The History of Dog Shows. 173 



have " dropped in," as Paul Pry would put it, to many such meetings, 

 in some of the large towns of England, and been thus introduced to many 

 notable dogs, and thereby picked up many a " wrinkle." Such gather- 

 ings still take place, and, although their fame has been eclipsed by the 

 splendour of our more imposing modern shows, there were always to be 

 found at them good specimens, and men who could discuss the merits and 

 properties or points of a dog seriatim, and it was thus each specimen 

 was judged and relegated to his proper position among the canine celebrities 

 of the day. At these pseudo private shows the exhibitors were all supposed 

 to be not only fanciers, but judges, and, when matches were made, the 

 match makers were also the judge makers, and he the judge was ex- 

 pected to say in what properties the dog he selected for honours excelled 

 his less fortunate opponent. 



These are two important points : the election of the judge by the 

 exhibitors, and the judging by the individual points or properties, 

 which I may hereafter refer to more fully, merely remarking now that, 

 as a very considerable section of those who have taken an interest in dog 

 shows is in favour of both plans, it becomes a duty to discuss their 

 merits. Probably, the desire of those who first took an active part in 

 shows was to raise their character in every way above mere pothouse 

 affairs, and such an object was most commendable ; but is it quite 

 certain that in avoiding the Scylla of low associations they have managed 

 to steer clear of the Charybdis of respectable but dull incompetence 

 cunningly mixed with craft ? Most certainly the letters of complaint 

 with which that portion of the press dealing fully with the subject teems 

 indicate a very general discontent with things as they are, and the scores 

 of good men who go in for dog showing for a time with enthusiasm, 

 and afterwards retire with silent disgust, emphasise the written com- 

 plaints, and strengthen the suspicion that reform is needed. 



As previously stated, although dog shows sprung from the meetings of 

 the "fancy" in sanded parlours, where they had long been deeply rooted, 

 the fact is generally ignored. It is felt to be inconvenient in this, as in 

 so many things else, to trace the pedigree too curiously, lest the low origin 

 might be found inconsistent with existing pride. So, just as many people 

 would scorn to acknowledge an ancestor before the advent of William the 

 Conqueror, the birth of dog shows is in polite circles dated Newcastle^ 

 June 28, 1859. 



