Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-07-17
Fashion IN Dess,

Every now and then attent n d
/ drawn to some canine novelty, or, on
! the contrary, the very rarity of once
peculiar variety in like manner forces
| itself upon the public, or at least upon
j that portion of the public who are sup
posed to take more than passing in
| terest in matters appertaining to dogs.
| During the present quarter OF acentury
| very great changes have been wrought
| in almost every breed common to the
| British Isles; and not only have there
| been these changes in existing breeds,
! but Others new 10 this country have be-
come popularized, and in at least one
! instance to so great an extent as to Sc
riously interfere with other varieties
which are e,,nally useful, perhaps more
SO, and decidedly more handsome.
With theincreasing popularity OF shows
came turning point in the history oil
the dog. 1t was soon found that an
animal had the greater chance OF sue
cess in the ring the cleaner it was
shown, and the more comedy it was in
appearance. A rough, unkempt
unwa he'd. unca editor crea-
ture, whose home was In
the converted sugar barrel in the back
yard though the bluest Of blue blood
might beat in his veins, as long as he
remained SO, had not the ghost of
chance of beating its less-pedigreed
brother whose home was the parlOr. or
even the kitchen, and who ale "tubbed'
each Saturday or some other night with
as great regularity as are the CHI dren
themselves. Befo the exhDition era
the bull terrier was kept as a lighting
dog; the terriers to kill rats in the pit,
or to draw badgers; the iull-dog was
oftener the pet Of the pugilist than the
companion of the gentleman; the
mastiff and the bloodhound were re-
tanned on the estates possessed by the
owners of baronial mansions, living in
the kennels there; while the pugs toy
spanlels and Italian greyhounds found q
cozy corner, in my lady's boudoir.
The hounds and sporting dogs generally
held their own position IN society. They
could not be done without and had
fourished, and would no doubt have
continued SO to do without the inter-
ference of any influence outside that
their owners and admirers would have
brought to bear in the ordinary course.
But as exhibitions gained in popularity
it b came the fashion OF the man or
woman who was fond of dog to keep
one of some distinctive breed, and If
possible good enough to show perhaps
to win prize. One success begat an
other, until mere admirer of the dog
became an ardent fancier; in place Of
one he would keep half dozen. and
each SO good as to equal or surpass
those of his neighbor. at least, such
was the ambition which prevailed. A
new trade. indeed, sprung up; before,
the dealings had for the great part been
confined to men, many of Them most
respectable, who bore no good repute
because hey were dog fanciers. Later
these professionals had, SO to speak,
their noses well-nigh put out of .oint.
for the trade was entered into by cap.
ita lists, who, always liking bargain
over a horse, now found more res
munerative and less troublesome one in
buying and selling dogs; and when
some of them could obtain q name for
knowledge of canine matters in ad-
vance of their less fortunate fellow.
men they were invited to judge at Ger.
tain shows, and thus placeu in more
favorable position than ever for the
purchase and sale of can IN live stock.
So fashion varied, and that which was
once upon 8 time considered trade fit
only to be carried on in connection
with q ''public" or beer house in due
course so rose in responsibility as to be
in advance OF that or the amat ur wine
or gar merchant. who seeks to poison
or SUI 4ocate his friends in order that he
may be few pounds per annum the
lied.