[ The Fanciers' Journal ]
This animal-fancy weekly, originally entitled The Fanciers' Journal and Poultry Exchange before dropping the latter part of that title although it continued to publish items on pigeons and poultry as well as dogs, was published in Philadelphia, PA, beginning in 1874.
The January 10, 1891, issue mentions Newfoundlands once:
In its "Gleanings from the Kennel" column comes this defense of the Newfoundland's character, in response to a reader's remarks:
A correspondent . . . says: "Newfoundlands are the most quarrelsome, ill-mannered brutes as a rule." It is evident from this that he never owned one, or perhaps if he did or does, that one must be the proverbial exception to the rule. More sagacious, faithful and benevolent dogs it is hard to find than the black Newfoundland. Of course there are exceptions in all breeds, but it is utterly wrong to condemn the breed as a whole on account of this. (20)
The issue of January 24, 1891, in the "Random Hints" column (by someone using the pen name of "Hap Hazard") has this remark on the current state of show-quality Newfoundlands:
No better opening could await a lover of large dogs than do Newfoundlands at present. Our shows draw large entrie of nondescripts, in whose coat black predominates, but they are not Newfoundlands. There can be no handsomer dog than a really good Newfoundland, and I am certain that anyone importing a team of good ones from England (for they cannot be had in Newfoundland) would have no reason to regret it. (52)
One week later (January 31) sees the publication of a brief note regarding the development of dogs from wolves and/or jackals:
It is worth noting that, according to some naturalists, the Newfoundland and St. Bernard dogs form a group by themselves, derived neither from wolves nor jackals, but from a distinct species of progenitors. It is a disputed question whether the Newfoundland dog is indigenous to North America or was introduced either by the Norwegians in the year 1000 or by Cabot in 1497. Bearing on this question is the interesting fact that the Norwegians have dogs closely resembling the Newfoundland breed. (71)