Mrs. Jaggcr 155 



present social life. Perhaps the greatest change in dog showing from 

 the days when they were held in obscure public-houses has been the 

 introduction of the feminine element. Lady exhibitors now own 

 some of the best dogs, both in large and small breeds, and are 

 considered by many as reliable judges as men. 



" After the breaking down of many hostile barriers they have been 

 chosen to adjudicate upon their respective breeds without shocking 

 ' Mrs. Grundy.' Miss Whitney, of America, was the first woman 

 chosen to judge dogs, and she judged St. Bernards at New York. 



" Miss Holdsworth and Mrs. Jenkins were the first ladies as judges 

 in this country, and they judged Pugs and Toy Spaniels at Maidstone 

 in 1886. Mrs. Foster, after bringing the Yorkshire Terrier to show 

 perfection, judged at Manchester in 1889. 



" Since the introduction of the St. Bernard into England the breed 

 has always been favoured by women, yet I was the first woman asked 

 to judge the breed (the first as well to judge any large breed). 

 This was at Belfast so late as 1894, and the event caused a sensation 

 at the time, the Press giving such headings as ' A Lady going to the 

 Dogs,' ' Advance of Woman,' ' Innovation in Dog-judging,' etc. 

 Now I can judge without comment. Other ladies have followed in 

 taking the large breeds, notably Her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle, 

 Mrs. Horsfall, Mrs. Mansfield, and others ; in fact, female judges 

 are now almost as numerous as men. 



" My earliest recollections of dog showing were at the agricultural 

 shows of the North, where dogs were only allowed ori sufferance. 

 1 Spratt's ' and ' Calabar's ' did not exist, and pedigrees were not 

 required. 



*' Wooden stakes were driven into the ground, and the free air of 

 heaven blew around them. 



"I can, however, recall such old-world shows as Penistone and 

 Woodsome, where fine specimens of the canine race were exhibited, 

 such as Mastiffs, Bull-terriers, and the large Black-and-tan Terriers 

 now so seldom seen. Exhibitors, too, whose names loomed large 

 in those days, have either dropped out of the ranks or are dead. 

 In the earlier days of dog shows committees of local agricultural 

 shows had to look to gamekeepers and such ilk for canine know- 

 ledge, and these men were appointed judges year after year at 

 some of the old-established agricultural shows of the North. 



" I can remember showing my dogs under such judges as Joe 

 Wolfenden, gamekeeper, Whitley Hall ; George Hellewell, Sheffield ; 

 and John Crosland, Wakefield all ' rough diamonds.' 



