T28 THE BOSTON TERRIER 



fact of the case is, the dog should be a happy 

 medium between the two, the bull and the ter- 

 rier. Can any intelligent man find a chance "for 

 improvement here? I admit that many people 

 are so constituted that a change is necessary in 

 practically everything they are brought into close 

 contact with. But is a change necessarily an 

 improvement? If some men could change the 

 color of their eyes or the general contour of 

 their features they would never rest satisfied 

 until they had so done, but they would speedily 

 find out that such a change would be very detri- 

 mental to their appearance, the harmony of fea- 

 tures and corelation of one part to another 

 would be distorted. I admit readily that one 

 very important result would be obtained, viz., 

 the dog of the pronounced terrier type could be 

 bred much more easily. But is an easy produc- 

 tion a desideratum? I certainly think not. To 

 those who "must be doing something" and who 

 find a certain sense of satisfaction in tinkering 

 with the standard, we extend our pity, and 

 state that experience is a hard school, but some 

 people will learn in no other. To those of us 

 who love the dog as he is, and who believe in 

 "letting well enough alone," we admit we might 

 as well suggest to improve the majestic propor- 

 tions of the old world cathedrals and castles we 

 all love so much to see, or advocate the lighten- 



