SHOWS AND SHOWERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12632, 20 October 1905, Page 5

SHOWS AND SHOWERS.

The period of the show is right upon us, and with it come, of course, lessons in the philosophy of defeat and th© philosophy of victory ■which should be well laid to mind. One of the first lessons an exhibitor ought to learn is, it may bo somewhat tritely observed, to take defeat quietly. Unfortunately, there ore more than a few who find the lesson too hard for them, and as a result unpleasant scenes not infrequently ocj cur. An English paper quotes a case in point, in which, not very long ago, a judge had some - difficulty in deciding between the merits of two dogs. Eventually he arrived at a decision, and, probably feeling 'that he had unduly raised the hopes of the owner "whose dog . was placed second, he ventured some few words of explanation as to how he had arrived at his decision. Never wias there a anon© unfortunate kindness, for apparently the fancier in question imagined that explanation did but add insult to injury. He did not exactly turn and rend the judge, but he gave vent to (his opinions of that gentleman in such an open and emphatic manner as t« call down upon himself subsequently the severe censure of the Kennel Club. The incident in itself is net one of very grave moment, except in so far as it illustrates the fact that there 'are a great many exhibitors in all countries who fail to grasp the true position of judge and exhibitor. The only logical conclusion to come to is that a judge is a man who undertakes to place exhibits, to the best of his ability, in the order in which they secern to him to merit distinction. The exhibitor, by his very presence in the ring, expresses himself as anxious to obtain the opinion of the judge ? on this 'Understanding, upon his, exhibits. Viewed from this commonsense standpoint, no exhibitor has any right to grumble because a judge may not share the owner's opinion as to the value of a certain exhibit, but unfortunately there are many people who. ought to know better who are ready to impute the worst motives to a judge who disappoints .them. He is described as either prejudiced or spiteful, o-r he has his own ax© to grind, or, as a last alternative, he is grossly ignorant, and this, of course, upon a matter upon which there must always be a difference of opinion. The experience is such a common one in the show ring that it is really wonderful that so many experts are to he found ready to lend their services in the 'matter of disoriraiiniatAng. The lot of the policeman is proverbally "not a happy one," but that of the judge in the show ring, as a number of estimable settlers are about to find out, is at least equally unhappy.