By Money may be the root of all evil, as we were admonished by Timothy, but the world could not get on very well without it, and most of us would be prepared to take the risk if we could have a little more, Certainly, no institution working for the public good can have too much of it, and, as it happens, many of those who have great wealth, agree with Bacon that "money is like muck, not good except it be spread" Some kind friend in Chicago seems to be of this way of thinking, and he, or she, as the case may be, has just sent the Tail-Waggers Club a donation of £50. The agents who forwarded the draft explained that they had been instructed to send*the amount as an anonymous donation "to be used as you think best for the doggy club."
Consequently, we are unable to thank our friend directly but he or she may be assured that the windfall will be spent on some good object. We have so many appeals for assistance that it is not possible to meet, although considerable sums have been given away in various directions, all designed to promote the welfare oz dogs. In most towns there are Clinics or dogs' homes, designed to look after the ailing animals of the poor, and most of them are working very near to the bone. Before the Club makes any donation it makes careful enquiries into the way in which the institutions are being worked. We cannot afford to encourage laxity of administration Besides this unexpected gift from America we have had a legacy of £50 from the estate of a lady in Derby. Unfortunately, the—death duty relieved' us of £5 of it, but that is a thing that cannot be avoided. Although we have close on 700,- C00'members the life subscription of half-a-crown is eaten into by the cost: of the membership set that is sent and the tally on which we have engraved the name and address of the owner for affixing to the dog's collar. Even the expenditure on postage is an item when deducted from such a small amount We should like to do a good deal lor the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which could be expanded to any extent if funds were able, and the scheme for enabling people to purchase licences by Weekly instalments of twopence is costly. lam glad tosay that some.of those, who are adopting this convenient "method of paying for their licences in advance are thoughtful enough to help by adding a few extra stamps to their cards: The way in which-this scheme is growing every year is a testimony to its usefulness.
Some day, I hope, it may be possible to start classes all over the country with the object of instructing people in Gog management, and showing them how to train their dogs in the way of obedience. Large numbers of dog owners would wel-tome any movement of the kind. They are desirous of doing the right thing by their pets, but have not the knowledge which can only come from experience. We have to answer thousands of letters a—yea: giving advice on all sorts of subjects, but they can never take the place of practical instruction from those who know.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.