New-York tribune., 1917-12-16
.Caiirn Terrier
to Make His
Official Bow
Westminster Kennel Club
VIII Include Breed in
Coming Show
By F. S. Mitchell

The Cairn Terrier is at last about TO
be recognized officially, as the West
Minister Kennel Club has decided TO
offer a full classification Of that breed
70 the big show in February. II Will
be the first notable recognition of the
Cairu Terrier in America, and doubtless
"the crofter's dog Of the misty isles
will figure among the regular bench eX-
hibits Of all future shows.
Some five OF six years ago class Tor
Cairns was included in the Westminster
catalogue. but the entry was so poor
that the little dogs were consigned 10
tbc scrop hcap of the show, or what Is
termed the miscellaneous classes Az
that timc the little dog WAS known 70
limited number Of fanciers, but those
who did happen 10 be aware OF the
Cairns rare qualities had hopes tnat
one dav he would become popular ana
command respect IN the world OF IHe
dog. ,,;. ,ro,
Gradually the Cain worked his way
10 the hearts Of the dog people espe-
cially the women critics, ana tne loI
roation of the Cairn Terrier CLUB OF
America did wonders IN heIplhg 'ne
breed. Mrs. Payne Whitney is presl-
dent Of the club, Mrs. Byron Rogers
N-icc-presidcnt. and other prominent
women workers interested in the cluo
are Mrs. Henry +. Price. Mrs. Rodman
Waramakcr. Mrs. II. L. DangerheId
lewis. Mrs. John Philip Sousa and Mrs.
Fd,Vard LOOMS. The club has estaD-
1iebed bcadouarters at 425 Fifth Ave
pue whore all information is furnished
70 men and women who might care 10
interest themselves in this class OF the
terrier family.
Woman Imports Twenty
Only recently Mrs. Rogers imported
about twenty Cairns from England
among them being the crack DIRK Gut
Of the West. q winner at Mlneola ana
Belmont Park, but beaten IN The bronx
show by a crack owned by Mrs. WHIT
new. Mrs. AL Davis owns a few choice
snecimens Of the breed, and they, with
ain the others. will be among the con-
tenders for ribbons at Madison Square
Garden. Mrs. Henry +. Price, who acts
As treasurer to the Cairn Club, was the
first 10 show a Cairn in America, and
her initial attempt with the one dog
has since been regarded as one OF the
pluckiest incidents IN the history OF
bench shows in America.
The history Of the Cairn in this coun-
trv ia but a repetition of the terriers
career in England. At first the critics
scoffcd at the exhibitors, and the early
specimens shown came in for the un-
aristocratic term of "tyke," and not a
few of the connOisseurs openly referred
20 the Cairn as a sort of cross between
a West Highland and a Skye, and that
at the best the breed was but a sort Of
useless mongrel.
But by degrees and wherever an op-
portunitv was afforded the Cairn
showed his value in divers ways and
step by step advanced in favor. A big
leap in popularity was gained for the
breed when the Baroness Burton en-
tered the dog field as breeder and ex-
hibitor Of Cairns, and the grandeur in
which she showed her dogs attracted
universal attention to the terrier.
Soon after Baroness Burton's debut
Queen Alexandra was won as a patron
ess Of the breed. and she added il to
her kennels. which had already housed
Borzois, beagles, fox terriers and other
smaller dogs. The late King Edward
had a great liking for the Cairns, and
until his death the two dogs TO claim
his attention most were Cairn and q
fox terrier named Cesar, one or other
always accompanying him in his daily
lambles around Windsor Castle. This
particular pair were once the property
of Fred Archer. the famous Jockey, and
the King, having great admiration
for the rider, asked for the dogs when
he died. E
IncOnsOlable at Kings Death
The Cairn especially developed a
great liking for his majesty, and when
the King died the little dog was in
consolable and never fSncied any one,
man or woman. afterward. To-day no
show in England is considered COM
pletc without full list Of classes for
Cairns, and If the fancicrs Of the
breed persist in their efforts toward
the pOpulariZatDn Of the breed IL will
De much the same case in America
While the early history of the Cairn
Is more or less shrouded in mystery,
keen naturalists and others have
traced the ancestry back as being the
original Skye terrier and the parent of
the West Highland and the Scottish
terrier breeds. From such disjointed
scraps Of dog history as have come down
90 us, it appears that the Western
liebrides was the original home of the
Cairn. Back in the days of the Scot
tsh kings the Cairns were the con-
slant companions Of the hardy High
landers and the clans which inhabited
the rocky isles Of the north of Scot
land. The little dogs were not known
as the Cairn then, but were simply
terriers.
The latter day title Of Cairn is but
the application of the Gaelic word
which means mound Of earth or
stone, and the vague adaptation of the
name that the dog was an earth terrier
has been generally accepted as au-
thentic. Possessed Of the most cour-
agcous temperament and endowed with
the ability TO withstand the most eN-
treme hardships, the Cairn is the ideal
!. companion of the inhabitants Of the
n Hebrides and other wild, stormy ISL
auds, and II is only natural that he
" should be the inseparable companion
OF the venturesOme sea-brOwned Croft
ers.
While as yet there has not been any
Official height allotted to the Cairn. il
is partly accepted that about twelve
inches should be the correct standard
Much smaller specimens have been
seen. and perhaps an inch or two taller
have been found in the Old World. 10
show a better development Of the breed
The dog IN his native state is sup
Piled by nature with a rough, shaggy
coat, with somewhat Of tendency