News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-06-05
THE GREAT DOG SHOW.
TnCPTUER FOR THE EDIFICATlON
OF THE PUBLIC.
Society and Field Sports have JohS "oe
ofit-Dogs and Their Prizes
GFrom the New York Hour. ]

, | From the New 10TH nOuI.J
The world o. society and neld sporR
has been kept busy this week with daily
attendances at the dog show, and II tht
walls of the much tried Madison Square
Garden could have spoken they woule
have expressed relief over the change
from the horrors of the walking-match
With its eighth annual Bench Show the
Westminster Kennel Club have capped
the climax of it's previous successes
The number of dogs on the bench, com
ing not only from all parts of the Unltec
States, but from Canada ant. England
proves the popularity of the Club, whils
the daily attendance of visitors is the
strongest evidence that the Bench Show
has become as much an established
sporting feature for New York society as
the coaching parade, the opening of Jer'
ONE Park and kindred affairs.
1t is singular how the fashion in dogs
changes. Some years ago small dogs
were all the rage, and among them the
pug who looks like concentrated mas
tiff, reigned supreme. The italian grey
hound and the silk haired spaniel ranked
next in estimation. Now, however,
large dogs are at the head of affairs, and
among them mastiffs have acquired an
ascendancy undreamt of even year ago.
No would-be young swell, no young lady
aspiring to have complete fashionable
out-of-door makeup can afford to walk
the avenue in any other way than at
the end of a chain drawn taut by huge,
struggling brute of this order. At the
show there are fifteen mastiff dogs,
eleven bitches and fourteen puppies.
| Among the lot are three champion dogs
and two bitches. This is certainly a
good showing. The winner in the cham
pion dog class, Nevison, owned by Mr..
Mason, of Yorkshire, England, is a
splendid asimal. He is fawn with
black points, Al years old, and in the
course of his wanderings has picked up
no less than SO prizes, not including
specials.
The st. Bernards hold their own,
compared with previous shows, as also
do the Berghunds. The Newfoundlands,
however, have lost, and unless there
should be revival in their favor, this
noble breed, which has given rise to so
much sentimentality in dog literature
and art, will soon be as rare as piebaId
horses. Greyhounds, too, have fallen
off, perhaps not in number, but certainly
in quality. This is to be deplored, for
although the racer of the canine world
may not be affectionate house dog, or
even an attractive watcher, his looks
alone ought to bring him many admirers
Practically, a new feature is furnished
at the show by the deerhounds. Last
year there was but one, while this week
there were eighteen. They are noble
specimens of the canine race, combining
the graceful lines of the greyhound with
the size and substance of the blood
hound, and their bristley coats give
them an air of rugged strength and de-
termination wonderfully picturesque.
One of the prettiest sights at the show was
Dunrobin. He is light, brindle, 3 years
old. His box was hung with dark green
Scotch plaids, forming a sombre back
ground, which made the silvery tips of
his hair fairly glisten. He was not i'll
the first flight of prize winners, but as he
lay extended in his box, with his head
erect and his eye gazing clearly and un-
fiinchingiy at the strange sights about
him, he would have served as a splendid
model for an artist.
Pointers and settlers of all varieties
were exceedingly well represented, and
so high was the quality throughout that
in many of the classes the judges had
considerable difficulty in arriving at a
decision. AS a result, the feeling of
rivalry between the owners of different
dogs ran very high, and bets were freely
made. When the judges awarded the
blue ribbon to Mr.. Munson's champion
| pointer Meteor, against Mr.. Mason's
Beaufort, S., 900 changed hands. Point
ers seem to have had more attention
paid to them by breeders during the last
year than settlers, and among the latter
class, the English variety bids fair to
crowd out the black-and- tans and Irish.
| Spaniels, both field and water, seem on
the verge of losing their hold on the
public fancy, for they are neither numer.
ously nor well represented. Fox-hounds
are also poorly represented at the show.
| The reason of this is that the local
hunts, who have spared neither labor
nor money on improving this breed,
have been using their packs up to a
week or two ago, and thus, while the
hounds may be fit as fddles for run,
they are in no condition for the bench.
Beagles hold their own as compared
with former years, but they have made
no progress; the same may be said OF
| the dachshunda, Fox terriers, however,
have improved greatly, both quantita-
lively and qualitatively. There were
any number of perfect specimens at the
show. The fox terrier is beautiful
little animal and the most all-around
| useful small dog eXtant. III Is Pheasant
to see his merits recognized. Collies
have also received great attention by
breeders during the past year, and bid
fair to supplant st. Bernard's in fashion
able estimation before another Bench
! Show comes around. Bulldogs and
bull terriers have fallen off somewhat
particularly the latter. The fox terrier
has to a great extent monopolized the
place once occupied by his kinsman il
the bulldog family.
AS regards the toy terriers, quality is
well represented, but the quantity has
fallen off. Ladies', who are the principa
owners of dogs of this class, seem tc
have grown afraid to trust their pets tC
the dangers of the bench for week, as
sickness of some kind is always sure t.
attack the pampered favorites during
few days absence from home comforts
A FRENoHMAN, having insulted al
editor, was precipitated down the edi
tors stairs. The Frenchman appealed
| +o tbe law The OffenSa waS DOt danioJ