288 THE PEKINGESE 



mentions,, to illustrate its diminutive proportions, that 

 it was able to lie curled up in his forage-cap. During 

 the forty odd years that have elapsed since the French 

 and British allies entered Pekin Lord John Hay has 

 continued the strain, and the Duchesses of Richmond 

 have also kept up the Goodwood dogs. But little 

 attention, however, seems to have been drawn to 

 these little Lion dogs until Mrs. Allen in 1896 

 imported " Pekin Prince " and " Pekin Princess," 

 although three years earlier she had become possessed 

 of " Pekin Peter," whose name occupies a prominent 

 place in modern pedigrees. In the year mentioned 

 Mr. Douglas Murray also succeeded in obtaining 

 from the Palace " Ah Cum " and " Mimosa." 

 These only weighed 5 Ib. and 3 Ib. respectively, 

 which should be a useful guide as to the most 

 desirable size. 



Mrs. Allen, I believe, was the first to exhibit, 

 but at the Ladies* Kennel Association Show at 

 Wolverhampton in 1898 only two were entered in 

 a class for any other variety of foreign Spaniel. It 

 was not until 1902 that the Kennel Club granted a 

 separate classification for the breed, which it was 

 suggested at first should be known as Pekin Pugs. 

 It is only right to put on record that this name 

 met with no favour. The earlier club seems to have 

 made a mistake in recognising 18 Ib. as a possible 

 weight, and it is satisfactory to know that this has 

 been since rescinded. 



Several years ago Mr. Douglas Murray wrote : 

 " There can be no possible doubt as to the true 

 type of Pekingese. He exists, and has existed, of 

 the same shape as now, for certainly a thousand years, 

 md probably very much longer. We may see him 



