按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But；〃 ventured the Mistress； 〃if Symonds says 'Thumbs down；'
then〃
〃Then I'll buy a pet armadillo or an ornithorhynchus instead；〃
threatened the Master。 〃Either of them will look more like a
collie than Bruce does。〃
〃II wonder if Mr。 Symonds smokes；〃 mused the Mistress under her
breath。
〃Smokes？〃 echoed the Master。 〃What's that got to do with it？〃
〃I was only wondering；〃 she made hesitant answer； 〃if a box of
very wonderful cigars； sent to him with our cards； mightn't
perhaps〃
〃It's a fine sportsmanly proposition！〃 laughed the Master。 〃When
women get to ruling the world of sport； there'll be no need of
comic cartoons。 Genuine photographs will do as well。 If it's just
the same to you； dear girl； we'll let Symonds buy his own cigars；
for the present。 The dog…show game is almost the only one I know
of where a judge is practically always on the square。 People
doubt his judgment； sometimes； but there is practically never any
doubt of his honesty。 Besides； we want to get the exact dope on
Bruce。 （Not that I haven't got it； already！） If Symonds 'gates'
him； I'm going to offer him for sale at the show。 If nobody buys
him there； I'm going〃
〃He hasn't been 'gated' yet；〃 answered the Mistress in calm
confidence。
At the little spring show； at Hampton； a meager eighty dogs were
exhibited； of which only nine were collies。 This collie division
contained no specimens to startle the dog…world。 Most of the
exhibits were pets。 And like nearly all pets； they were
〃seconds〃in other words； the less desirable dogs of
thoroughbred litters。
Hampton's town hall auditorium was filled to overcrowding； with a
mass of visitors who paraded interestedly along the aisles
between the raised rows of stall…like benches where the dogs were
tied； or who grouped densely around all four sides of the roped
judging…ring in the center of the hall。
For a dogshow has a wel…nigh universal appeal to humanity at
large； even as the love for dogs is one of the primal and firm…
rooted human emotions。 Not only the actual exhibitor and their
countless friends flock to such shows； but the public at large is
drawn thither as to no other function of the kind。
Horse…racing； it is true； brings out a crowd many times larger
than does a dogshow。 But only because of the thrill of winning or
losing money。 For where one's spare cash is； there is his heart
and his all…absorbing interest。 Yet it is a matter of record that
grass is growing high； on the race…tracks； in such states as have
been able to enforce the anti…betting laws。 The 〃sport of kings〃
flourishes only where wagers may accompany it。 Remove the betting
element； and you turn your racetrack into a huge and untrodden
lot。
There is practically no betting connected with any dogshow。
People go there to see the dogs and to watch their judging； and
for nothing else。 As a rule； the show is not even a social event。
Nevertheless； the average dogshow is thronged with spectators。
（Try to cross Madison Square Garden； on Washington's Birthday
afternoon； while the Westminster Kennel Club's Show is in
progress。 If you can work your way through the press of visitors
in less than half an hour； then Nature intended you for a
football champion。）
The fortunate absence of a betting…interest alone keeps such
affairs from becoming among the foremost sporting features of the
world。 Many of the dogs on view are fools； of course。 Because
many of them have been bred solely with a view to show…points。
And their owners and handlers have done nothing to awaken in
their exhibits the half…human brain and heart that is a dog's
heritage。 All has been sacrificed to 〃points〃to points which
are arbitrary and which change as freakily as do fashions in
dress。
For example； a few years ago； a financial giant collected and
exhibited one of the finest bunches of collies on earth。 He had a
competent manager and an army of kennel…men to handle them。 He
took inordinate pride in these priceless collies of his。 Once I
watched him； at the Garden Show； displaying them to some Wall
Street friends。 Three times he made errors in naming his dogs。
Once； when he leaned too close to the star collie of his kennels；
the dog mistook him for a stranger and resented the intrusion by
snapping at him。 He did not know his own pets； one from another。
And they did not know their owner； by sight or by scent。
At the small shows； there is an atmosphere wholly different。 Few
of the big breeders bother to compete at such contests。 The dogs
are for the most part pets； for which their owners feel a keen
personal affection； and which have been brought up as members of
their masters' households。 Thus； if small shows seldom bring
forth a world…beating dog； they at least are full of clever and
humanized exhibits and of men and women to whom the success or
failure of their canine friends is a matter of intensest personal
moment。 Wherefore the small show often gives the beholder
something he can find but rarely in a larger exhibition。
A few dogs genuinely enjoy showsor are supposed to。 To many
others a dogshow is a horror。
Which windy digression brings us back by prosy degrees to Bruce
and to the Hampton dogshow。
The collies were the first breed to be judged。 And the puppy
class； as usual； was the first to be called to the ring。
There were but three collie pups； all males。 One was a rangy tri…
color of eleven months； with a fair head and a bad coat。 The
second was an exquisite six…months puppy； rich of coat；
prematurely perfect of head； and cowhocked。 These two and Bruce
formed the puppy class which paraded before Symonds in the oblong
ring。
〃Anyhow；〃 whispered the Mistress as the Master led his stolidly
gigantic entry toward the enclosure； 〃Bruce can't get worse than
a third…prize yellow ribbon。 We ought to be a little proud of
that。 There are only three entries in his class。〃
But even that bit of barren pride was denied the awkward
youngster's sponsor。 As the three pups entered the enclosure。 the
judge's half…shut eyes rested on Bruceat first idly； then in
real amazement。 Crossing to the Master； before giving the signal
for the first maneuvers； he said in tired disgust
〃Please take your measly St。 Bernard monstrosity out of the ring。
This is a class for collies； not for freaks。 I refuse to judge
that pup as a collie。〃
〃He's a thoroughbred；〃 crossly protested the Master。 〃I have his
certified pedigree。 There's no better blood in〃
〃I don't care what his ancestors were；〃 snapped the judge。 〃He's
a throw…back to the dinosaur or the Great Auk。 And I won't judge
him as a collie。 Take him out of the ring。 You're delaying the
others。〃
A judge's decision is final。 Red with angry shame and suppressing
an unworthy desire to kick the luckless Bruce； the Master led the
pup back to his allotted bench。 Bruce trotted cheerily along with
a maddening air of having done some