4<5 "GENERAL BEALE," " HEGIRA," "ISLAM," 



I may be mistaken, but I am under the impression they were a 

 stronger and better type of men than we now find in that class. They 

 were mostly those who had been heelers and handlers for such of the 

 English nobility, as were more given to those sports then, than at the 

 present day, consequently better informed from contact. Nearly fifty 

 years ago I had a beautiful setter bitch. An old English cocker whom 

 I called frequently to see, was always in a worry for fear some cur or 

 mongrel dog would get with her, and was worried, saying that if such 

 an accident were to happen, she would forever after be worthless for 

 breeding purposes. The only reason he could give me was that any 

 puppies she might subsequently have would be "dung-hills," even by 

 the best-bred dog. (The word "dung-hill" is unpleasant to write or to 

 speak, but is the only word used to express extreme contempt among 

 the class of men, of high or low degree, interested in the breeding of 

 sporting animals.) 



The same injunction was made relative to my game-hens and a cold- 

 bred cock ; or my black- and-tan dogs, fearing a cur cross. 



From boyhood I wanted a reason for everything. Words that I did 

 not understand, I wanted so thoroughly explained that I could use them 

 properly myself. The statements by this old cocker I found to be the 

 fixed opinion with all men of his class, but no one could explain them 

 to me. However, there was so much common sense with these men 

 (then fifty to sixty years old, now fifty years ago, which would make 

 them over one hundred if alive), that their " say so" made an impression 

 upon me, for they were always possessed of the breeder's gift, which 

 should be observing to a fine dearee. Moreover, their contact with 

 their intelligent employers in the old country had tended to orally 

 educate them into many important problems relating to breeding ; so I, 

 too, learned from them, or was pushed to inform myself. 



The older I grew, the more impressive the opinions of these men 

 became ; and as I continued a student in animal life, I have learned to 

 listen with respect to the teachings of old men of strong minds, whether 

 illiterate or slightly educated ; thus, whether cock-fighters, dog-fighters, 

 or pugilists, I have found there was something to be learned from all, 

 or each ; and here let me say that a capable man in either one of 

 these low occupations is almost invariably a man of superiority, men- 

 tally ; all he requires to make him a recognized man, is the restraining 

 influences of education with association. I never knew an able one to 

 be a drunkard. 



This all-powerful first blood influence upon the virgin female, was a 



