2 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



so when they are all one self colour, as black, white, brown, blue, 

 etc. I have often had before me fairly large classes, in which 

 every entry was a previous prize winner, and sometimes with two or 

 three champions amongst them ! This, joined with the fact that the 

 spectators round the ring watching the judging are, many of them, 

 experienced breeders and enthusiasts of the breed you are handling, 

 stern and able critics of every important " point " to be noted in 

 it, besides many there in the capacity of representatives of the large 

 and influential body of fanciers' and sporting newspapers, whose 

 reports are so eagerly read and quoted by exhibitors everywhere, it 

 is more than foolish, it is positively wrong (although in almost every 

 case it emanates from persons who do not know what they are talking 

 about, and often from exhibitors who own third- and fourth -rate 

 specimens), for them to talk about their " not being members of the 

 Swimming Club," " not one of the elect," etc., etc., to account for 

 the non-success of their venture in the show ring, as I believe 

 the very great majority of the judges of the present day are both 

 willing and anxious to recognise merit wherever they find it, and not 

 only avoid any semblance of partiality, but are able, as we constantly 

 see in the interesting reports of their classes furnished to the Kennel 

 Gazette and other papers, to give the reason of their awards. 



As one who has watched its proceedings from the first, and 

 numbered amongst my friends very many of its committeemen, I 

 may say that it is in my opinion hardly possible to over-estimate the 

 advantages to the Doggy World and the community at large which 

 have accrued by the formation and efforts of the Kennel Club, 

 which has been exceptionally fortunate in having at their head such 

 a man as the late Chairman and now. President, Mr. S. E. Shirley, 

 quite an enthusiast in his love for and knowledge of dogs, able to 

 command large entries for any breed he judges, and they are many 

 and various, a strict disciplinarian, yet courteous to all, with a mind 

 of his own, and who has shown tact, skill, and ability in steering the 

 Club through many and great vicissitudes, till, I think, to-day it 

 stands higher in public estimation than ever it did, and has, I 

 sincerely hope, a long term of prosperity before it. 



I may say also that I think an admirable, and I believe 

 thoroughly popular, selection was made in the new Chairman and 

 Vice-Chairman, Messrs. J. S. Turner and J. C. Tinne, quite 

 properly representing the two grand sections in kennel matters, 

 non-sporting and sporting, and deservedly holding a high 

 position in each, both extensively and honourably known for a 



