When writing or speaking on congenial subjects, I suppose most of us, constantly find that our ideas flow much faster than either our pens will transmit them to paper, or our words give them utterance; and on such occasions, for my part, I try to bear in mind the appeal of Old Scrooge in the "Christmas Carol," when he was favoured with a nocturnal visit from his deceased partner Marley, in his capacity of a "ghostly and spiritual adviser," who said, when the latter seemed too much inclined to sermonise, "Now, don't be flowery, Jacob, pray! "

People who do not move in the "Doggy World," or have no intimate friends who do, have not the least notion of what a large and important world it is, and although it is my firm conviction, after a lengthened and practical experience of all things doggy, that there are not now even so many "genuine fanciers" as when I first became connected with them, there are thousands more who are interested in dogs, and the values of good specimens have gone up, literally, " by leaps and bounds"; but it must also be borne in mind that the quality has increased enormously, and, in some varieties I could mention, specimens which were able to obtain championships, and often to win prizes for "best in sporting, or non-sporting, classes" would have a hard struggle in these days to get "into the money" at all! In one way this has affected breeders, as it is undoubtedly becoming more and more difficult to dispose of second- and third-rate dogs, and actually bad specimens can hardly be given away.

I know, in my judging experiences (and I think, particularly amongst the non-sporting division, I have probably been called upon to make as many awards as any one, amongst the non-professional judges, during the last twenty years and upwards), every year I find the classes harder to "sort," particularly in some breeds, and more so when they are all one self colour, as black, white, brown, blue, etc. I have often had before me fairly large classes, in which every entry was a previous prize winner, and sometimes with two or three champions amongst them! This, joined with the fact that the spectators round the ring watching the judging are, many of them, experienced breeders and enthusiasts of the breed you are handling, stern and able critics of every important "point" to be noted in it, besides many there in the capacity of representatives of the large and influential body of fanciers' and sporting newspapers, whose reports are so eagerly read and quoted by exhibitors everywhere, it is more than foolish, it is positively wrong (although in almost every case it emanates from persons who do not know what they are talking about, and often from exhibitors who own third- and fourth-rate specimens), for them to talk about their "not being members of the Swimming Club," "not one of the elect," etc., etc., to account for the non-success of their venture in the show ring, as I believe the very great majority of the judges of the present day are both willing and anxious to recognise merit wherever they find it, and not only avoid any semblance of partiality, but are able, as we constantly see in the interesting reports of their classes furnished to the Kennel Gazette and other papers, to give the reason of their awards.

As one who has watched its proceedings from the first, and numbered amongst my friends very many of its committeemen, I may say that it is in my opinion hardly possible to over-estimate the advantages to the Doggy World and the community at large which have accrued by the formation and efforts of the Kennel Club, which has been exceptionally fortunate in having at their head such a man as the late Chairman and now.President, Mr. S. E. Shirley, quite an enthusiast in his love for and knowledge of dogs, able to command large entries for any breed he judges, and they are many and various, a strict disciplinarian, yet courteous to all, with a mind of his own, and who has shown tact, skill, and ability in steering the Club through many and great vicissitudes, till, I think, to-day it stands higher in public estimation than ever it did, and has, I sincerely hope, a long term of prosperity before it.

I may say also that I think an admirable, and I believe thoroughly popular, selection was made in the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Messrs. J. S. Turner and J. C. Tinne, quite properly representing the two grand sections in kennel matters, non-sporting and sporting, and deservedly holding a high position in each, both extensively and honourably known for a long and successful connection with dogs, refined and genial in temperament, well able to express and support their opinions on any subjects brought before them.

I think these newly elected officers are well calculated to maintain the position of the Kennel Club as the leading organisation of the Doggy World, well supported as they are by a strong committee of breeders and fanciers of good standing and influence.

I hope to give portraits and slight sketches of some of these, well known amongst Doggy People. At the risk of coming under Mr. Scrooge's definition of "flowery," I have ventured to say these few words about the Kennel Club, a body with whom I have during a long term of years - in fact, ever since its foundation - been much brought into contact, having so often been asked to judge at their shows, and take part in the pleasant gatherings of the lights of the Doggy World held in connection therewith.

Many of the present-day exhibitors, having no idea of the state of affairs before the Kennel Club was created, do not duly or fully appreciate how much all Doggy People are indebted to its efforts; I wish, therefore, to record my humble opinion on the matter, in which I believe I but express the views of the majority of the better class of exhibitors.

I may here mention, what is perhaps hardly credible in these days, that I have been informed, on undeniable authority, it was formerly not uncommon in some breeds, where the dogs were much alike, for a good specimen to be shown, say, on Tuesday, taken out that night, of course a substitute brought in on the Wednesday morning, shown again somewhere else on the Wednesday, and on some occasions, where dates and distances permitted, at two or more shows during the week, either no name or pedigree being given, or a different name at each show, and, the same owner having a number of dogs of the same colour, "the changes were rung" to suit the circumstances of the case!

In those days, too, it was not safe to claim a dog at a show unless you had some positive means of identification, or you were more than likely to find a very inferior animal in its place at the end of the show!

Lending and borrowing dogs were everyday occurrences, and if an exhibitor found a dog entered (as the questions of age, colour, name, and even sex, were treated in the most free-and-easy manner!) was not very "fit" or in good form when the show came off, he would substitute another of his own (or somebody else's) instead!

The Kennel Club put an end to all these anomalies, or, at any rate, made them difficult and dangerous, and we do not see so many of the dyed chests, feet, etc., as used to be prevalent; in fact, the doggy atmosphere is much clearer and purer, and while, at that time, a person known to have a personal, "peculiar, and particular" (like Mr. Weller's knowledge of London was said to be) knowledge of dogs was straightway looked upon as rather a shady customer, to whom it was desirable to give a wide berth, and classed amongst what our friends in the North call "Pigeon-fleers "; now, the highest in the land, from Their Majesties the King and his charming and universally popular Consort, I think would not be ashamed to be called Doggy People, and as for the nobility, I could not mention even the names of all the distinguished people, including Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, other members of the Royal Family, British and foreign Princesses, Duchesses, Countesses, etc., whose dogs I have had the pleasure of judging or seeing at some of the shows.

Happily for the peace of mind of the more susceptible of the judges, they do not always know at the time the honour conferred upon them, as the judging books describe each animal as if it was a convict, or a visitor at one of the large hotels, by a number only, so that, when I have been told afterwards some distinguished personage wished to be introduced to the judge to talk over the charms, or otherwise, of the exhibits, I always, mentally, hope it (or they) is (or are) something like respectable specimens; for though people very often say, "Now, I want your candid opinion about my dog," etc., they do not always mean it, but, in such cases, they always get it from me, though it is by no means pleasant for a "mere man" to have to tell a very grand dame that her dog, whose value in her eyes is probably "beyond rubies," is not really worth his collar and chain, and that the common-looking fellow in the corduroy suit and fur cap who showed in the same class has two or three specimens of the breed which could be shown against the world. But "such is life," as the old lady is reported to have said when she assisted at the funeral of her deceased poodle, and we must take it as we find it, and make the best of it!

Many of my readers will doubtless have observed that the immense increase in the shows of late years has not only developed new trades for the production of kennel requisites, such as houses, railings, benches, flooring, bedding, etc., in connection with the housing of the thousands of dogs now kept throughout the world, but also such apparently small items as collars, chains, clothing, leads, whips, etc., and the manufacture of dog biscuits and other food for dogs, and in this an enormous trade is done, which was forcibly brought before me when I was speaking to a well-known representative of one of the largest biscuit factories the world has yet seen.

He said, pointing to a gentleman who had just left him, "That is Baron - what order for biscuits do you think he has given me?" I expressed inability to guess more than a couple of tons (knowing my own modest orders, of half a ton at a time, seemed to represent a lot of canine meals). He replied, "Ten tons!" I thought the foreign nobleman referred to must keep a good many dogs, or there would be danger of some of that two hundred hundred-weight of feeding stuff becoming mouldy before they got through it!