The sun., 1905-08-13
ENGLISH DOG SHOW JUDGES.
NOT TRUE THAT THE AMERICAN
KENNEL CLUB rs AFTER THEM.

KENNEL CLUB rs AFTER THEM.
Restriction Against Imported Dsgs in Our
Novice Classes Not Aimed Ut tho
judge Exhibitsss Have Confidence
lS in the Experts From the Other Side.
sWhile the new restriction OF the Ameri-
can Kennel Club against showing imported
dops In the novice classes is q good thing
for the protection OF American kennel
owners" said prominent breeder OF fox
terriers lately, 1T Is an unwarranted A.
scrtion to allege that the ban has been
laid against English dogs because English
judges have been making money here In
dog deals. That charge had nothing what
ever to do with the change in the A. X. G.
rules, for English dogs are still welcome
while the English experts are always Of
value In the show ring as unbiased and
freshly informed judges.
"In instances where the English and
continental nations clash as to the standard,
American exhibitors have in the past suf-
fered from the insular prejudioes Of the
Londoners, but our specially clubs now
fight shy OF Judge who Ia not a cosmo-
rolitan when they are exploiting dog
from the Continent. There have been
conflicts Of the sort referred to over Russian
wolfhounds, great danes, dachshunds
and French bulldogs The latter clash
was fought to finish some years ago by
the American-French Bulldog Club after a
conflict with George Raper, the globe
trotter Of bench show judges.
ut was the first year that there was a
good class Of French bulldogs at the West
minister show. Under the standard of the
French club, the dogs should have bat ears.
George Raper Judged them. and to the
disgust Of the fashionables, who had taken
up the Partisan fancy, he took the stand
that the toy bulldog should be q miniature
Of the big English bulldog, and, as bat or
erect ears are essentially a non-bulldog
Characteristic, Raper gave the blue ribbons
to two toy English bulldogs owned by the
late George Work, both OF which possessed
the small rose ear.
'Since then the American owners OF the
French bulldog have selected judge more
familiar with the continental type or rather
more in sympathy with it, for Raper Is firm
In the belief that the breed Is merely
the degenerate descendants Of bulldogs,
brought years ago from England to Paris.
In the generality of breeds the English
Judges may always be relied on to give a
true rating, and dogs arc judged closer to
standard than horses, COWS, swine or any
sort OF live stock. There Is always the
personal point Of view to be considered.
and II this were non-existent there would
be no fun or profit in breeding dogs
1T is true that within year or two there
~, Ill tak ak~v RNR
the bulldog OF France as distinct from the
toy English bulldog Joined in bulldog
fancier. .but while this bears out the claim
Of the speciality club that Raper ignored
the foreign standard. there are two sides
Of the question. I don't believe that the
hat ears alone prejudiced Raper against
the French bulldogs Of that early year.
As a lot they had pinohed faces, tight sldn,
no wrinkle, and squinty, terrier eyes. and
/ thought him we'll justified In placing
Works dogs on top, even though they
did not conform to the Paris standard.
The French bulldogs here to-day are a
vastly improved sort. notably Richelieu
and Sara. and Richelieu's imported son,
Gamin. which Is said to have cost 5000
in Paris, and judging them as bulldogs
hardly believe Raper would place dogs
Of the Work type over them now
The French bulldog owners have made
assurance doubly sure by selecting judges
who respect their standard, and the ex-
hibitors OF other continental breeds are
doing the same thing. It must not be for
gotten. however, that the faith Of the Eng
lishmen in their own type is one Of the
main reasons that we honor them as Judges:
many heard 1owadays IN doggy circles,
since the charge In a Boston newspaper
that the American Kennel Club resolution
is blow against the traffic OF English
judges in dogs that later on are to pass
before their eyes in our show rings. To
this charge our exhibitors give a tat de-
nial, and there Is little to support It on
direct evidence.
It Is remarkable how closely woven
is the progress OF the American bench show
With the careers as judges Of the best known
show ring experts Of England. II would
almost seem that an American trip is a noyi-
tiate for the aspirants who yearn for dis
sSa2 IL the e 1nsT Sss
always been followed up by greater fame at
the judges who have bungled here-for all
humans are liable to err-have been followed
back to England by the echoes Of their fail
there afterward at the shows. But The
novices are not the sort invited over. Our
committees have more than once, In fall
ing to get tho Judge they vented, been
obliged TO put up with substitute highly
recommended a. rising man.
just now they are expecting In Canada
to judge st the Toronto show one Of the
best Amateurs Of the fancy In England,
and efforts are under way to invite him to
Judge at the Newport show IN September.
This is Harding Cox, an owner Of Field
and other English journals instituted by his
father. He has been an amateur jockey,
q master Of foxhounds, an owner Of grey-
hounds and supporter Of courstng meets,
besides maintaining kennels Of fox terriers,
bulldogs and similar fancies. He is coach
ing whip, yaohtsman. and, besides being an
author OF many books. Mr.. Cox has written
the libretto Of succeesful comic operas. He
is a type Of the amateur Sportsman who
gives distinction to the show ring, wherever
It may be pitched, here or abroad.
George Raper. who judged for the ninth
time at New York for the Westminster
Kennel Club last winter, is q bench show
Judge and reporter Of such affairs by pro-
iession. He stands in az high repute. how
ever as any amateur, although he also
breeds and deak In dogs. his kennels being
at Gomersal, In Yorkshire, England. Raper Z.
has judged In Russia. Germany. Austria
and Ern Hr,A and heAirea New York he has