430 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[June 36, 1884. 



dog. Mr. Smith, may be of the worst possible color, butfa 

 good-looking; dog cannot be a bad color. When we breed 

 lemon and White bitches to lemon and white dogs, we want 

 lemon and white pups, not all the colors of the rainbow in one 

 Utter. 



Mr. Tileston, in his "Points of Judging," says the color of 

 nose should be black or very dark brown in all except lemon 

 and white. In these it may be of a deep flesh color, not black. 

 1 do not deny Bang Bang came honestly by his black nose and 

 eyes, I simply state it as a. blemish in a dog of his color. 



Mr. Aldrich states that there were f ew dissatisfied with Mr. 

 Sterling's decisions. The editorial remarks of the Forest and 

 Stream two weeks ago, don't verify this statement. Of 

 course, tbe members of the Westminster Kennel Club are sat- 

 isfied with the decisions on then- own dogs by judges appointed 

 by themselves. No one else is. The protest of forty gentlemen 

 proves th e dissatisfaction to be very great. The protest is pub- 

 lic opinion, not that of the members of any club. 



A Breeder oe Sporting Dogs. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your issue of June 12 Mr. John W. Munson states in his 

 letter that he was informed that I pronounced Meteor the 

 handsomest pointer I ever saw. There must be a mistake 

 somewhere, as I find it impossible to make accurate compari- 

 sons between the forms of animals "with only a part of them 

 present. After seeing Meteor and his kennel companions at 

 exercise, during the Toronto dog show last March, I did say 

 he was the most handsome-moving pointer I had seen move 

 in the country, and that I would sooner own him than the 

 balance of his kennel companions, from which statement I 

 make no retraction. John Davidson. 



Monroe, Mich., June IT. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



For the benefit of any of your readers who have not an 

 acquaintance with the members of the Westminster Kennel 

 Club, I desire to say most emphatically that every insinuation 

 and direct accusation conveyed in C. H. Mason's tntemperate 

 letter are wholly and unqualifiedly false. If my criticism of 

 his fi rst letter caused him merriment, as he says it did, his 

 merriment partakes more of the form of rabies than rapture. 

 For myself I have had quite enough newspaper controversy. 



Robt, C. Cornell. 



New York, June 21. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As some stress seems to be laid upon the statement that the 

 Westminster Kennel Club attempted, in 1888, to buy Beaufort, 

 let me say (though I fear it is not a matter of interest to any 

 one) that Mr. Cornell and I, representing the club at Washing- 

 ton, in that year offered $300 for the dog on then- behalf, and 

 that I personally afterward raised the offer to §350. At this 

 time neither of us had made a thorough examination of him. 

 When later we had him out, the peculiarities (I use the word 

 as there seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether they 

 are points of merit or defects) which Mr. Cornell refers to 

 were apparent, and we. therefore made no further offer. 



Elliot Smith. 



Editor Fo?'est and Stream: 



Of the forty names appended to the so-called protest of 

 Messi s. G. W. Amory and others, appearing in your issue of 

 10th inst., sixteen do. not appear in the list of exhibitors; two 

 more did not exhibit pointers, and as to one (the Baltimore 

 Kennel Club) it would be interesting to know by what right 

 the name was signed, inasmuch as the club is said to have 

 gone out of existence long since. The Knickerbocker Kennel 

 Club add great strength to their signature by signing first in 

 their corporate name and then adding a list of their officers, 

 etc. " Elliot Smith. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Nothing less than the possession of exceptionally great 

 knowledge can excuse the severity of tone assumed by Mr. 

 Mason toward those who are so unfortunate as to differ from 

 him. Nobody will deny his long experience, but if that ex- 

 perience has not brought wisdom it is all the more to his dis- 

 credit. In taking Mr. Cornell to task for having admired 

 pointers of several different types, Mr. Mason clearly implies 

 that there is one correct type "only and assumes to know that 

 type himself beyond mistake. In this he puts himself in con- 

 tradiction with the entire i - ecordof shows and field trials both 

 here and in England. It clearly appears from this record that 

 there are several types of form, any one of which may win ac- 

 cording as its representative may be most perfect in his type. 

 Nor do we even find that individual judges adhere very closely 

 to the same form through several classes. Even Stonehenges 

 scale of points is quite elastic enough to cover a variety of 

 forms, and it is manifest from his writings that he intended it 

 should be so. (See remarks on fox-terrier judgment, page 

 52, "Dogs of the British Islands.") Indeed it appears that this 

 scale was invented mainly as a check on those judges who, 

 believing in unity of type, were prone to give preference, to in- 

 ferior speeunens of their favorite types over better, but 

 typically different, dogs. Mr. Mason seems, therefore, to as- 

 sume that the judges of public events have hitherto been, on 

 the average, a lot of dolts, since they have generally failed to 

 recognize that perfect form that he knows so well. 



Let us see now how he makes good his claim to superior 

 knowledge. What dogs has he put himself on record by 

 denouncing? Croxteth, Sensation— and to draw an example 

 from setters— Thunder. Now, all these have been publicly 

 shown to be very superior field dogs. The record of their run- 

 ning can be found m the back numbers of Forest and Stream, 

 together with comments by many sportsmen. Moreover, their 

 qualities have been privately tested by so many persons as to 

 have become notorious. But Mr. Mason says they are ill- 

 fomied. Experience and fact say that they must be well 

 formed for their work, else they could not have performed it. 

 It is not to the purpose to say that two of them have been 

 beaten. There probably are better perf ormers in existence, 

 but these are uncommonly good ones all the same. That Maud 

 S. has beaten Goldsmith Maid's time does not prove the Maid 

 to be a slow one. Will Mr. Mason try to evade this logic by 

 saying that he referred to show form? He has no right to do 

 so in discussing the awards at the late show, at least such ones 

 as I was concerned in. When I was called into the ring to 

 take the place of a judge who would, if present, have doubt- 

 less given wiser decisions than I could, I was informed by the 

 steward and the other judges that the basis of decisions was 

 to be the best form for field work regardless of "bench show 

 standards." 



If that basis was improper, the responsibility should be laid 

 upon those who established it. The judges could not do other- 

 wise than conform to it to the best of their ability. There 

 has been a large class of breeders demanding such a basis for 

 a number of years past, and I think it is well to have made 

 a trial of it, even if more or less error has resulted, which is 

 likely enough, seeing that judges are mere fallible mortals. 

 If errors: there are. it is important to have them corrected, 

 and I hope it will be done, for though painful to the vanity 

 of judges, it is for the good of the cause. Meanwhile no 

 would-be authority, who selects for special condemnation 

 such exceptionally good field dogs as does Mr. Mason, can 

 hope to get ' 'solid" with me by applying the flattering title of 

 "Artist of the W. K. C. fl It would be a pleasant and a profit- 

 able title, but I have no right to assume it. I am glad to boast 

 the personal friendship of several members of that club, and 

 also that several of them have thought well enough of my 

 works to buy them. One of thein has, as I understand, donated 

 his purchase" to the club. But, all this is true of several other 

 clubs, aud up to the present date I have had no opportunity 

 to enlarge my bank account at the expense of the W. K. C. 



T can only hope Mr. Mason's fling may serve to "grease the 



horse's teeth." Many good judges are being kept out of the 

 ring by the latitude allowed in the press for personal attack. 

 I affirm that an erroneous decision forms no ground for a per- 

 sonal question with the judge. Nor should the remotest hint 

 of such a thing be allowed, save in the case of formal charges 

 of intentional misconduct or collusion, substantiated by con- 

 siderable evidence. 



If a man of great experience and undoubted probity, like 

 Mr. Sterling, consented to act as judge, he is entitled to kind 

 and considerate treatment, and if gentlemen dissent from his 

 opinions they can certainly vindicate then- own without going 

 to such extremes as have been witnessed. It is well known 

 that Mr. Sterling and myself differed radically about some of 

 the decisions. Yet, after hearing his reasons, if I continued 

 to differ from him I must own to the possibility that further 

 study and experience may show his views to be correct. I can, 

 at best, claim the Scotch verdict of "not proven" against him, 

 and so, I think, his various opponents will find it if they will 

 temperately consider the matter. Meanwhfle, tliis avalanche 

 of personalities puts us further and further away from what 

 ought to be the goal of all— the truth. John M. Tract. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In this week's issue the New Haven Kennel Club are credited 

 with having signed the protest against the judging of pointers 

 at the late New York show. To begin with, the New Haven 

 Kennel Club own no pointers, did not show any, and lastly, 

 did not authorize any one to sign any such protest. The club 

 are incapable of showing the discourtesy of "protesting" at 

 another club's judges. We. do not hke to be "kicked" at our- 

 selves, and certainly w r ould not protest at other shows, 

 especially when we have no cause. By Mr. Mason's explain- 

 ing how and where he obtained the signature of the club he 

 would greatly oblige G. E. Osborn, 



Ass't Manager N. H. K. C. 



New Haven. 



In response to Mr. Osborn's request we wrote Mr. Mason, 

 who replies as follows: 

 Editor Forest and Streami: 



Mr. E. S. Porter, Secretary of the New Haven Kennel Club, 

 told me that he would in the name of his club sign a protest 

 against the judging, "which he said was infamous. I did not 

 think it necessary to send the protest on to New Haven for in- 

 dorsement after getting the word of a gentlemen in Mr. 

 Porter's position. Chas. H. Mason. 



Tompxinsville, Staten Island. 



THE NEW ENGLAND KENNEL CLUB. 



THE New England Kennel Club, which was started in this 

 city last March, is now in such a condition that there can 

 be but little doubt of its success. At one of its former meet- 

 ings a committee was appointed to secure quarters, and as a 

 result of their labors the members were last Friday evening 

 invited to the opening of the club's headquarters, on Tremont 

 street. The apartments are reached by an elevator, and are 

 on the second floor above the street. They are large and 

 roomy, and the main room overlooks the Common and its 

 ever changing panorama. The furniture and fittings are of a 

 dark cherry, with carpets and draperies to match. The walls 

 are tinted, and the whole effect is pleasing and elegant. In 

 one corner is a parlor grand piano, at which any of the music- 

 loving members of the club may while away a few idle mo- 

 ments. As might be expected, "there are a large number 

 of dog portraits in the rooms, being from the brush of such 

 artists as Alexander Pope, Henry Smith and W. Beaman. 

 Among these pictures are portraits of Dr. Jarvis's Elcho and 

 Rose ; Fay's Coin, the famous Berkley, and Mr. Nickerson's 

 Newfoundland Sam. Dr. F. S. Billing's, a member of the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee, in a short address of welcome, explained 

 the objects of the club and its purposes, which is to have as 

 soon as possible a country house and kennel, where members 

 may send their dogs for breediug, treatment or breaking. The 

 club intends, when it holds its bench show, to give a show, 

 and all prizes will be awarded with reference to merit only. 

 There was a large gathering, many well known gentlemen 

 being present. The club rooms will be kept open until a rea- 

 sonable hour in the evening, and will be the headquarters for 

 all dog men. Hub. 



Boston, Mass. 



A STREET SCENE. 



IT was a pretty picture. The little girl with flaxen hair in 

 profusion about her small head standing on tiptoe putting 

 a letter into a street box on the lamp post at the corner. Her 

 companion, a Scotch terrier, with well-kept, wiry hair, short, 

 stubby tail, wagging with interest in his little mistress' occu- 

 pation, head on one side as much as to say, "I am mentioned 

 in that letter and I v r ant to see it properly mailed." 



While the little miss was struggling with the perversity of 

 the lid, which wouldn't lift high enough for so short a midget 

 as she, a big hulking navvy came along, and without a word, 

 kicked poor doggy with his great hob-nailed shoe into the 

 street with so much force that the poor little fellow was dead 

 ere he struck between the rails of the street cars. 



A plainly, well-dressed young man, with a heavy black 

 mustache as his only marked feature, who had stood on an 

 opposite corner watching the little maid and her companion 

 with evident interest, upon the occurrence of the tragedy, 

 stepped miic-lrlc neroRR n.nd confronted the ruffian "with Whv 

 did 



him _, 



"Well," said our young friend, "I choose to avenge my 

 brother's death since you say I am one of his sort," and 

 with this gave him a left-hander which laid him upon his 

 back minus several teeth and a terribly demoralized counte- 

 nance. 



Stepping toward the little one who was now thoroughly 

 frightened, with a few words soothingly spoken, he took up 

 her now motionless dmnb companion tenderly in his arms, 

 and with one cf the tiny hands of the little maid in his great 

 red hand, soothing her as he went, they passed down the street 

 out of sight. 



The miserable fellow who had caused all the trouble looked 

 after them as he held his aching face in one hand and mur- 

 mured, "Be jabers, I believe it was 'our John' himself." 



Reignolds. 



BEAGLES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Seeing in the columns of your valuable paper comments on 

 the "Proper Size of Beagles," written by "Flat" and "Rusti- 

 cus," I propose to give my opinion as to the proper size of the 

 working beagle and my mode of working them. 



I prefer beagles from thirteen to fourteen inches high and 

 say from fifteen to twenty pounds weight. Dogs of this size 

 can stand hard working, and have stronger notes, making a 

 much more lively clash when in full pursuit of their game, and, 

 moreover, dogs of this size can make a rabbit run when 

 started and will not give him so much time to back track and 

 bother the dogs, even in heavy cover. 



I can't agree with some of my brother sportsmen when they 

 say "the only way to use the beagle is to shoot the rabbits in 

 front of the'little hound." 



I moreover say any pack of beagles having their game always 

 shot in front of "them will spoil any pack of dogs it is prac- 

 ticed over. They will gradually lose their ambition and per- 

 severance, and on a bad loss of trail will come in and give up. 

 My mode of hunting is to let the dogs run down and catch 

 some of the rabbits on every hunt, and sometimes hunt With- 

 out a gun, and let the dogs chase and catch then- game on fair 

 footing. That gives the dogs perseverance, and makes them 

 press their game, looking for the sight chase and close of race. 

 There is but little amusement in the chase if the rabbit is not | 



made to run; that is the fun when dogs and man are all ex- 

 citement, and the rabbit is sighted from cover by the little 

 hounds, and the rabbit gradually failing and the dogs well set 

 to their work, and growing more eager at the close of chase. 

 What amusement can there be to only make a rabbit tip along 

 m cover and at first opportunity shoot it? That is to me tame 

 sport, fit for pot-hunters. Dogs must be allowed to mouth 

 their game, and do it by hard work, if vou want them to stick 

 and work well. I claim if a pack of 'beagles can't catch on 

 fair footing a majority of rabbits started, if the cover is not 

 too dense and briery so the dogs can't make a run at them, 

 are not handled properly if well bred. Beagles, hke setters, 

 their instinctive qualities can be greatly improved by proper 

 handling. 'Pottinger Dorset. 



YORK ROYAL DOG SHOW. 



THE Royal York Dog Show's second annual exhibition was 

 held May 31 and June 2 and 3, with a total entry of 708. 

 A great many entries were cancelled owing to some of the 

 classes not fining, which seemed to give general dissatisfaction 

 to exhibitors, who objected to have some of their entries re- 

 turned and others held, as in many cases the entries returned 

 were the ones they most desired to exhibit and the only ones 

 depended upon winning with. In some cases the committee 

 acted anything but generous, as knocking two classes into one 

 for instance, where dogs and bitches of one variety were 

 offered a separate class in the schedule and the entries in both 

 classes were not satisfactory to the committee, they put the 

 two classes into one. This departure from the general rule 

 also seemed to give rise to a deal of grumbling. The comfort 

 of the exhibits seemed to be vei*y well attended to under the 

 management of Mr. George Hellewell. The judging was got 

 through at a reasonable hour on the afternoon of the first day, 

 owing to plenty of available space to provide rings for all the. 

 judges to be working at once. But a scarcity of keepers to 

 bring the dogs into the several rings was very apparent, which 

 could be reasonably accounted for owing to so many rings 

 being filled at once. Ho wever, taking everything into con- 

 sideration, the committee worked well and things went along 

 satisfactory. The weather during the show was everytliing 

 that could be wished for, but the attendance was very small, 

 and no doubt the result will be a financial loss to the commit- 

 tee. 



The first class was bloodhounds (champion) for which there 

 were two entries Nestor, and Lawyer, neither of which put in 

 an appearance. In the next class for dogs and bitches, other 

 than champions, first went to Dorset, a very well made dog, 

 certainly the best in that respect, but not possessing the head, 

 ears or expression of the third prize Phryne, which we pre- 

 ferred to any hi the class. 



In champion mastiffs Crown Princess was first, beating 

 Cardinal, who was not in as good form as when we saw him 

 at Warwick. The open dog class consisted of Monk, a small 

 brindle, rather long of face, Cardigan also a brindlc, rather 

 weak in muzzle, Surajah, good ear and a fan- typical dog and 

 The Prince, first at Warwick and first again" here, an easy 

 winner. In bitches Mr. Taunton won first au d extra prize 

 with Cleopatra; Ilford Claudia, rather light in body, coming 

 second, and her kennel companion corning third. The puppies- 

 were a very moderate collection, the winner a good way 

 ahead. 



In St. Bernard champions, Ilfreda, looking well, was first. 

 In the open class Glacier, first, we have often described, we 

 preferred the vhc., Faust, to any in the class, but his condition 

 is still against him. Cloister won first in bitches, she is a real 

 good stamp and grand in color and markings; Crevasse II. is 

 rather light in bone ; Khiva, a well known winner, showing 

 age; Lady Florence, he, is typical and of good color and 

 markings', but small. In smooth dogs, Bruce, the winner, is 

 rather short on the leg. Her Majesty, first in the correspond- 

 ing bitch class, was also winner of 'first at the St. Bernard 

 Club Show. The puppies were a very moderate collection, 

 none calling for special comment. 



In Newfoundlands, first went to Mr. Nichols's Nelson I., 

 looking well, and second to Sultan II., a fair dog, whose 

 appearance is much spoiled by the feather on his tail being 

 quite gray in color; the Landseer Newfoundland Charlemagne 

 coming third. He is a good up-standing dog, much the largest 

 in the class, with a longer and different type of face. Towser, 

 vhc, is small and typical, but was in "bad coat. The bitch 

 class was cancelled, owing to insufficient entries, and the three 

 following classes for Great Danes were also cancelled. 



In deerhounds, the well-known Chieftain, looking as well as 

 we ever saw him, was at the head of affairs, and no doubt 

 was in his proper position, Lord Arthur Cecil coming second 

 with Glengrieff, a mustard-colored dog. 



The well-known Bonny Lass won in champion greyhounds, 

 and was looking remarkably well. The greyhound dog class 

 was cancelled ; Messrs. Hill & Aston winning first in bitches 

 with a brindle showing age. Second went to Acalia, a well- 

 known brindle and white. 



In champion pointers, Graphic was first, looking in the pink 

 of condition and good health. We consider him the best 

 pointer at present going. Ir> the open dog and bitch class first 

 went to Mr. Shorthose's Quickshot, a good; stylish dog, 

 rather deficient in head properties, and not the. color of Mr. 

 Norrish's exhibits ; second went to Revel n. , who is a little 

 weak before the eye. The well-known liver and white Ruby 

 won for best bitch, the class having been divided. In small- 

 sized pointer dogs, first went to Donald III., a liver and white, 

 Avith good chest and shoidders, and good all through. He 

 seems rather high on the leg, which gives him an appearance 

 of being rather short in back and stilty In bitches under 

 50 pounds, first went again to Mr. Norrish's Beau Ideal, a very 

 nice liver and white. There was a class for field trial dogs 

 and Graphic won quite easily. 



In champion English setters, Sting, the winner at Warwick, 

 wen first. In the open classes of setters the awards seemed 

 to cause a great deal of dissatisfaction. First went to Royalty, 

 a very fine, strong, well-made dog of good coat and color, but 

 not as sweet in head as we would like him. Second went to 

 Junior Carlton, a lemon and white, very bad in coat and plain 

 in head, and with ears set on too high. Glencaire, third, is a 

 real good dog throughout. The he, Lord Westmoreland, is 

 another good one, faulty in head, but we fancy him quite as 

 much as the winner, and certainly much more than the second 

 prize dog. The vhc, King Ned, is another good dog. He 

 was rather out of coat. In bitches, Flimsy, who won first, 

 was shown in remarkable good condition, which was more 

 admired than herself. Wild Rose, third, is small and was not 

 in good form, otherwise she was the best in the class. Beauty 

 Queen is plain in head and faulty in coat. Ferine, a lemon and 

 white not mentioned, is a very good bitch and ought to be 

 noticed. Belle of the Isle has remarkably good head and ears, 

 but otherwise was out of form. Bessie IV. is only moderate and 

 faulty in coat. Black and tan setters had not a good one in 

 the class; the winning bitch, Kate IV., was the best of the 

 collection. The Irish setter classes were cancelled owing to 

 want of entries. In the class for field trial setters the curly 

 coated lemon and white Junior Carlton, second in open dog 

 class, and Bessie TV, , were placed equal first. 



In champion retrievers, first went to Wonder, but we pre- 

 ferred the same owners Doctor, as showing more quality. In 

 the open dog class, first went to Mr. Skipwoith's Smiles, a 

 good young one but rather leggy. In bitches, first went to a 

 young one wavy-coated; second to Jessie; we fancied Mr. 

 Leeson's entry as much as any in the class, she was a little 

 faulty in tail and her name was not given in the catal 



In sporting puppies, first and second went to Mr. Bower's 

 spaniel and Mr. Easten's spaniel As spaniels no doubt they 

 were properly placed, but we think Mr. Hartley's setter, Lord 

 Westmoreland, and Mr. Buckley's pointer, Merry pushes*, 

 ought to have held premier place in this 



