The Gordon Setter 211 



kennel called the Highland also sent dogs to New York and contended 

 against the Dwight dogs throughout the West, the best of this kennel being 

 Highland Yola. 



Dr. Dixon did not make any additions to his kennel for several years, 

 and his entries gradually became fewer, until 1896 saw the last of what 

 was probably the strongest kennel of Gordons ever got together. In their 

 best days they certainly beat everything and it took the best of several 

 kennels to peg them back eventually. The leading exhibitors were now 

 reduced to Mr. Blossom in New York, and the Dwight and Highland 

 Kennels in the West, no less than twenty-two of the recorded eighty-four 

 winners of reserve or better during 1897 being owned by one or other of 

 these three kennels. This of course made it difficult for the small men to 

 win, and as a natural result we find in succeeding years that competition 

 dwindled to such an extent that it was only by the hardest work on the part 

 of the Gordon Setter Club that the same number of classes were offered 

 as for English and Irish setters. In 1900 there were but fifty-five recorded 

 winners of reserve or better, and as the Western kennels did not send to 

 the Eastern shows that year their absence still further reduced competition, 

 and the best dog in the East that season was Mr. Blossom's Doc, while 

 Heather Lad still led among the Western setters. 



Mr. Blossom retired in 1900, after having not only played a conspicuous 

 part in the prize lists, but having by his untiring energy in insisting upon 

 "equal rights for the Gordons" done a great deal of work for others for 

 which he has never been given full credit. We then had a year or two of 

 the Vancroft Kennel, with a grand specimen, even if he was going grey, in 

 Duke of Edgeworth as leader. Much as we thought of some of the dogs 

 of the past, we can hardly name one that, both fit and well, could positively 

 have beaten the Duke of Edgeworth. He possessed quality, character 

 and conformation in a marked degree, and must have been a grand dog in 

 his prime, for even when he was showing grey about the muzzle, as was the 

 case when exhibited here, he won the highest honours at New York, Pitts- 

 burg, Buffalo, and again at New York at the Ladies' Kennel Association 

 show. He was defeated at Chicago, but not on his merits, the setter judging 

 at that show being very much criticised. 



To make up in some measure for departed fanciers in the East, 1901 

 saw the advent of Mr. B. W. Andrews, who may be said to be a Philadelphian^ 

 although a resident of Woodbury. Starting modestly Mr. Andrews has in 



