THE DOG FANCIERS' SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 10391, 12 August 1897, Page 4

THE DOG FANCIERS' SHOW.

TO THE EPITOR. Sir,—l must crave a short reply to Mr Hides's, letter, and thus close this corresonmy- part. That gentleman is unfortunate in having completely given himself away in his reply. Firstly, by placing Prince Carlo as an almost perfect St. Bernard, since, if Fido has all the qualities he enumerates, according to the St. Bernard standard in England, he should have been awarded first place instead. Secondly, following out Mr Hides's opinion of Carlo, evidently Mr Marshall's pups are wrongly placed, as, allowing for difference of age, they are almost counterparts of their almost perfect (according to Mr Hides) relative. Thirdly, I must leave it to Mr Hides to

explain (if he can) how Snowdon'a knees, or any other dog's with a chest measurement of 48in, can be almost touching ; and seeing he stands as straight, with as good a carriage on as sound legs as any dog in Dunedin, I am at a loss to know where cow-hockedness comeß in. Finally, as argument cannot possibly settle disputed points, I am agreeable, wittthe consent of the owners of the dogs, forfach of us to name one gentleman, with power to call in a third if necessary, to judge Carlo and Snowdon according to the English St. Bernard Ciub standard, as defined in * Dalz'tel's Work on Dogs,' further verified by actual measurements, when, I affirm,Snowdon will beat Carlo by at least ten points. The amount at iSßue to be at Mr Hides'a option, from £1 to £o, to be lodged by the loser with some party mutually agreed upon, and finally expended by the club in obtaining an expert judge at the next show.—l am, etc., S. Poystz. Mornington, August 11. P-S.—l have obtained the owner of Snowdon's consent to above.—S.P.