36 BRITISH DOGS 



for we have obtained our best English stock from the strains of 

 Schumacher. 



Albert Smith, the celebrated traveller, was the first person to 

 introduce a couple of St. Bernards into England, and he brought 

 them on to public platforms, when giving his lectures, for illustration. 

 These animals caused universal interest, and both traveller and dogs 

 appeared before the late Queen Victoria. But to the Rev. J. C. 

 Macdona (at that time Rector of Cheadle) belongs really the 

 honour of introducing and popularising the breed. After Mr. 

 Macdona had exhibited his Tell, one of the earliest importations 

 into this country, these beautiful animals instantly found favour with 

 the British public. A St. Bernard became a coveted possession, 

 and no breed of dogs have claimed more devoted and influential 

 admirers, ranging from royalty downwards. 



After Mr. Macdona had introduced his dogs, St. Bernard owners 

 quickly increased, and the best animals in Switzerland that money 

 could purchase were brought over to England. It was not until 

 dog shows had become well established that a class was given to 

 St. Bernards, and this was at the once famous Cremorne Gardens 

 in 1863, when the Rev. A. N. Bate's Monk won first prize. The 

 benching, however, of the Rev. J. C. Macdona's Tell gave the 

 impetus to the breed, and the dog's place of exhibition was sur- 

 rounded with admiring crowds. Other specimens quickly followed 

 Tell, their grand appearance captivating all beholders, and they 

 were thought worthy of the brush of Landseer. 



St. Bernard admirers increased so rapidly that a club named the 

 St. Bernard Club was formed in the interests of the breed. Rules 

 were drawn up, type was defined strictly on the Swiss standard, and 

 influential members undertook the compilation of a Stud-book a 

 work that required long and self-denying labour, especially as the 

 pillars of that stud-book were imported dogs. Next, the members 

 decided to hold a show exclusively for the breed ; that took place 

 at Knightsbridge in 1882. 



Some idea of the rapid strides that the breed had made may be 

 gathered from the fact that two hundred and fifty of the best dogs 

 were brought together at this first show of the St. Bernard Club. 

 The judge was Mr. Macdona, and he must have felt flattered to be 

 surrounded by two hundred and fifty gigantic and beautiful animals, 

 whose presence must have been partly, if not wholly, due to his 

 expenditure of time, money, and skill in first introducing the breed 

 to the English show-bench. Amongst the well-known exhibitors 

 at this time were Prince Solms, Mr. J. H. Murchison, Rev. J. C. 

 Macdona, Rev. A. Carter, Rev. Sneyd, Rev. Thornton, Mr. F. 

 Gresham, Mr. Sweet, Mr. Marsden, Mr. Rutherglen, Mr. Inman 

 Betterton, Mr. McKillop, Miss Hales, Miss Aglionby, Mr. J. F. 

 Smith, Sir C. Isham, Mr. Hughes-Hughes, Mr. Norris-Elye, 



