The Fox and the Terriers. 145 



In the early days of competition, a dog show was held 

 in a certain town in the North of England, at which some 

 two or three of these terriers, said to be " good at badger, 

 cat, fox, and fighting," were exhibited, and as usual they 

 won all the prizes. At n o'clock one night, some of 

 the members of the committee, after dining rather heartily, 

 and supping not too wisely but too well, visited the show, 

 and in company with the " nightmen " went round to see 

 the terriers. Now unfortunately a semi-tame fox was one 

 of the attractions of the exhibition, and mischief moved 

 the midnight visitors to try some of the crack " wire-hairs " 

 with that fox. Alack ! alas ! they knew sly reynard not, 

 nor did they take the slightest notice of him as they 

 were one by one slipped into his cage the " earth dogs " 

 bolted so far as their collars and chains allowed them. 

 " Try Sir Douglas ! " said a fellow, alluding to a well- 

 known Dandie Dinmont benched not far away, and Sir 

 Douglas was tried, with the result that he went to the 

 poor fox and nearly killed it before he could be taken 

 off. I do not mention this little episode, and a disgraceful 

 one it was, with any intention of lauding the Dandie 

 Dinmont at the expense of the wire-haired terrier, but to 

 show what little scenes occasionally occurred at some 

 shows of years ago. I fancy matters connected therewith 

 are better nowadays. 



Perhaps the following will act as a counter-irritant to 

 some readers who may object to hear anything in dis- 

 paragement of their favourites. In communication with 

 one of our most celebrated and oldest admirers of the 

 wire-haired terrier, he told me of a terrier I sent him, 

 which in turn was despatched to a friend in New York. 

 It had not been many hours in its new abode before it 



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