bruce(布鲁斯)-第7章
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〃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；
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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
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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〃
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〃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 something to be proud of。 Deaf to the Mistress's sympathy
and to her timidly voiced protests； the Master scrawled on an envelope…
back the words 〃For Sale。 Name Your Own Price；〃 and pinned it on the
edge of the bench。
〃Here endeth the first lesson in collie…raising； so far as The Place is
concerned；〃 he decreed； stalking back to the ringside to watch the rest of
the judging。
The Mistress lingered behind； to bestow a furtive consolatory pat upon
the disqualified Bruce。 Then she joined her husband beside the ring。
It was probably by accident that her skirt brushed sharply against the
bench…edge as she wentknocking the 〃For Sale〃 sign down into the litter
of straw below。
But a well…meaning fellow…exhibitor； across the aisle； saw the bit of
paper flutter floorward。 This good soul rescued it from the straw and
pinned it back in place。
（The world is full of helpful folk。 That is perhaps one reason why the
Millennium's date is still so indefinite。）
An hour later； a man touched the Master on the arm。
〃That dog of your； on Bench 48；〃 began the stranger； 〃the big pup with
the 'For Sale' sign on his bench。 What do you want for him？〃
The Mistress was several feet away； talking to the superintendent of
the show。 Guiltily； yet gratefully； the Master led the would… be purchaser
back to the benches； without attracting his wife's notice。
A few minutes afterward he returned to where she and the
superintendent were chatting。
〃Well；〃 said the Master； trying to steel himself against his wife's
possible disappointment； 〃I found a buyer for Brucea Dr。 Halding； from
New York。 He likes the pup。 Says Bruce looks as if he was strong and had
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lots of endurance。 I wonder if he wants him for a sledge…dog。 He paid me
fifteen dollars for him； and it was a mighty good bargain。 I was lucky to
get more than a nickel for such a cur。〃
The Master shot forth this speech in almost a single rapid breath。 Then；
before his wife could reply；and without daring to look into her troubled
eyes；he discovered an acquaintance on the far side of the ring and
bustled off to speak to him。 The Master； you see； was a husband； not a
hero。
The Mistress turned a worried gaze on the superintendent。
〃It was best； I suppose；〃 she said bravely。 〃We agreed he must be sold；
if the judge decided he was not any good。 But I'm sorry。 For I'm fond of
him。 I'm sorry he is going to live in New York； too。 A big city is no place
for a big dog。 I hope this Dr。 Halding will be nice to the poor puppy。〃
〃Dr。WHO？〃 sharply queried the superintendent； who had not caught
the name when the Master had spoken it in his rapid…fire speech。 〃Dr。
Halding？ Of New York？ Huh！
〃You needn't worry about the effect of city life on your dog；〃 he went
on with venomous bitterness。 〃The pup won't have a very long spell of it。
If I had my way； that man Halding would be barred from every dog…show
and stuck in jail。 It's an old trick of his； to buy up thoroughbreds； cheap； at
sh
