THE "TOYS" 181 



color, and soft as silk. He may be allowed to 

 reach the weight of eight pounds, though if 

 he can manage not to exceed three he is much 

 more valuable. The aristocrat of the family 

 for there are degrees even in the " inner 

 circle " wears yellow instead of black to set 

 off the white of his exquisite wavy coat. Both 

 varieties are rare and costly even in Japan, 

 and very difficult to procure. In the old days 

 none but the highest nobles was allowed to 

 possess one. 



An interesting story was lately unearthed 

 in Japan by the New York gentleman who has 

 imported most of the race which have ap- 

 peared in this country. According to the tra- 

 dition, which is vouched for as true, so long 

 ago as in the thirteenth century a Japanese 

 nobleman took some of these dogs to Eng- 

 land, and from them came the King Charles 

 and Blenheim spaniels, which have held their 

 own position to this day. 



There are several of these dogs now liv- 

 ing in New York, brought, it is said, from 

 the Mikado's own kennels, one of whom does 

 not weigh more than three pounds, is fifteen 

 inches long, and worth fifteen hundred dollars. 



