Believe it or not, Charles Dickens was editor of a magazine that wrote one of the first descriptions of a dog show back in 1844.
The squib below appeared in Bentley's Miscellany. Bentley's was a literary magazine started by Richard Bentley, and it was published between 1836 and 1868. Charles Dickens was its first editor. The author of this particular contribution was a fellow by the name of John Fisher Murray in a section he called The Physiology of London Life.
As you can tell from the description, dog shows were a very novel idea at the time. In fact, the first formal dog show was not held until 1859. My guess is that this dog show was a tented side-line to a larger generalized stock show.
Apparently the push was already on to create freakishly odd dogs -- in this case a miniature or "tea cup" breed.
Bentley's Miscellany By Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith
The squib below appeared in Bentley's Miscellany. Bentley's was a literary magazine started by Richard Bentley, and it was published between 1836 and 1868. Charles Dickens was its first editor. The author of this particular contribution was a fellow by the name of John Fisher Murray in a section he called The Physiology of London Life.
As you can tell from the description, dog shows were a very novel idea at the time. In fact, the first formal dog show was not held until 1859. My guess is that this dog show was a tented side-line to a larger generalized stock show.
Apparently the push was already on to create freakishly odd dogs -- in this case a miniature or "tea cup" breed.
Bentley's Miscellany By Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith
found this in your recycling bin?
ReplyDeleteActually, just getting to my inbox. Some great stuff from Mark Twain came this morning :)
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