The Irish Terrier. 367 



I may mention as among the pioneers Messrs. Morton, Erwin, Eidgway, 

 Montgomery, Jamison, Crosbie Smith, and Dr. Marks, some of whom 

 are still prominent in the fancy with their able coadjutors in forwarding 

 Irish terrier interests Messrs. A. Krehl, G. E. Krehl, Despard, Dr. 

 Carey, and others. 



The first practical step that produced marked results in consolidating 

 the conflicting interests and influences that had previously hindered the 

 true progress of the breed, was the drawing up of a standard, agreed to 

 and signed by twenty-five breeders and exhibitors, for publication in 

 " Dogs of the British Islands." 



" Stonehenge " had refused to recognise in his book a dog about which 

 no two seemed to agree, and which he believed in no way differed from 

 the old Scotch terrier commonly met with in England in the early part 

 of the present century. 



At the request of some friends Irish terrier fanciers I endeavoured 

 to mediate in favour of a recognition of the breed in so important a work, 

 and found that the author had taken the wise resolve to publish, on con- 

 dition of a standard being drawn up and agreed to by a sufficient number of 

 breeders, so as to ensure unanimity. The next important step was getting 

 separate classes instituted for them at Kennel Club shows, and in the 

 attainment of this end I also had the pleasure of acting as an advocate. 

 These classes filled well, and with a higher bred and more level lot than 

 I had ever previously seen shown, and led, I think, to that most im- 

 portant step, the formation of the Irish Terrier Club, which has done 

 so much to improve and popularise the breed. To Mr. G. E. Krehl, I 

 believe, belongs the chief honour of founding the Club, and certainly to 

 his untiring energy much of its success is due. 



In general appearance the Irish terrier is not taking, except to the eye 

 of those who can detect merit under an unpolished exterior ; but as so 

 many warm and generous hearts beat under " cloth of frieze," so under 

 the rough unkempt coat of the Irish terrier there is a spirit of " derring- 

 do," a strength of affection for his master equal to his pluck, and a 

 stamina that carries a little racing-like wiry frame through the hardest 

 of days. 



As a terrier he is bred too large for going to earth after the smaller 

 vermin, but for all above ground work he is unexcelled, although not as 

 injudicious admirers will have it, unequalled ; added to his undeniable 



