200 
ally for the regeneration of the association. 
The ground was now firm to begin build- 
ing such an organisation as would do for 
women in particular what the IXennel Club 
has done for exhibitors in general. 
An office was taken at 47, Pall Mall, 
and a secretary, Mrs. E. P. Robson, 
engaged. 
All women were eligible for member- 
ship, with two exceptions: an undis- 
charged bankrupt, and anyone “ who shall 
be proved, to the satisfaction of the com- 
mittee, to have in any way misconducted 
herself in connection with any of the objects 
for which the association is founded.” 
Remembering the large sums of money 
which many of the old association had been 
called upon to pay, Rule 16, which says, 
‘* The liability of members shall be limited 
to the amount of their annual subscription 
(41 1s.), and to the sum of not more 
than tos. 6d. in the event of a winding 
up,” is deserving of notice. 
Rule 11 states that “every year the ac- 
counts of the association shall be examined 
and the correctness of the balance-sheets 
ascertained by one or more properly quali- 
fied auditors.’’ These two rules should 
satisfy even the most apprehensive would- 
be member. 
There was to be no social side, but the 
objects for which the association was 
established, as set forth in the rules, are 
many and varied, and all have to do with 
the dog. “ To promote the scientific breed- 
ing of dogs and commerce in connection 
with the same, to advance the general wel- 
fare of the dog, and increase the interest 
of ladies in all canine matters. To sup- 
press malpractice, to promote and arrange 
the settlement of disputes by arbitration or 
otherwise, and to decide questions of usage, 
courtesy, and custom. 
“To promote the interests of art in con- 
nection with the study of dogs, and paint- 
ing and modelling the same; to promulgate 
information on canine matters and subjects 
by means of lectures, discussions, pamph- 
lets, etc.” 
In 1904 a new departure was made. In 
that year the summer show was thrown 
open to all exhibitors, men and women. 
Hitherto the Ladies’ Kennel Association 
shows had been confined to dogs registered 
THE NEW BOOK 
OF THE DOG. 
as owned by women. In the following 
April (1905) the first members’ show was 
held, in the Horticultural Hall, West- 
minster. It was managed entirely without 
any professional help, and was a splendid 
success in every way—a result brought 
about chiefly by the untiring efforts of Mrs. 
Carlo Clarke. 
The idea of a show confined to members 
did not meet with general approval, some 
owners considering there was no “ kudos ” 
to be derived from winning in such hmited 
company. That it was a good move is 
proved by the fact that, shortly before the 
last show (April, 1907), forty-three new 
members joined. Amongst regular exhibi- 
tors it is an opportunity for a youngster to 
have his first lesson in “ring ” manners, 
and possibly more than one household pet 
has laid the “foundation stone” of a show 
kennel by returning home with, perhaps, 
nothing more ornamental than a reserve 
or third prize card. At the annual general 
meeting of the association, held at the 
Garden Hall, Crystal Palace, October 18th, 
1906, the executive committee were reluc- 
tantly called on to accept the resignation 
of the chairman. Residence in Ireland 
rendered it impossible for the Countess 
of Aberdeen to attend committee meet- 
ings, etc., and with the permission of 
H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. the Duchess 
of Connaught, she wished to retire. Refer- 
ence having been made to how much the 
association was indebted to Lady Aber- 
deen, not only for money, time, and 
influence, but, when the L.IKX.A. was with- 
out offices, placing her own house at the 
disposal of the association for meetings, a 
vote of thanks and regret was passed with 
unanimous feeling. 
Another resignation was also announced, 
that of Mrs. Robson, the chairman bear- 
ing testimony to the excellent work she had 
done as secretary, and the progress made 
by the association during her tenure of 
office. 
The Lady Evelyn Ewart was unani- 
mously elected chairman, with the follow- 
ing ladies as an executive committee: Mrs. 
Preston Whyte (Deputy-chairman), Mrs. 
Aylmer, the Hon. Mrs. Baillie, Mrs. Barry, 
Mrs. Douglas Beith, Lady Cathcart, Mrs. 
Chapman, Mrs. Carlo Clarke, Mrs. Graves, 
