THE ST. BERNARD 39 



Mr. Tinker, Mr. S. W. Smith, and others. Some of the best-known 

 dogs exhibited at the first show of the St. Bernard Club were Bayard, 

 Thor, Boniface, Bonivard, Save, Turk, Rector, Pilgrim, etc. 



The following year two hundred and sixty specimens were 

 benched, and at the third exhibition of the Club's Show, two hundred 

 and forty-seven. A foreign breed thus became quickly established, 

 holding the premier position amongst the varieties of the Domesti- 

 cated dog, and for many years retaining its popularity. 



Americans now became great admirers of the St. Bernard, and 

 the animal was more worshipped and coveted than formerly. 

 Celebrity after celebrity crossed the Atlantic at fabulous prices, the 

 desire increasing after each celebrated animal had been seen. 

 More than once ;i,ooo was paid for one of these exported animals. 

 For a time the demand from across the Atlantic was great, but 

 at the close of the nineteenth century the demand for high-class 

 English- bred stock was gradually waning. This was due to 

 many causes that will be named afterwards. For a long time, 

 however, the ardour of St. Bernard owners in England did not cool. 

 Almost as high prices could be obtained in this country for the 

 best specimens as in America. St. Bernard fanciers increased by 

 leaps and bounds ; but in the quantity of dogs, quality was not 

 always predominant. Such large sums had been obtained for 

 St. Bernards that the cupidity of the public was aroused, and the 

 ranks of St. Bernard owners were increased by people who only 

 owned a St. Bernard as an investment. The status of the owners 

 of the breed deteriorated in consequence, and as a noble dog 

 should possess a noble owner, the quality of the St. Bernard 

 suffered. The dogs of saintly name and heroic deeds were never 

 intended to be chained in the slums of a town or backyards of 

 a village. 



As one by one the original lovers of the breed, who had spared 

 neither time nor money in its interests, dropped out of the ranks, 

 the once powerful St. Bernard Club, second to none in importance, 

 began to lose its influence in encouraging the breeding of pure 

 St. Bernards of a recognised type. The demand from America 

 for large specimens had fostered the breeding for size, and bone 

 and size had become pet themes for St. Bernard fanciers to dwell 

 upon. Such unnatural forcing produced defective hocks, crooked 

 legs, stiltiness, etc. : size and bone had been obtained at the 

 cost of physical beauty and activity. Such past celebrities as 

 Tell and Thor weighed i47lb. and J5olb. respectively, whilst we 

 have dozens of later St. Bernards turning the scale at 2oolb. 



Next, a Mastiff-like head with an abnormal depth of lip became 

 the rage, thus losing the benevolent expression so characteristic 

 of the breed. The beautiful white markings were ignored in 

 judging, and dew-claws, that once counted for much in the eyes 



