Sons of Buffer. 69 



do the former and not the latter. When Buffet, Buffer's 

 son, was sold for 250/1 by Mr. Shepherd, of Beverley, to 

 Mr. J. Hyde, of Stratford-on-Avon, a sensation was caused, 

 for, however fanciful prices had recently been, this certainly 

 topped all. Buffet was as dear a dog as anyone could 

 purchase, because thoroughly unhealthy, his blood was dis- 

 ordered, and all the care and attention one of the most 

 skilful " dogmen," John Reed, of Beverley, could bestow, 

 were required to bring him into the ring in a fairly pre- 

 sentable state. Imagine a terrier almost, if not quite, 

 perfection in formation and symmetry, and you have 

 Buffet. Possibly the liquor arsenicalis in his system 

 made him despondent and heavy hearted when in the show 

 ring ; a gamer-looking and more sprightly appearance 

 would certainly have been an improvement. This poor 

 dog had not a long reign, and, when his general health is 

 taken into consideration, the wonder becomes greater that 

 his public reputation was so long sustained. 



Other noteworthy sons of Buffer were Nimrod and 

 Gripper, and I am certain that had the first-named been 

 kept as he had been reared, his successful career would 

 have extended over many years. Gripper, his brother, 

 lived until he was seventeen years old, and twelve months 

 before his death looked as well and was as fresh and 

 lively as many dogs at half his age. How the writer of 

 these chapters obtained the fox terriers he once owned and 

 showed so successfully, may be interesting and instructive 

 to others who would desire to go and do likewise ; though 

 perhaps a different procedure as accounted later on would 

 be more likely to be successful nowadays, when " cham- 

 pions " are not to be purchased for io/. or I5/. a-piece, and 

 the best of brood bitches for less than a moiety of either 

 sum. 



