148 Forty Years Beagling 



the right track, and to the few breeders who are 

 trying to cry down my stock I will make the fol- 

 lowing proposition: Beginning at the Providence 

 show I will show Ringleader against any dog they 

 own, and Lonely against any bitch they own; or I 

 will show the pair against any brace they own; or 

 I will show a team of four against any four they 

 own. I will show two, four, or six puppies, whelped 

 August 10, 1895, sired by Ringleader, against the 

 same number sliced by any stud dog they own. If 

 the Providence show, to be held in September next, 

 will not be convenient, I will make the same offer 

 at any of the large Spring shows, New York, Chi- 

 cago, or Boston preferred. This is a good chance to 

 see what bone will do, as from my experience in 

 breeding dogs it is much easier to lose it than to 

 gain it in my breed. 



"Probably everyone with long hunting experi- 

 ence has seen good rabbit-dogs with very little true 

 beagle character, as there are many mongrels that 

 you can break to hunt rabbits that can beat many 

 of the field trial winners. If the type and quality 

 of the beagle are to be kept up, it cannot be done by 

 breeding to a dog simply because it has won in the 

 field, as you can lose more in formation and quality 

 in two years than you can get back in ten. As 



