I am very pleased to give a sketch of the above-named fancier in his own words: -

"I have been a lover of dogs all my life. My father bred and kept Greyhounds, and I took great interest in the rearing of the pups, etc., when only ten years old, and since that time I have never been without dogs of some sort.

"In my earliest days I kept and successfully exhibited Greyhounds, English Setters, Curly-coated Retrievers, Wire-haired Fox-terriers, and Collies. Dandie Dinmont Terriers I always had a great fancy for, and had a good specimen as early as 1876, but had no chance to exhibit it, and it was not till 1888 that I turned my attention to breeding them. I purchased from Mr. C. H. Lane (then the Hon. Secretary of the Dandie Club) a good bitch, Leah II. I also bought some bitch puppies, none of which, however, were of real value, and old Leah II. was the foundation of my kennel. "In 1889 I showed her at Colchester, the first time I ever exhibited a Dandie.

An exhibitor there kindly showed me how to comb up the bitch properly, and said if I trimmed her up and plucked her face she could win in good company. I had no time then to prepare her further, so took my chance in a class of ten dogs and bitches of both colours, under Mr. Pratt, the well-known Skye specialist, who evidently likes some hair on a Dandie's face, as he gave her first prize, placing Ettrick, then in full bloom, second, to my delight and astonishment, and there were several more first-prize winners in the class.

"Nothing succeeds like success: I went on well from that time. Leah II. bred me some capital stock by different dogs, and never a really bad one. I have bred many Dandies since then, and had a fair share of the prizes at all the principal shows. I have held in turn the Breeders' Challenge Cups, being the first to win the Mustard Bitch Cup, with a daughter of Leah II., and in 1898 at the Crystal Palace won three out of the four challenge cups.

MR. GEORGE F. HEMPSON.

From photo by White, Ipswich.

MR. G. F. HEMPSON'S DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER ASTRAL CRAIG.

" I have judged at Birkenhead, Crystal Palace, Royal Aquarium, and the Alexandra Palace. My general idea of the Dandie is: he is the biggest dog in the smallest compass of any breed we have, his intelligence is indisputable, his pluck undeniable and unbounded - in fact, game to death.

My life has been spent amongst animals, for all of which I have a great love. Nor is my show experience confined to dogs. I have bred and successfully exhibited hunters, hackneys, cattle, sheep, pigs, game, and other varieties, of poultry, ducks, geese, pigeons, and rabbits, and have acted as judge on many occasions at local shows in all the above sections, and last year (1901) was appointed for the second time one of the judges of stock at the Royal Agricultural Show, held at Cardiff, and received an invitation to act in same capacity at the show of the Bath and West of England Society. I may, therefore, claim to be somewhat of an 'all-round judge' of animal life and form."

I am glad to be able to give an excellent portrait of Mr. Hempson, who is one of the nicest fellows I know amongst my numerous doggy friends, gifted with perpetual youth (I do not think he looks a day older since I first knew him in 1888), always genial and unassuming, and, naturally, immensely popular wherever he is known.

The two Dandies accompanying this sketch are Astral Craig and Astral Rip. Astral Craig, shown on previous page, is a very good dog, and winner of many prizes, not at all flattered by his portrait, but which is the best I could procure. Astral Rip, shown above, is a most promising pepper dog by last named, ex Pinsley Germ by Champion Puff, going back on dam's side to Leah II. This young dog is likely to have a good career before him, as he made a fair beginning at late Kennel Club Show, Crystal Palace (under Dr. Smith), by winning second in a strong class, and being placed reserve for the Pepper Challenge Cup. He has a lot of type and quality about him, and will take some beating when he gets a bit older.

MR. G. F. HEMPSON'S DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER ASTRAL RIP.

From photo by W. Gill, Colchester.