New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
LIFE AT THE DOG SHOW.
MEN AND THINGS IN THE BIG GARDEN.


Show. which the industrious compiler of the Ken
mel Clubs catalogue had failed to anticipate.
These were the doggy young man and the doggy
young woman. The first is o reasonably familiar
figure at all the Eastern universities, and with his
wide trousers dazzling check coat and formidable
sapling, infests the uptown promenades here Inc
doggy woman, however, in the bloom OF per1ec-
ton. is something Of q novelty at the Madison
SQUARE shows What the chappie knows aDouc
dogs is but q drop from the bucket OF some hard
listed fancer's wisdom, Yet he takes his heavy
tan glove of and Jams glass In one eye. while
he solemnIy pats an ugly bell-terrier or leans up
against the rail of the Judging ring swapping
points with friend in the cockney slang OF the
canvas-coated attendants Soon one OF these OBJ
seouious councillors carries him of to see dog
over in the corner that hardup fancier is ready
to sell at a bargain.
"A fine mammal, and dirt cheap" says the dog
handler confdentially. Pedigree hall In the
books, sir"
"Ah yes think I'll take him." drawls the
expert sapiently Saw IL the other day in the
Westminster, didn't William?
The chances are that the expert and William
know as much about the Westminster pedigree
bool, as they do about the Westminster catcchism
The doggy woman is a more encouraging product
than the doggy young man. She doesn't pretend
TO be so great an expert, and Is too frank ABOUT
her ignorance to let the fanciers with dogs to sell
play upon her hobby. Her tastes, too, are strange
and novel. The old pug and poodle feud, which
used to cut the owners Of pet dogs into two hos
tile camps has no interest for this new enthusiast
Her taste runs to the big dogs the ST. Demands,
the Great Danes, the mastifs. The Country Club
races and chasing the anise seed bag have dis
gusted her with drnwng-room pets. She wants
something big and horsey, beast to hold In with
a leash and threaten with lash. Unconvcn-
tionalty Is the ear mark Of this type. Ana
fear that most OF the staid admirers OF toy dogs
would have been abashed at the slang OF the kcnnei
that these younger enthusiasts scattered broad
cast. Some slips from grace OF this sort fell on
the ear of digniHed old lady, who was looking
at the Judge Of one class Of big dogs measure the
impatient subjects nose and ears.
Shocking" she murmured reproachiuliy
frowning at the offender, tall, MISUNDERSTANDING
girl who had just come from romp with her
fayorite But could almost forgive her English
IL she'd take off that vulgar fore-and-aft stable
cap"
II the entry list counts for anything the rug
Dog Club has turned its victory of last year into
q rout for the demoralized partsans of the poodles
Nearly forty pugs were entered at the Garden last
week to scarcely dozen Of their hideous rivals
The poodle has sunk rapidly in favor in the last
ten years, and the lot of the poodle fancier looks
hopeless There was only one man at the show
who seemed to mourn the decline of this stupid
breed He must have been professional once
himself; for he let his chin fall mournfuiIy ana
started In to tell his msfortunes. VI No, Sir ne
began, 81 the dog business his no good, sir, hany
more. These hgh-dyin' mammals ave knocked
us out I've quit, l ave. And there's my irlehd'
AIRY Jennings, down in Centre-st, they tell me he
'ad to give hup, too and become with huge
sigh rat hexterminator"
The big dogs in fact, had the run Of the show
chiefly and got most Of the admiration Inc d.
Bernards grew FESTIVE under the petting ana snap
ped occasionally at visitors the last day or two
The mastiTs were even more surly, yet there was
always crowd about their kennels. lhere are
all sorts of reasons given for preferrlng the Dig
dogs Perhaps one of the most sincere was that
of a stout. elderly woman with face flushed
with good living I'd rather have maStlh
myself you can put such big handsome collars
on them,r she said, with the vision OF SHINING
silver plate, her name engraved IN huge ie''efs
on IT, doating before her eyes
The cync who said he preferred dogs to men
would have a good deal on his side If all dogs
were as amiablc and winning as the bench sho"
settlers These ailcctiOnate animals tumDled over
one another in their eagerness to be caressed, ana
one Of the prcttiest pictures Of the week was
boy in dresses hanging over the front OF settefs
cage the dog throwing his forcfcct over the chids
shoulders and licking his cheeks till the nurse
had TO put q stop TO the demonstration. 10
lovers OF fine dogs the settlers and pointers were
the best part Of the exhibition. One champion
Irish setter was valued in the catalogue at
$4,000 Another was offered for sale at s6,OO0
These too are said to be genuine valuations.
They distance of course, the prices paid or offered
for any other sort. The highest value put even
on the best big dogs now In fashion Is scarcely
more than 81 500 or $1,000
John E. Thayer's famous bull dogs Robinson
Crusoe and Britomartis were on hand as usua,
and their grotesQuely ugly faces drew u CROWD
every few minutes to the upper end Of the Harden.
Robinson Crusoe has q habit of sticking his tongue
out viciously at strangers and licking hiS ohopS
as if in anticipation OF softer meal IMAM opraoVs
patent biscuit. But his teeth are nearly an gone
and his temper is as charming as the $4,000
settlers Still, few men and fewer women were
willing to take the risk of petting him.
Some of the enthusiastic girls at the show, how,
ever, were equal to petting anything. Two OF
them had made the round or the mastlHs ana
St. Bernards on Thursday much to the unrest OF.
the young man who was holding the catalogue
for them but with no greater mlshapS than q
RULED feather or two and a torn null they
turned the row where the bull dogs were lodged
and just beyond the young man saw line OF
treacherous and snappy bulltcrriers Inc t"o
enthusiasts stopped TO rub the nose OF the veteran
prize-winner and Robinson Crusoe wnked ana
thrust his tongue out aileeilonatey me young
man grew desperate Suddenly he edged up TO
his companions stamped his foot and sprang back
were almost taken off their feet. Each gave
little shrek and rushed after the young man, then
brought up red in the face, gaspng for breath ana
looking in horror TO see what part OF her dress
the bull dog was still hanging TO.
40 you horrid thing" they broke out together
How could you? Why, haven't got my breath
back yet" go -, -,
But they didn't get on familiar terms with the
bull terrier and went through the rest OF the show
,ather crest-fallen and demurey.
Scotch collie dogs have seldom made 80 good
showing at one OF the Westminster Kennel Clubs
exhibitions. Almost good natured as the hunt
ing dogs, quick, Intelligent and spirited they have
made their way in favor rapidly, ana D. Plerpont
Morgan's reported purchase of sheep dog for a