

 sought after and cultivated as ladies' pets, and yet thou- 

 sands of dog-fanciers seem not to know this. The reason is 

 that this is an age of crazes and fads, and it matters not 

 how homely, how stupid, or how insipid a breed of dogs 

 may be, if its manipulators can succeed in getting it said, 

 prominently, that it is the fashionable breed of the day, 

 the devotees of fashion, the fadists (to coin a word), will 

 rush to the new kennels in search of I he new breed, pay 

 any price that may be asked for any specimen that may or 

 may not be able to show a pedigree, and carry it away in 

 triumph. Some of these people heave deep-drawn sighs of 

 relief and exultation as they drive away with their treasure 

 in their arms, and exclaim: "How fortunate; how should 

 I ever have survived, if I had not succeeded in getting one 

 of the first of these new pets ! ' ' 



The exultation is to be short-lived, however, for Madame 

 may rest assured that next year, or the year after, or the 

 year after that at the farthest, some new breed will be 

 boomed and will become the craze. Then this pet that was 

 secured at the cost of such fast driving and so large a roll 

 of bills, must be given away, and a strange idol must be 

 erected in its place. 



The more practical, conservative, and level-headed peo- 

 ple will, however, in time, come to disregard these sensa- 

 tional favorites, these passing crazes, and to value the 

 brainy, silky-haired, bright-eyed, affectionate little Spaniel 

 . as the most beautiful and lovable pet-dog in the world. 

 The time will come when Toy Spaniels will far outnumber 

 the Italian Greyhound, the Poodle, the Mexican Hairless, 



