That these comparatively new varieties, at any rate new to this country, have a future before them I do not doubt at all; they are in enthusiastic hands and a specialist club has been formed to look after their interests, which is giving particular attention to the smaller varieties. Her Majesty the Queen has a companionable and handsome little fellow, a beautiful red sable called Marco, and the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone's favourite dog is a little black specimen which glories in the name of Fritz. Not long ago the club, established in 1891, combined with the Toy Spaniel and other clubs, and had a show of its own, no fewer than fourteen classes for Pomeranians being provided, and these attracted sixty odd entries, including a number of the most charming specimens ever brought together.

The royal favourite Marco is now about five years old. This is what Mr. T. Marples, who specially interviewed the little dog at Osborne for the British Fancier, says of him: -

"From a fancier's or exhibition point of view Marco occupies a high position, and, in short, may be described as a most typical specimen of his race. In substantiation of this we may point to the fact of his having at the late Kennel Club Show, the first time he was ever exhibited, carried off not only first prize in his class, but also the gold medal given by the Pomeranian Club. In colour, Marco is a deep red sable, excepting on the tail and hind feathering, which merges into a very pale tint of the same hue, almost white. In build he is proportionate and symmetrical, scaling probably about 12lb. in weight. He has the correct coat, which is both straight and profuse, especially about the neck, where it forms a dense frill or mane. He is heavily feathered about the thighs, and his caudal appendage, which is quite orthodox in its carriage, is covered with a profuse quantity of hair, which, fountain-like, flows over his back. His eyes, in colour, match the colour of the dog's body, and he is bright, sharp, and intelligent looking, with small, erectly carried ears, which appear sensitive to every sound.

"Fortunate in being the recipient of such Royal care and companionship, Marco is a most attractive little fellow and doubtless deserving of the caresses lovingly bestowed upon him by his Royal mistress".

Her Majesty has, however, other Pomeranians, which are more or less fawn and white in colour, including a particularly charming specimen, bred at Windsor, and winner of leading prizes wherever shown, called Fluffie. This beautiful little creature appeared, with several other of Her Majesty's Pomeranians, at Cruft's show in 1892, where they carried away a great number of prizes. At this gathering there were ninety-four Pomeranians entered, although not nearlythat numberof dogswere benched, many being entered in more than one class. All were of the small size, and possibly in the course of a few years the royal example will be followed, and the Pomeranian become a fashionable varietv.

At the present time Miss Hamilton, of Seend, Wiltshire, has a particularly choice and interesting kennel of Pomeranians, including several good whites, some charming blacks, and specimens of other colours, many of which have been bred by her. The diminutive orange and white dog Prince of Orange is especially choice, weighing about 5½1b. This exquisite little creature was first shown by Mrs. Gordon Lynn, of Southsea, who at one time possessed an excellent collection of Pomeranians. Indeed, honours in this respect may be said to have been pretty equally divided between Her Majesty, Mrs. Gordon Lynn, Mrs. Thomas, and Miss Hamilton.

Mrs. Thomas, of Ealing Dean, has at the present time a valuable and an unique kennel of the variety.

Here we find only blacks and an occasional chocolate and fawn or two; her Schatzel, Black Boy and Queen Bee; with Lady Dinah, but 3½1b. weight, being perhaps the best. Most of Mrs. Thomas' dogs have been imported from Germany, and there is considerable risk in so doing, as many of them die before becoming acclimatised, but when once nicely settled down they are healthy and strong, and quite as able to withstand the rigours of our fickle climate as our own toy spaniels and delicate terriers.

The points and description of the Pomeranian, as drawn up by the club, are as follows:

Appearance

The Pomeranian in build and appearance should somewhat resemble the Chow Chow, but the head must be much finer and the ears closer together, and in coat he should be almost a duplicate of a well-coated Scotch collie, with the difference that his coat should be softer in texture, long and lustrous, with a fluffy under-coat, and standing out from the body more than does the collie's. He should be a compact, short-coupled dog, well knit in frame, with his tail curled tightly over the back, and covered with long, flowing hair. His head and face should be foxlike, with small, erect ears that appear sensible to every sound; he should exhibit great intelligence in his expression, docility in his disposition, and activity and buoyancy in his deportment.

Head

Somewhat foxy in outline, or wedge-shaped, the skull being large in proportion to the muzzle, which should finish rather fine, and be free from lippiness. The head in its profile may exhibit a little ' stop,' which, however, must not be too pronounced, and the hair on head and face must be smooth or short-coated.

Eyes

Should be medium in size, rather oblique in shape, not set too wide apart, bright and dark in colour, showing great intelligence and docility of temper. In a white dog black rings round the eyes are preferable.

Ears

Should be small, and carried perfectly erect or pricked, like a fox's, and, like the head, should be covered with soft, short hair.

Nose

In black, black and tan, or white dogs the nose should be black; in other coloured Pomeranians it may more often be brown or liver-coloured, but in all cases the nose must be self and not particoloured, and never white.

Neck And Shoulders

The neck, if anything, should be rather short, well set in, and lionlike, covered with a profuse mane, and frill of long, straight, glossy hair, sweeping from the under jaw, and covering the whole of the front part of the shoulders and chest, as well as flowing on the top part of the shoulders. The shoulders must be tolerably clean, and laid well back.

Body

The back must be short, and the body compact, being well ribbed up and the barrel well rounded. The chest must be fairly deep and not too wide.

Legs

The fore legs must be perfectly straight, of medium length, not such as would be termed either 'leggy' or 'low on leg,' but in due proportion in length and strength to a well-balanced frame, and the fore legs and thighs must be well feathered.

Tail

The tail is a characteristic of the breed, and should be well twisted right up from the root tightly over the back, or lying flat on the back slightly on either side, and profusely covered with long hair, spreading out and flowing over the back.

Coat

Properly speaking there should be two coats, an under and an over coat, the one a soft, fluffy under-coat, and the other a long, perfectly straight, and glossy coat, covering the whole of the body, being very abundant round the neck and fore part of the shoulders and chest, where it should form a frill of long, flowing hair, extending over the shoulders, as previously described. The hindquarters above the hocks should be similarly clad with long hair or feathering from the hocks downwards, like the collie. The hair on the tail must be, as previously described, profuse, and flowing over the back.

Colour

The following colours are admissible: White, black, blue, brown, black and tan, fawn, sable, red, and parti-colours. The whites must be free from lemon or any colour, and the blacks, blues, browns, black and tans, and reds free from white. A few white hairs in any self-colours shall not dis-qualify, but should be discouraged.

Size

No dog over 2olb. weight shall be eligible to take a prize; the smaller specimens to be encouraged, and, where practicable at shows, the classes to be divided by weight, viz., 'under' and 'over' 7lb".

Scale Of Points

Value.

Appearance ............

10

Head

5

Eyes .....................

5

Ears .....................

5

Nose .....................

5

Neck and shoulders...

5

35

Value.

Body .....................

10

Legs .....................

5

Tail........................

10

Coat .....................

20

Colour ..................

10

Size

10

65

Grand Total, 100.