The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-12
DOG DAYS In WINTER.
Crack CANNES of All Classes VIII
Compete for Prizes.
How the Westminster Kennel Club
Entertain the Public.

During recent years the American bench
show has become "A great society fad as
we'll as an important sporting feature.
The bench show circuit provides each OF
the large cities an annual entertainment
that Is anticipated with almost IA much
eagernoss as i'm the horse show. OF These
exhibitions tho best and greatest is enjoyed
by New York, when theNcstminster Ken.
mel club, which leads all Amcltcan clubs
of its kind, holds its annual display and
contests for prizes.
This year the Westminster show will hold
possession of Madison Square Garden,
New York, during four days of the week
beginning Feb. 20. In these four days all
the people Of tho leisure class, all the stran.
gers In the metropolis who are there TO sec
the sights, and large proportion of tn,
busy people who can only snatch an hou
for the purpose at night, will flock To the
great garden" and see the poodles, and
the bulldogs, and the mastiffs, and hear
the baying Of the bloodhound, the shrek
of the hairless dog from chihuahua, and
the snappy bark of the fox terrier. A larg,
majority Of these people attend the show
because they take an interest I'm the faith
full friends of man here on exhibition, but
numbers of them go for other reasons. Not
a few Of them positively hate dogs, but at
tend i'm order to see other people and ts
be seen 10y them. Swell society folk are
moved by various motives. Some of then
have beloved four legged pets whom they
wish 60 see decorated with tho honors OF
their classes. Then there are blase swell,
who go 10 escape the boredom of their owr
Q0ripfu and IL IL yn hero written
that temporary association with theiI
quadrupedal fellow citizens has worked
any harm 10 this gentry.
The rank and file, however, love the dog
and go TO admire him and TO critically
Judge him as TO all lis varieties and de
veloped abilities. AlfSuch will be amply
repaid for the trouble of attending tn,
coming show, for IL is To be conducted or
a larger and better scale than ever before
The various breeds have been more fiber
ally provided for than on any previous oc
casion, the total number of classes being
e66, or 30 moro than last years classified
tion. The system of classification 10 be
used I'm the coming exhibition is new ont
that is 10 say, IL is new In America,
having never been used here. The method
In vogue in England has been adopted by
tho htNihlinNltT NllD ODdtT Wis ~ BULL
puppies and contestants that have not pre-
viously won first prize will be judged
before the competitors I'm the challenge
classes. This system is warmly approved
by all the dog fanciers who have expressed
themselves on the subject, and is expected
to give unqualified satisfaction.
The array of priests greater than ever
before. More than $4,000 will be paid
49, Al
-Four prizes, ranging in value from $50 &c
s., will be provided i'm the open classes fo,
popular breeds, including St. Bernards
collies fox terriers, pointers, settlers and
spaniels.
Many Of the dogs that will be on exhibi
tion will be sent from far away places
and the confinement incidental TO railroad
travel does not improve them in appear
ance or temper, and tho first day of thu
show will probably DO plentifully cmpha
sized by howls and growls. But the beast,
are good natured, and their handlers arr
patient and careful, SO in little while the
journey and its effects are forgotten. And
although there Is considerable wear ant
tear while on tho road, the dogs usually
fare reasonably we'll The only notabl,
exception TO the rule happened last year IL
the case of Bradford Marvel, the imported
pug owned by Miss w. Il. Britain of Sar
Francisco, who made n sensation at th,
New York show. This unfortunate littl,
thoroughbred was smothered in his cag
while en- route from St Louis to Philadel
phia
Most of the prominent dog fanciers q
the country will be exhibitors in the West
minister club show, the entries showing
that far more than the usual number o.
kennels will be represented The largest
exhibitors IN fox terriers will be August
Belmont and l.. and W. Rutherford. Nil
liam Wheeler will also have a sry for hon
ors in the wire haired class, as will also IL
III. Hunncwcll, Jr., Of Boston. Other kinds
Of terriers will be on hand in sbundance
J.. c. Altcmus, the young philadelphia
polo player, will show Irish terriers Sid
ney Dillon Ripley's black and tans viii
be in evidence, as will also be II. Willarc
Roby's bulldog specimens.
Perhaps tho best known fancier OF st
Bernards is j. Rupert, Jr., although
Richard Croker, who won first with
Pandora last year, may enter into the ri