The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-13 00:00:00

The latter, a real beauty, was bred by the St. Bernard
Monks at their convent. The Newfoundlands are un-
usually good specimens, the bitches being particularly
fine. There are some handsome black and white animals
in the chaos, but the judges, recognising no doubt
that purity of breed is undoubtedly associated with a
black coat, gave prizes to none but wearers of that
canine garb. Gr....) hounds are a respectable average,
but perhaps nothing more. Great interest was mani-
fested in an extra class for any known breed of
foreign dogs not used in field sports. and this might
be called a compartment of curiosities. Some very
shrewd dog-fanciers simply raved about a Nepaul
dog, exhibited by Captain Ryan ; it is said to be the
only one of the breed in England, and is a shaggy,
well-built dog, with a broad leonine head, and grave,
piercing expression. In the same collection there
are an Esquimaux dog, and a couple of genuine
diugos caught in the Australian bush, and suffi-
ciently tame to be admitted to the select company
of the Crystal Palace. Eight foreign sporting
dogs are shown, including, besides the Prince
of Wales' boarhound, a Norwegian reindeer
dog, a kangaroo hound, a pure Swedish beagle,
and a Russian retriever, the latter a stout, curly-
coated customer, whose eyes are quite hidden
by thick curtains of lon: hair, and who most appro
priately answers to the name of "Rough." The
pointers are not considered as a class quite up to
previous levels, but the setters, retrievers, and harriers
are considerably above former averages. The black-
and-tan setters and black curly-coated retrievers
seemed most praised. Water-spaniels, Clunibens
Sussex spaniels, otter-hounds, and beagles are well
represented. There is a large and good show of
fox-terriers. Sheep-dogs never api.sared to better ad-
vantage. Of tic forty-nine (rough and smooth) speci-
mens, there is hardly a bad dog to be found. The bull-
terriers are best in the smaller class. A number of
bulldogs are exhibited, specimens of the extraordinary
ugliness which can exist in the intelligent four-footed
friend of man; but the diversity of size an shape indi-
cates that the breed belongs to the past. The fancy
dogs, the pets of the lap, ,larriage, and footstool, are of
course numerous enough to constitute a show of them-
selves, and they appear in every conceivable condition
of luxury. It is strange to find an ill-tempered,
hideous little wretch lying on a satin bed, with
its bandy legs encased in velvet coverings, sur-
rounded by ladies who lavish the most extrava-
gant endearments upon it, and who, it may be said,
generally to terriers give up what is meant for
mankind. The pugs ---and the honest pug is not
by any means the worst ef the petted classes--are
the most numerous ever known at the Palace.
The yelping of the small creatures in their cages,
and the chorus of praises said and sung by the lady
admirers in front of each, are rather distracting to a
modest visitor ewer to engage in unprejudiced study.
There are several brokenhaired terriers in the exhibi-
tion whose hair is parted exquisitely down the middle
of their backs, and to whom the softest brushes and
finest of combs are applied. One of these dogs would
ride easily in the coat pocket, but it is priced, by way
of prohibition to intending purchasers, at £l,OOO. In
this part of the exhibition there are King Charleses,
Maltese, Pomeranians, Blenheims, Italian greyhounds,
and toy terriers, all, of their kind, worthy of the
public position they have been brought to occupy.