216 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



Mr. Shirley has usually kept a rather large kennel of sporting and 

 non-sporting varieties, comprising Retrievers, Wire-haired Fox- 

 terriers, Bull-dogs, and Bull-terriers, and has taken numerous prizes 

 at many of the best shows in the kingdom. 



Of late years Mr. Shirley has resided more on his property in 

 Ireland, and his dogs have not been so often seen at our shows in 

 this country. 



Even while at Eton Mr. Shirley kept a pack of Beagles, and, for 

 several seasons, Hounds in Ireland. Short-horned cattle, shire 

 horses, and thoroughbreds have also engaged his attention, so that, 

 although he is a recognised authority on the points of many varieties 

 of dogs, he has not restricted himself to them alone. 



On his resignation of the chairmanship of the Committee of the 

 Kennel Club some of his many friends amongst Doggy People took 

 the opportunity to present him with his portrait, painted by 

 Mr. Stuart Wortley, as a slight recognition of the eminent services 

 he had rendered to the Kennel World for the better part of thirty 

 years, as the foundation of the Club dates from April, 1873, and 

 any one who takes the trouble to look through the shows, of which 

 some details are given in this book, from 1858 to 1879 will find how 

 often the name " S. E. Shirley, M.P.," as he then was, occurs, either 

 as a committeeman, exhibitor, or judge in connection with them. 



I am sure I have said more than enough, even in these few 

 inadequate lines, to show that Mr. Shirley occupies quite an unique 

 position amongst Doggy People, with whom he is so justly popular 

 and well known. 



Mr. G. R. Sims 



THIS gentleman will be better known to many of my readers as a 

 dramatist and man of letters than as one of the Doggy People ; but 

 as, by the courtesy of the Editor of Our Dogs, I am able to give 

 extracts from an article which appeared in that popular paper some 

 years since, from his pen, I think no doubt will exist in any one's 

 mind that Mr. Sims is a genuine dog lover,, although we do not 

 very often see his canine friends at the shows, but we know that 

 of late years he has taken considerable interest in Bull-dogs, and 

 owned several good specimens/ which have been successfully shown. 



"The first dog in our family of which there is any authentic record 

 was a black-and-tan named Fan. She belonged to my grandfather, 



