The Washington herald., 1913-02-12

| (CopcrIght, 1915 by Court Gossip syndicate.)
d. To those who are associated with the
exhibition phase of canine culture IL
must be gratifying to know that dogs
from the British Royal kennel are being
entered again for competition at i'm
portant shows. It is not generally known
that dogs of high degree have long been
in favor with members Of the royal
| family.
Queen Victoria was a great lover of
animals, the horse and dog because of
| their faithfulncss and devotion appealing
strongly to her sympathy and affection.
| On more than one occasion she en-
! couraged shows by sending dogs for ex-
hibition. The late King Edward VII
! and Queen Alexandra also warmly sup
ported the canine cause. keeping an ex-
! tensive kennel. and not only entering
! dogs for competition but visiting shows
| themselves and eyincing interest in the
exhibits.
In human affairs King Edwards name
Will be remembered with love and graft
| tude because OF his great influence on the
nations for peace and good will; by those
whose regard for dogs goes beyond the
outward aspect and takes count OF dis
position and character. the memory of
| lne idle Ming SI EHSldUu VIII De re-
vered because OF the support he gave
to those who eighteen years ago stood
up for the abolition of the ear-cropping
| practice. For many years this was the
| subject of controversy. 1t has been the
| fashion for a long time while to clip
| Jff a PARTON of the ear of some breeds,
| to impart altertness of expression, and
| quite naturally breeders believed that.
If the practice were abolished. those
particular varieties would decline in
popularity.
Resolutions were brought forward at
the Kennel Club meetings without avail.
and the advocates OF reform were be-
ginning TO despair OF success. when a
! correspondent addressed a letter to King
| Edward-thcn OF course, Prince OF Wales
and the reply was so clear and en-
phatic that In n remarkably short space
! Of time ear-cropping was a thing of the
past in Britain.
King Edward pointed out that. al
though he had long possessed dogs and
had shown them at exhibitions he had
never allowed one to be mutilated. He
further stated that II would give him
much pleasure to hear that the Objec-
tionable fashion had been abandoned.
| Thus 1t was that a custom which was
cruel and unnecessary was done away
WIFI ana one can imagine no" deep
| would have been the gratitude OF our
four-foOted friends had they had the
gift of understanding for King Edward s
intercession on their behalf.
Though King Edward is no more, dogs
still have their home at Sandringham.
and Mr.. Brunsden, the head kennelman.
possesses something OF a fine knowledge
of the ways of dogs. their anatomical
projections and imperfectiOns. and the
hundred and one details in kennel man.
agement that only long experience i'm
parts. He has genuine enthusiasm for
the dog, and an appreciation OF those
beautiful attributes that in the quest for
type and prize money many are apt
TO overlook. He declares that We set
too great store by our dogs physical
virtues the length of the head or the
texture OF the coat. We forget that
one can no more measure the higher
qualities of the canine heart and brain
by the turn-Up OF the bull dogs under
jaw. or lack Of it. than one can measure
the worth of a man by the cut OF his
coat.
If dogs had nothing better to recon-
mend them than prize-winning careers.
| their place in the life of our community
would have reached the vanishing point
long ago. The dogs at Sandringham are
in charge of one who has an affection
for them. and this. no doubt, is the
reason why the trust given him by the
late King Edward twenty-six years ago
was renewed by Queen Alexandra.
The kennels at Sandringham are ex-
tensive. They are in a brick building
100 yards in length, and all the fittings
are OF iron: no woodwork is used. The
varieties kept there are Samoyedes. col
lies. ST. Bernards, Berzois, CIumber
spaniels. sykes, Scottish terriers. rough
and smooth bassett hounds, FOX terriers
Cwire and smooth. black puGs. SChip-
perkes. and Pommeranians Formerly
bulldogs were included. of both the Eng
lish and French variety, but the last
representative of the breed died about
two years ago, and has not been re-
placed.
With the exception OF the Scottish ter
riers which belong TO Princess Victoria.
all these dogs are the property of Queen
Alexandra, who takes a real interest in
them and pays them visit whenever the
opportunity occurs. Her special pets are,
however, the faithful Caesar. the wire
haired fox terrier who was so devoted to
King Edward. four Japanese spaniels, and
Pommeranian. To these are given
the great privilege OF living in the house
at Sandringham. and one may be sure
that the favor is appreciated.
Caesar is her majesty's constant COM
paniOn. He accompanies here everywhere
and he is everything in the way Of
falthfulness and devotion to his mistress
that the popular imagination pictures
him TO be. Doggy folk will be inter-
ested to learn that Caesar is not only a
dog Of the highest companionable vir-
tues, but n typical specimen of his breed
He has taken his place with honor in the
showing and won for his late master
several first prizes. This is not surpris-
ing when IT is remembered that the ia
nous "Cackler' of Nottinghamshire was
his sire.
The Prince OF Wales is genuinely in
terested in dogs, and the success which
the young prince has achieved lately at
the Crystal Palace, Bristol and Cardid
will do doubt give zest to his fancy for
the smart game little terrier which is
identified with the country from which
the prince takes his title.
The foreign tour OF ex-King Manuel
of Portugal, from which he has return
60 to England, was occasioned by
much-needed treatment for his nerves.
His soJourn on the Continent has done
him good. especially his experiences at