Objects and Management. 179 



and Mr. Boniface, of the Stirrup Cup shrewd man knowing how very dry 

 arguments are apt to be, and how thirst-provoking to their users, gives 

 a room wherein the arrangements and all the coming glories of the show 

 shall be evolved from the inner consciousness of the ' managing com- 

 mittee.' And here, at the very start human passions the noble and the 

 mean, the generous and the selfish, come into play, and for the most part 

 the higher natures bear down the meaner and make the scheme respect- 

 able ; and it is only by cunning devices, undreamt-of by the single 

 minded, that the selfish carry their ends. 



"This, I am convinced, is largely true, for in human nature, imperfect 

 though it be, the good predominates, and it is only those people with 

 unwashed eyes who see nothing but the faults of others. 



' ' Exhibitors and others newspaper reporters not excepted are apt to 

 enlarge on the shortcomings and failings, and forget the good that has 

 been done, in thinking too much of the good that might have been, but is 

 omitted. Before the show becomes an accomplished fact there has been 

 on the part of many considerable sacrifice of time and money, and much 

 anxiety, to be continued till all is over and the cash book balanced. In 

 the number of active members, no doubt, there is too often the self- 

 seeker, the man who by hook or by crook always manages to get at least 

 one class in the schedule to suit himself ; and when a committee is cursed 

 with a few such, farewell to the fair character of the show, for these 

 fellows will so play the game of " Tickle me, Toby, and I'll tickle thee," 

 that, what with classes and conditions to suit certain dogs and a pliant 

 judge, their nominee, the ring parade is worse than a farce. It is an 

 acted lie of the meanest description." 



I do not intend to go into mere details of management, but rather to 

 point out as briefly as possible some too common acts of mismanage- 

 ment that must of necessity defeat the object of shows if that object be 

 the improvement of dogs. 



1. The appointment of inexperienced and incompetent judges. 

 Judges should have a wide experience of dogs, except those who limit 



their decisions to one or a few varieties. Unfortunately there is a craze 

 with many to occupy the position for sake of the kudos it is supposed 

 to give, and social influence is used to attain it, to the great hindrance 

 of dog improvement. 



2. The election of judges by a section only of exhibitors. 



N 2 



