Aug. 25, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



91 



THE HILLSIDE KENNELS. 



ABOUT thirty miles from the city of Boston lies Lancas- 

 ter, one of' the prettiest villages it has ever been ray 

 lot to see. It is a village of stately mansions, pretty villas, 

 comfortable-looking cottages, excellent roads, the greenest 

 of green lawns, avenues of magnificent elms, and last, but 

 by no means least, it is a village containing within its limits 

 one of the finest collections of dogs in the world, 



To the readers of the FOREST AND STREAM, the name of 

 John E. Thayer is well known, as no report of a dog show is 

 at all complete without Mr. Thayer's name cropping up re- 

 peatedly in the prize list with doerhoUnds. bulldogs and fox- 

 terriers'. 



Here, there are situated the Hillside H ennuis, the property 

 Of Mr. John K. Thayer. When Mr. Thayer and his brother, 

 Mr; Bayard Thayer, were qtiite boys, they were very fond of 

 dogs and always kept several about the stables, but had no 

 regular kennels. 



In the year 1882 they first showed a few at Boston, includ- 

 ing Lance, a deerhound dog; Beauty, a Gordon setter; Daisy, 

 a pointer, and Tip, a fox-terrier, the latter bought by Mr. 

 Bayard Thayer in Liverpool . Of this lot all are dead save 

 Beauty, who has a fine time of it roaming about house and 

 grounds at will. Poor old Lance died in the spring 

 Irorn old age, much to keeper Heald's relief, as the 

 old dog had developed a temper of his own which, 

 to put it mild, was anything but angelic. It was 

 at this time that Heald took charge of the dogs. He 

 had served all through the war, and when it was over he 

 found employment in the gardens surrounding Mr. Thayer's 

 mansion. Always fond of a dog he soon saw that the M essrs. 

 Thayers' dogs were getting more kicks than attention in 

 the stables, and after they had lost a litter or two of puppies 

 by neglect he mentioned the fact to Mr. John. Just about 

 this time the Ottawa show took place and the day before the 

 dogs had to be. shipped Mr. Thayer told lleald that he was 

 to go with the following dogs, Moses, Juno, and Judy, bull- 

 dogs; Bramble a pointer, and Lance a deerhouud. At this 

 tinie the Hillside Kennels did not possess any dog boxes, so 

 the five had to be taken on the chain, It so happened that 

 Judy and Juno were always in the habit of fighting at sight, 

 and did so on this occasion on the Worcester platform, 

 Heald getting badly bitten in his endeavors to separate them, 

 but a little thing of this sort never ruffles Heald's temper, as 

 any one who saw him at the New York show some three or 

 foxir years ago when Blister bit him so badly, can testify. 

 Since this show Heald has had the entire management of the 

 kennels, and I venture to say that for looking after such a 

 lot of dogs, showing them in tiptop condition, besides super- 

 intending the breeding part of the business at home, there 

 are few it any men in the country his equal. 



The number of prizes won by the kennels since 1882 is 596— 

 302 firsts, 168 specials, 9ff seconds and 27 thirds; a pretty good 

 showing for one kennel in four years. 



The following will be found a complete list of the dogs at 

 Hillside: 



Deerhounds. — Dogs: Chieftain, Perth, Bras, Bran, Dun- 

 can, Robber Chieftain, Highland Laddie, King of the Forest. 

 Bitches: Lorna II., Heath erbelle, Wanda, Berga, Thora, 

 Countess Zina, Rauiona, Theodora, Lorna Secunda. 



Bulldogs. — Dogs: Tippoo, Romulus, Moses., Remus, Rob- 

 inson Crusoe, Hillside. Bitches: Josephine, Rhodora, 

 Britomartis, Juanita, Carmen. 



Fox-terriers.— Dogs: Mixture, Raby Mixer, Belgrave 

 Primrose, Raby Jack, Luke. Bitches: Jaunty, Di, Rich- 

 mond Olive, Rabv Susie, Shame, Raby Belle, Lady Mixture, 

 Miss Mixture, Meersbrook Nan, Richmond Myrtle, Rich- 

 mond Dazzle, Wasp II., Lyra, Shameless Mixture, Warren 

 Lady. 



This list does not include puppies. 



Chieftain, 1881, dark blue, bred by Mr. Joplin, by Bevis 

 out of Heather, by Harry (a son of Hector and Lufra II.) out 

 of Hylda, by Torrum out of sister to Morne. It is not much 

 use saying much about this magnificent dog, suffice it to 

 say that he has never been beaten but once, and that was by 

 his kennel companion, Wanda, at the Crystal Palace. The 

 old dog looks very well with the exception of his coat, which 

 he is just sheddiug. It seems a pity that so perfect a speci- 

 men did not cross the water to take part in the Jubilee snow 

 in England, and Mr. Thayer told me he was very sorry he 

 did not send him. Perth, a blue dog, whelped in 1884 by 

 Gillie out of Lufra, bought of Mr. Kelly, is a good dog but 

 a long way behind Chieftain. Bras, a straw-colored dog, 

 whelped 1884, by Bruce out of Maida, is very useful but per- 

 haps hardly a clinker. Duncan, a white dog, whelped in 

 1883, by Lance out of Lorna II., is a dog with great power 

 and substance but lacks character. Then comes a really 

 good young dog, Highland Laddie, whelped September, 1885, 

 by Bran out of Lorna II. King of the Forest, a straw-col- 

 ored dog, whelped in 1886, by Chieftain out of Thora, is a 

 clinker — size, length, substance, quality and coat combine 

 to make one that with age will bother even the old dog 

 himself. I don't like his color as well as Chieftain's, 

 but he is certainly a wonderful young dog. Robber 

 Chieftain, a son of Chieftain and Lorna II., is an- 

 other extraordinary good one. The first of the bitches 

 Heald showed me was Wanda, whelped 1884, by Gunnar out 

 of Sheila, and I never saw this magnificent bitch look in 

 such superb condition, she was indeed a picture, and it is 

 almost impossible to find fault with her. Many people pre- 

 fer her to Chieftain, and I think Mr. Thayer himself does, 

 and as has been before stated she did beat him at Crystal 

 Palace for the cup. Were I to try to pick her to pieces at all, 

 the only thing I could say is that she might be a trifle 

 deeper through her heart and perhaps have a little more 

 bone, but again, she undoubtedly beats the old dog in ears 

 and has a shade the most quality, in fact, to quote an old- 

 time English poet, 



"Either to t'other to prefer I'm loathe, 

 And be acts wisest who has most of both." 



A very useful bitch is Berga, a light brindle whelped in 

 1883, by Bran out of Maida, and the same may be said of 

 Thora, a fawn bitch by Thor out of Hylda. Lorna II., a blue, 

 whelped in '81, by Bruce out of Lorna (Parke's), who was a 

 daughter of Teeldeer, a daughter of old Torrum and Brenda, 

 is a grand upstanding bitch and a rare breeder. Then came 

 Heatherbelle, the same color as her mother, Lorna, by 

 Hector. This is a very nice bitch. Lorna Secunda, Theo- 

 dora and Ramona are three good-looking young bitches, the 

 two former by Chieftain out of Thora and Lorna respectively. 

 The last of the deerhounds I saw was a dark-blueisn brindle 

 bitch named Countess Zina, by Ross out of Lady, a rather 

 small bitch with nothing particularly to recommend her, 

 save her four puppies by Chieftain. Among a whole lot of 

 puppies that were running about, here, there and every- 

 where. I noticed four very handsome ones, by Chieftain 

 out of Thora, and four by the same sire out of Lorna II., one 

 of the latter, even at this early age (10 weeks), being the 

 picture of the old dog. 



The next lot of dogs to be introduced by Heald were the 

 bulldogs. Tippoo, a brindle dog, whelped 1880, by Gamester 

 out of Ida, is pretty well known to all who have been in the 

 habit of attending the. dog shows, and well does the old dog 

 look. Robinson Crusoe next came waddling up as fat as a 

 pig. apparently very anxious to be taken notice of. This is 

 an own brother to Britomartis, and although not such a 

 good specimen as his sister, is certainly a very grand dog. 

 Hillside, a white dog with tan markings on head, was 

 whelped in 1884 by Tippoo out of Josephine, is a very useful 

 young dog and decidedly the best ever bred in America. 

 Hillside has improved very much since I first saw him at 

 Newark, where, it will be remembered, he was, through 

 error, disqualified. Moses, a white dog, whelped 1883 by 



Sir Bevis out of Nancy Lee, and Remus, also white, whelped 

 in 1884, by Byron II. out of Rhodora, are a couple of fair 

 dogs, while the same may be said of Romulus, a red smut, 

 whelped in 1880 by Richard Cceur de Lion out of Peg. It 

 may here be mentioned that Heald has an unfor- 

 tunate habit of always pulling the best out for 

 inspection the first, which is a mistake, as it makes some 

 that follow his clinkers appear not so good as they otherwise 

 would do, and sticking to this plan the first bull bitch he 

 showed me was Britomartis. This bitch is about as well 

 known as her keeper at all the shows in the country: how- 

 ever, for the few who do not know her, let me say that Brito- 

 martis is a reddish brindle bitch, whelped in '81 by Monarch 

 out of Penzie, and that she is by long odds the best bulldog 

 in America, and in all probability the best bull bitch in the 

 world. 



The next to be seen w as the sister to Tippoo, viz., Rhodora, 

 a very good-looking white bitch, who lias done some service 

 to the kennel on the show bench, and the same may be said 

 of Josephine, whelped '82, by Tiger out of Sophia. 



Josephine is a white bitch with a tan-colored head. When 

 Heald first got this bitch she was a caution, as far as her 

 temper was concerned, but under his rule she has developed 

 into a quiet, easy-going old matron, whose only anxiety 

 seems to be noticed, have her bead scratched, and have, if 

 she possibly can manage it, a double allowance of meat. She 

 is at present as fat as a pig. 



Carmen, a fairly good brindle bitch, whelped in '84, by 

 Torreador out of Betsy, had five very good puppies on her, 

 by Robinson Crusoe, about one of 'which, a brindle dogj 

 Heald is already beginning to build castles in the air; in 

 fact, goes so far as to say that he will do to send to the Crys- 

 tal Palace, but his ears will have to alter considerably first. 



And now for the fox-terriers. Sure enough Heald, true to 

 his general practice, pulled old Olive out first, never dream- 

 ing^ I presume, that anyone would have the hardihood to 

 come to Hillside and deny that she was the best of the fox- 

 terriers, so just out of sheer "cussedness" I'll leave Heald 

 and his old sweetheart Nancy, as he calls her, wait, and go 

 on with the dog pack. First of all com es Mixture, a nice 

 little dog, the right size, good coat and ears, fair head, not 

 very good understanding, but a terrier. Mixture was 

 whelped in 1880, and was bred by Mr. Luke Turner, a gentle- 

 man who shares with Mr. Henry Gibson the credit of having 

 bred more first-class fox-terriers than any one breathing. 

 Mixture is a white dog with black and tan head, and is by 

 Spice out of Fairy III., by Belgrave Joe ont of Tricksey, by 

 Chance out of Ruby, by Old Jock. Now this is a rare win- 

 ning pedigree, and no wonder Mr. Thayer is unwilling to 

 allow bitches other than his own to come to Mixture. Mix- 

 ture's dam, it will be seen, was an own sister to poor old 

 Brockenhurst Joe, who was purchased by Mr. Thayer's 

 neighbor, Mr. Prescot Lawrence, and who died at 

 Groton soon after coming to this country. Mixture 

 is a thoroughly game don, and in an encounter with a 

 cat lost one of nis eyes, which does not add to his 

 personal appearance. That Mixture is a valuable stud 

 dog goes without saying, and I am of opinion that his 

 bitches properly crossed cannot help proving specially so. 

 Then came an old friend of mine, Belgrave Primrose, as 

 good and game a little dog as a man ever clapped eyes on, 

 and a terrier from one end to the other. Primrose was bred 

 by Joe Foreman and is by Belgrave Jerry out of Wasp. 

 After winning first in the puppy class and first in the open 

 class at the Crystal Palace he was purchased by Messrs. 'L. 

 and W. Rutherfurd, and was shown by them in England. 

 He then came to America and was successfully shown several 

 times, but as they had a good deal of his blood (including 

 several rare good brood bitches) and had purchased Splauger 

 as a stud dog, they sold him dirt cheap to Mr. Thayer at or 

 directly after the show last year. Since Mr. Thayer has 

 had him he has been repeatedly successful on the show bench. 

 Primrose is a dog about 161bs., with fair head, perfect ears, 

 rare good shoulders and stands on the best of legs and feet, 

 with great bone for a dog of his size. His coat — ahem, 

 "What did you say, Heald ? Oh, I beg your pardon, I 

 thought you spoke." Well, his coat is not perfect but 

 it is much improved, decidedly improved By the by, I 

 have it on the best authority that Heald is about to 

 bring into the market an invaluable receipt for terriers coats, 

 It is not called a restorative, I really forget what he calls it. 



The next dog I saw was Raby Jack, whelped in '85, by 

 Mixture out of Shame. Jack is a niceish dog, but he is such 

 a shy, timid dog that he never makes the most of himself. 

 And now comes the pick of the basket, the show of the shop 

 to my mind in the shape of Raby Mixer, a white dog with 

 black and tan head, bred by George Raper, December, 1885, 

 by Raby Mixture out of Richmond Olive Bud, by Raby 

 Tyrant out of Richmond Olive. Raby Mixture, by Mixture 

 out of Nosegay, by Tory out of Nettle, by Brokenhurst Joe 

 out of Venus. Tory was a son of Trophys and Vic. I have 

 given this dog's pedigree somewhat at length, as he is one 

 that eminently deserves it. Raby Mixer is, as I said before, 

 a white dog with a black and tan head. His head and ears 

 are perfect, while his neck, shoulders and coat areas good 

 as it is possible to make them, and more than all, he 

 stands on the very best of legs and feet, his hind-quarters are 

 simply perfect, his hocks being close to the ground and his 

 action as he trots about or when fully extended is superb. 

 And now for his faults, or what some people call his faults. 

 He is possibly a trifle high on the leg, but personally I don't 

 consider this a fault, at least I would far sooner have one 

 like this than one of the extra short-legged sort, that never 

 can gallop through dirt. Another thing advanced against 

 this grand dog is that he is too big. I had heard this said, 

 so I was determined to weigh him myself, which I did, and 

 found that he weighed barely 171bs. Now I will ask any 

 terrier man, who knows what terriers arefor, is this too big? 

 I say most emphatically no, because one of this size 

 can, if he is all right in front, get anywhere a fox can. 

 In fact, the only place I fault Mixer in is a "leetle, 

 leetle bit" about his back ribs, and as he is a 

 young dog yet, he will alter in this point. I am afraid, Mr. 

 Editor, that I have said too much about this dog, but it is 

 so long since I have seen one like him, that I camt help it. 



A recent purchase from Mr. Hoey was the next to be pulled 

 out, in the young dog Luke, a good looking though rather 

 coarse young dog. Luke was bred by Mr. Hoey and is by 

 Mixture out of Lyra, by Fennel out or Fay, by Terry's Bob 

 out of Picture, by Spring out of Spitfire. Luke has much 

 improved since I saw him at Newport. 



And now I think that Heald and Olive have been waiting 

 long enough, so we will let the old bitch on to the flags, and 

 rare and well she looks. Richmond Olive is certainly a fine 

 bitch and looked first-class, perhaps a trifle on the big side, 

 but it is far easier talking about taking flesh off Olive than 

 doing it, as she eats like a pig, and is such a favorite with 

 every one that it is very difficult to keep her right. Rich- 

 mond Olive is too well known to need much description, 

 suffice it to say that she is a white bitch with evenly marked 

 black and tan head, and was bred by George Raper in 1882, 

 and is by Olive Tart out of Jess, by Jock out of Nettle, by 

 Tackier, Olive Tart by Spruce out of Olive, by Belgrave Joe 

 out of Tricksey. Her winnings both in this country and in 

 England are far too numerous to particularize. Jaunty, a 

 white bitch with an evenly marked tan head, is a nice little 

 bitch, and a terrier all over, but she is too light of bone, she 

 has however, been a successful brood bitch, as she has bred 

 a number of useful dogs. Jaunty was bred by Messrs. L. & 

 W. Rutherfurd in 1881, and is by their Joker out of Torment, 

 who, if I am not much mistakeu, is out of a bitch called Fly, 

 by Old Rattler. Di, bred by her owner in 1884, by Raby 

 Tyrant out of Richmond Olive, ought to be a lot better from 

 her breeding than she is, as her ears are large and her head 



thick and coarse. Raby Susie, whelped in 1883, is a ratheir 

 nice little bitch, also by Raby Tyrant out of Jaunty. She is 

 however, not straight in front. Shame, whelped in 1881, by 

 Raby Tyrant out, of Richmond Olive, is a good-looking, short- 

 legged little bitch looking in first-rate condition, arid heavy in 

 pup to Mixer, and as she breeds well should have sortie' good 1 

 ones. Lady Mixture, whelped in 1886, by Mixture <ftrt of 

 Warren Lady, by Brokenhurst Joe out of Swansdown, by 

 Saracen out of Swan, by Dazzler, is a fairly good terrier-like 5 

 bitch, but wants bone' and substance, and has too mucbf 

 color, but from her pedigree should prove a valuable brood 

 bitch. Miss Mixture, rejoicing in the poetical kennel name 

 of "Scabby," is by xMixture out of Shame, and a nice terrier- 

 looking bitch she is. Meersbrook Nan , whelped in 1886, by 

 Meersbrook Ross but of Meersbrook Model, Boss being by 

 Roysterer. the sire of Result. Meersbrook Nan is a niceish 

 bitch, good ears and coat, common head, fair legs and feet, 

 and is gifted with the bump of fighting in a marked degree. 

 Richmond Myrtle was lately purchased of Geo. Raper, and 

 is by Raby Tyrant out of Richmond Olive. Myrtle is a re- 

 markably nice, corky little bitch, and looks a terrier, but 

 she. is not one to make a man go back two or three times to 

 look at. A far better bitch to my mind is Richmond Dazzle, 

 also bred by Geo. Raper. This daughter of Raby Mixture 

 and Richmond Puzzle, by Raby Tyrant out of Walkley Net- 

 tle, by Jester II. out of Vixen, is a remarkably nice bitch, 

 and were it not that she stands a bit wide in front, would be 

 a good one. Wasp II., a nice daughter of Raby Tyrant and 

 Walklev Nettle, is at present in very bad coat, but she is a 

 good stamp of bitch. Lyra, bred by Mr. F. C. Wheeler in 

 1882, is a recent purchase from Mr. Hoey. She is by Fennel 

 out of Pay, and is the dam of Luke, She is rather a nice 

 little bitch, but is a bit pinched in under her eyes, has good 

 ears and stands well. Warren Lady, by Brokenhurst Joe 

 out of Swansdown, is a lightish bitch with good head and 

 ears, a nice size, not quite right in front, but a terrier. 



Besides the deerhounds, bulldogs and fox-terriers at Hill- 

 side, are a few pointers, the property of Mr. Bayard Thayer, 

 including that beautiful small-sized bitch, champion Rue, 

 who, it will be remembered, was the property of Mr. OrgilL 

 Rue was one of the best pointer bitches of her size ever 

 shown in this country, and she now looks as well as ever.. 

 With her are five puppies by Mainspring, but she is far from 

 being a good mother, and her children do not look really 

 healthy. Rhona, a half sister to Rue, and Rapid, by Bang 

 Bang o'ut of Rue, two very good looking ones; in fact, it is 

 with many people a disputed point as to whether Rhona or 

 Rue is the best bitch. 



The kennels at Hillside are, as the name denotes, built on 

 the side of a hill midway between Mr. John E. Thayer's new 

 house (now in the course of erection) and Mr. Bayard 

 Thayers. 



The principal kennel has only been built a short time and 

 is a model of convenience. The center consists of a hallway 

 and large office, the latter very comfortably furnished and 

 finished in hard wood. Among other things one notices are 

 two frames containing 155 gold, silver, bronze and Pitts- 

 burgh medals, a cabinet opposite being full of silver cups 

 won at the various showsj above this are hung two very 

 handsome plaques, also prize winnings. Over the fireplace 

 hangs an oil painting of an eight-weeks old fox-terrier 

 puppy, painted on a cigar box lid by Pope. Above the 

 writing table is a large and very good oil painting of Argus, 

 the well-known Gordon setter, with a woodcock in his mouth. 

 Near this is a small colored print from the Kennel Review 

 of Raby Tyrant and Richmond Olive. Turning round one 

 is confronted with a very good oil painting of poor old Bel- 

 lisima and Robinson Crusoe. A handsome bookcase contain- 

 ing all the American and English books and magazines on 

 dogs, two cases of stuffed birds and a rifle, won, I think, at 

 Buffalo as a deerhound special, complete this comfortable 

 little room. A door leads into the kennel, where to the 

 right are the deerhound kennels, to the left the bulldogs, 

 and straight in front the fox-terriers. 



The. deerhound kennels number sixteen, each being 6xoft., 

 with a bench 2ft. high. The bulldog kennels correspond 

 with these, while the fox-terriers' are less, being 4x3ft. The 

 floors are all Portland cement, and each kennel has a trap 

 drain. There are no less than six large taps with a great, 

 force of water, so that the whole of the kennels can be 

 washed out. and in a very short time. The ventilation is 

 perfect, as there is a window in each kennel with ventilation 

 both at top and bottom, so that they are never really hot. I 

 should have mentioned a stationary bath tub which is used 

 for washing dogs with hot and cold water, and a large stove- 

 near by to dry them at. Near this kennel is the pupping 

 kennel, in which are five large kennels and four small ones, 

 at the end of which is a cook shop with a set boiler. In this 

 kitchen are two large closets for cooking utensils, biscuits, 

 etc. The lower or oldkennel is where the cooking is actually 

 done, and where the young puppies are kept. 



The feeding consists of pudding, consisting of Indian meal, 

 oatmeal, with vegetables and meat, while once a week they 

 get Spratts biscuits. The dogs are all turned out into 

 their yards each morning about 6 o'clock, where they remain 

 until about 5, when they are fed. The deerhound yard is 

 about 250ft. long by 60ft. wide with a large elm growing in 

 the center, and I think one of the prettiest pictures I have 

 seen for a long time was the group of deerhounds with old 

 Chieftain in the center and Wanda, Highland Laddie and 

 others, ten or twelve, grouped round him. The fox-terrier 

 yards are of course smaller, but yards in which they can take 

 lots of exercise. 



I have seen a great many large kennels both in England 

 and America, but I never saw one where so many dogs were 

 kept and the hospital list so small as at Hillside. And now 

 one word about Heald. There are very few men who can 

 show from fifteen to thirty dogs all through a season, have 

 so little sickness and win so much as Heald has done, and it 

 is only by the strictest attention to details that he success- 

 fully accomplishes it. I enjoyed his hospitality for three 

 days, and during that time 1 kept my eyes open and saw 

 Heald at work, and I know that although there may be as 

 good men there are no better. 



And now in conclusion let me thank Mr. Thayer for his 

 courtesy in allowing me to see his kennels in the way I did, 

 and also let me thank Heald for his civility and hospitality 

 throughout my visit. Thomas Dawson. ' 



MAJOR.— Editor Forest and Stream: Among the obituary 

 notices of man's best and most faithful friends, "gone to 

 the happy hunting grounds," it is my duty, be it never so 

 sad, to place that of Major, the property of Supt. W. W. 

 Worthington of the Ft. W. C. & L. R. R,, killed March 28, 

 1887, at Montpelier, Ind. Major's frightful death beneath 

 the cruel car wheels, while endeavoring to return to his 

 master, was a scene not easily erased from memory's tablet. 

 In size this noble dog was a giant, but in disposition he 

 seemed to partake of the gentleness of woman and the harm- 

 lessness of the babe. Playful as a kitten when about the house 

 Or children, in the field he was rapid, staunch and true as 

 steel always. Known by his extraordinary size and kind- 

 ness, he was lamented by half the people of a city who knew 

 him well. He is gone, but the record he made will live for 

 years in the hearts of those who knew him best, and his 

 name will not be spoken but that a tear will stand in the 

 eye of his master, who loved him best of all. Major was a 

 cross between Irish setter and Llewellin; color, red and 

 white; 7 years old; length 5ft. llin.; height. 29Kin. at shoul- 

 ders; weight 108lbs. His size and color he took from his 

 Irish father Rake. We think this was the largest setter in 

 the country. Do you know of a larger? Peace to his ashes, 

 — Haxcb (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 



