178 British Dogs. 



of a dog show is often undertaken in the same spirit of loyalty to the 

 interests of a locality, and this need in no way interfere with the higher 

 object generally professed. 



Of course there is not the slightest objection to any person or persons 

 getting up a dog show as a mere spectacle and speculation, if he or they 

 pretend to nothing else ; but I do not think this is ever done. Therefore, 

 it behoves exhibitors to consider the probabilities of the professed objects 

 being the true ones, and the way in which such shows are put before the 

 public, got up, and conducted, will pretty surely indicate the real object. 

 Those exhibitors who support purely speculative shows, to find they 

 cannot get paid their prize money, are in a similar position to a man 

 who, attending a race course, invests his money with anybody who 

 chooses to hold up an umbrella. Both are pretty sure to get " welched," 

 and instead of receiving sympathy, will be laughed at. 



My contention is, that without being behind the scenes, an acute 

 observer and accurate reasoner, from what is open to every one, can 

 easily come to a fairly correct conclusion how far the professed objects 

 of those who take upon themselves the direction of dog shows is true, 

 and whether the means adopted to attain those objects do not confute 

 the profession by rendering such attainment impossible. 



I do not expect to find in any case self interest wholly absent. In 

 bodies of men, small or large, we generally find a mixture of the sordid 

 with the pure, the mean with the lofty ; nor is absolute perfection to be 

 looked for anywhere. 



The cleanest corn that e're was dicht, 

 May hae some piles o' c'afl in. 



But it should be the care of all to secure the higher object from 

 being obscured by the unworthy, or even the less worthy. 



On the organisation of some shows the following half serious, half 

 humorous, sketch contributed to the Country is not without a broad 

 foundation of truth, and may fairly find a place here. 



" First of all we have the organisers whoever they may be who first 

 moot the idea that ' it would be a good thing to get up a dog show in 

 Kennelborough.' The first thing needed is 



A sort of managing committee, 



A board of grave responsible directors, 



A secretary good at pen and ink, 



And a treasurer, of course, to keep the chink 



