une 27, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



473 



» lesson; but their pigheaded upss knows no bounds, aud 

 ■hey persist in running their heads against a stone wa.ll) to 

 »nct that, their rascality is only equalled by their surprising 

 wsiuinity. It does not perhaps seem charitable when one, 

 Bees an idiot bucking his skull against, a granite pavement 

 ■10 kick him frorn behind; but there are times when this 

 Intist be done, if only to prevent the fool from pounding 

 Kimself to jelly, and to impress upon him that his brains 

 ■ire not located just where he supposes. 



■ Now that the Chicago manipulator, the wildfowling thief 

 ■md the. pudding-headed special commissioner have finished 

 •vith the "History (perverted) of Patsy," I will give to the 

 ■American dog fancy full and correct particulars regarding 

 ■She purchase, and will theu leave the vicious schemers to 

 Kxtrieate themselves from the dilemma as best they can. To 

 Bihow how bad a dog he bought and how much he knew 

 mbout Irish setters, Damon has been airing his views in a 

 strangely contradictory fashion. To strengthen (as he sup- 

 posed) his case, he quoted from my private letters. Damon 

 mist know that it is now ray privilege to quote from his 

 letters to myself and to others. 



These letters clearly prove that Damon is scarcely the sort 

 )f person one expects to pose as a martyr or complain of un- 

 fair treatment; and they prove beyond the question of a 

 loubt that his opinion, if he has one, is valueless. On May 

 J5, 1888, Damon wrote me that he had always taken a keen 

 interest in my articles on dogs because they showed me to 

 i)e a "rare authority," and because they were "convincing 

 and treating of facts." I propose to make this letter just as 

 aonvinciug and boiling over with "facts" as the ones that 

 won Damou's heart. 



Damon wanted a "good reliable stud dog, oue and a half 

 .ir two years old, of fine color and coat, of the best of breed- 

 tag and strain;" and because of my "splendid knowledge 

 and experience" he thought I could ''best advise him." 

 After telling me how many years he had owned Irish setters 

 and how much he knew about, them, Damon concluded by 

 disking if I would undertake to "bring out for me such an 

 Knimal, and at the same time hold yourself in the position 

 if guaranteeing me what I want," Soon after writing me 

 ..his letter Damon called on me, and I distinctly told him 

 hat I would write to my buyer, do my best for him, but. 

 hat as I could not select the dog I would guarantee noth- 

 ing. On May 31 Damon wrote to remind me that "the first 

 .•equirement.s must be speed, nose, style, and field work com- 

 bined," and concluded by stating that he did not wish a 

 log "related to the Glencho strain." He tacked on the fol- 

 lowing P. S. : "I believe there is no duty on an animal for 

 breeding purposes." 



Soon after receiving this letter I wrote to Mr. Wm. 

 Graham of Belfast, Ireland, asking him to find for me a 

 well bred, young, good-looking and promising field dog. 

 Mr. Graham has seen all the best setters from old Palmers- 

 ton down, he is an excellent judge, I have known him 

 nearly twenty years and he has always done the fair and 

 square thing in his dealings with me and with a large cir- 

 cle of my friends. I would write him again to-day for 

 another dog if I needed one. On Sept. 6, Mr. Graham 

 wrote me he had his eye on two dogs that might suit me. 

 He. said: "The best I know of for all-around quality is one 

 Patsy belonging to Dr. Boyd, born Aug. 30. 1885, by Frisco 

 ex Nellie IX. I consider Nellie one of the best bitches 

 we have, but now getting into years, and one of the best 

 brood bitches as most of her stock all possess quality. The 

 dog belonging to Wilson that won second at Barn Elms and 

 what. Wilson considers the best dog in England is out of 

 her. I purchased him for Wilson and I dcnJfc think he 

 would sell him, but. Patsy and Wilson's dogs are very dif- 

 ferent animals. Patsy is a small dog, a very true made one 

 full of quality, wants a little more size for a dog, but for 

 general formation, coat, color, tail, etc., grand." Of the 

 other dog Mr. Graham said: "Wilson's dog, second at Lon- 

 don, Barn Elms, was born May 3, 1886, is a large dog pos- 

 sesssing lots of quality, grand coat and color, but has 

 always been thin in condition. It would take a good price 

 to purchase. The dogs I mention I consider the best I 

 know. I bid once £50 for the dam Nellie IX. and could 

 have given more, but Wright wanted .€100 at that time. I 

 have described these two dogs Patsy and Malt as being 

 good ones of different types, or rather the. same type, but 

 Patsy is small for a dog: the other is a fine large 

 dog and if in good condition I think a warm member. 

 It is condition that has kept him back." On receipt 

 of this letter I wrote to Damon and quoted from 

 Mr. Graham's letter. I told him I thought the smaller 

 dog would suit him better, but advised going slow until 1 

 heard from Mr. Graham the exact weight of Patsy. On Sept. 

 30 Damon replied as follows: "I am not averse to a dog a 

 shade undersize, indeed I prefer a dog not too large and 

 coarse. The dog you mention first (Patsy) would seem to 

 fill the bill, if the English idea of color is as we like, and I 

 should say that if this very important point in a red dog is 

 right, try and buy the first- named dog. I notice you make 

 no" mention of the dog's winnings. Were they all upon the 

 bench or part field trials, and has the dog ever been bred ? 

 You of course are well aware that a critical lover of this dog 

 will at once select Chief as the proper-colored type, and with 

 tins color and a fine, close coat so much the better. A dog 

 tending toward a light shade, so common, I would not have, 

 in my kennel." I immediately wrote Mr. Graham to send 

 me the exact weight of Patsy, and to give me other informa- 

 tion in regard to coat, color, etc. Oct. 5 Mr. Graham replied 

 as follows: "I inclose you letter from the owner of Patsy 

 and the particulars you ask for. For shape, make and true 

 form, with feet, less and movements, you can't have better, 

 and all in proportion; the only thing I see about him is I 

 would prefer him a larger dog. As for coat and color he has 

 a beautiful coat. His color is remarkably good and sound 

 all through. He has a perfect tail, can't put it wrong, and 

 shows himself well. If he. were larger he would be the best 

 I have ever seen, I think. He is of Lady Clare's type. I 

 would not say he was best in England, but I don't, know oue 

 I could say was better. I don't believe there are any can 

 beat him, and then it is a matter of opinion. 1 am only giv- 

 ing you my ideas, and would not advise you in any way." 



Here is the letter from the owner of Patsy to Mr. Graham. 

 It gives the dog's exact weight and contains other informa- 

 tion asked in my last to Mr. Graham: 

 LnroRD, Coujnti: Do.nkoal, Oct. 3, 1888.— Dear Sir: Patsy 

 ' weighs 3 stone 51bs. He has only had two bitches. The 

 pups are not more than Smog, old in one case, and the 

 second has not had thorn yet, I think, so cannot give any idea 

 of what, bis stack may bo like. He was never shown except twice 

 m Strabarie, once in Armagh and in Kelts: got first and special 

 everywhere except Armagh, and I think I could explain why he 

 • was beaten there: he has in all these snows beaten dogs and 

 bitches that have been exhibited in Dublin and London. He has 

 been shot over both last year and this for three weeks each sea- 

 son on grouse, for the time I have been at him, he is as good a dog 

 as ever was on a mountain, and he is so wise and sensible that 

 with regular work I believe he would be second to no dog living, 

 and his temper is perfect. I don't mean you to understand that 

 at the present moment he is a perfect trained dog, but he is per- 

 fectly steady on his birds, down to shot and wing, and roads very 

 well. His price will be £100; he never was so strong looking as he 

 is at present. Yours truly, J. C. Boyd. 



Extracts from these two letters were sent to Damon, who 

 on Oct. 30 sent a draft for $500, and the dog was bought. 



When Damon received his dog he wrote me that he could 

 Win his way i nto the champion class at New York, but would 

 have to stop at New York because in his opinion Tim would 

 beat Patsy in the champion class. This letter startled me 

 and I wrote Damon that I understood he had bought the 

 dog for stud and field purposes rather than for the purpose 

 of beating Tim. Nov. 30 he wrote back that he "did not in- 

 -tend to vacillate." In this letter he expressed his opinion of 



Patsy as follows: "He grows upon me the more I see him, 

 and if I could put him up say two inches higher I would not 

 want another change. I think he is remarkably strong in 

 character and formation of this breed and I feel that as a 

 stud dog [shall be perfectly satisfied. I shall put, him on 

 birds to-day and give him a trial, reporting to you. I will 

 add my best thanks for your interest and pains. In disposi- 

 tion Patsy's better does not live, of any breed." The next 

 day, Dec. 1, Damon sent, me this letter: "1 put Patsy on to 

 our ruffed grouse yesterday — our wildest and most wary 

 game bird. Tie is fast, has au exquisite nose, covers his 

 ground thoroughly, roads beautifully and is remarkably 

 steady and on his points, also to gun or wing. A few days 

 in my handling and he will adapt himself to our rough 

 country. I would put special stress upon his steadiness in 

 the field and his qualities as a stud dog. He will soon learn 

 our covers and prove all the gentleman claimed." Dec. 10 

 Damon wrote: "Will you write me a brief covering in a few 

 words Patsy's make up, his disposition and level-headed- 

 ness, which are two of his finest qualities, his breeding and 

 strong formation as a stud dog in character. T want such a 

 headi ng to start, off in my circular. I have bad a great many 

 inquiries as to his qualities and believe he will be of great 

 value in improving this variety of our sporting dogs. You, 

 of course, know our reds have deteriorated the past five 

 years instead of improving, and our stock has sadly needed 

 new blood." 



Dec. 13 Damon wrote a letter to Mr. F. H. Perry of Des 

 Moines, Iowa. He said: "Patsy is very strong in the four 

 great requisites for a stud dog. viz., disposition, breeding, 

 color and true formation. His disposition is the sweetest I 

 ever saw in an Irish dog, and he is remarkably steady on his 

 birds and very level-headed, is well broken, drops to shot 

 and wing, and is very fast, with plenty of style and dash. 

 His color is not surpassed by any of our crack dogs, and I 

 have seen them all. His coat is flat and straight, heauti ful 

 flag and feather, nice expression and typical head. In im- 

 proving these dogs, as he must, I shall be repaid. My dogs 

 are all of high order, field broken goods, and with the' high- 

 est bench form. I send you a photo of Patsy. It is not good 

 of him, but shows yon bis form and make-up. He stands 

 forward better naturally, and has much more animation. If 

 your bitch is a nice one you will get a rare selection of pup- 

 pies from Patsy." 



Dec. 14 Damon wrote me: "I am in receipt of Forest and 

 Stream containing your criticism on Patsy. You are abso- 

 lutely correct in every feature but one, and in that you are a 

 trifle off, though it is a trivial matter; that is, as to the 

 color of eyes. Few would call his eye light; however, it 

 don't, matter much. I have bad a long letter from O'Cal- 

 laghan, the Irish setter breeder. He evidently thinks all 

 Irish dogs are n. g. except his strain." Dec. 34 Damon 

 wrote, me: "Frisco is the sire of Aveline, the bitch that in 

 the open class field trials beat all comers; also he is the sire 

 of Ormoy, Shandon, Droheda, all winners at Barn Elms and 

 Brighton this year. Consequently my Patsy is half brother 

 to all these noted dogs. I must, say that I am exceedingly 

 pleased to find his breeding such." A similar letter was 

 sent to Mr. Perry the same day, and Dec. 29 Damon wrote 

 Mr. Perry to this tune: "If you decide to buy a tine Irish 

 dog you must make up your mind to go down into your 

 pocket if you wish to secure anything of high class ' and 

 merit. As I have had years of experience in importing 

 poultry, pigeons and more lately dogs, I may be able to give 

 you advice." 



Dec. 30 Mr. Perry was treated to another lengthy epistle, 

 from which I quote the following as bearing on this case: 

 " In regard tc*the matter of selling Patsy, I cannot enter- 

 tain it for a moment. His strain breed truer than any strain 

 in England, as is shown by his half brothers and sisters 

 winning all the prizes at Barn Elms in July, and at the 

 great, national dog show just over in Birmingham. Tf yon 



have the puppies you have not the true type of Irish 



setter. I have seen — — and examined him carefully. If 

 you will read the work of Mason, 'Our Prize Dogs,' you will 



see. that of nearly all the dogs from • that ho criticises he 



says in almost every case 'bad in tail' and also in head. It 

 is just this class of dogs that has thrown our red dogs into 

 contempt. Unreliable stock never did breed true typed and 

 formed dogs; it never will. It is very easy to spend a few 

 years iu breeding and throw the time away; a man can start 

 right and accomplish much." 



Jan. 7, 1889, Damon wrote: "Dr. Jarvis is .somewhat 

 worked up, wants to stop over and see my dogs," The same 

 day he wrote Mr. Perry: "I should like you to see Patsy 



and side by side. Patsy beats him in every feature but 



one and that is size; he is about 51 bs. larger. Patsy's great 

 beauty is in skull, eyes and expression, as plain and evident 

 in its exquisite breeding as can be; even a man who never 

 saw a dog would notice it." 



Jan. 11 Damon wrote me: "I have decided not to show 

 Patsy at all. I believe it would kill him for the stud. A 

 breeder of red dogs came 100 miles to see him this week, and 

 was not at all favorably disposed to him. 1 do not see how 

 your buyer could have sent a dog dwarfed. I feel that we 

 made a great mistake — much too small' and weedy." 



On the very same day, E. O. Damon, the dog-buying mar- 

 tyr and paragon of honesty and all purity, wrote to Mr. Perry 

 as follows: "Since my two imported bitches, received from 

 England this week, have been served by Patsy, I have 

 thought, over the matter of your asking a price on this dog. 

 Would yon entertain taking him at the actual cost? He is 

 here safe, and Mr. Mason's criticism is a sufficient guaran- 

 tee of his worth. If I should sell I should have to import 

 again; but this 1 would do if I could see my dog in your 

 hands, where he could do much good in the West for this 

 grand breed. Having these imported bitches now in heat 

 and served by Patsy, puts a different light on the matter. 

 A dog the worth of Patsy must in your country do much to 

 improve the breed, and he would soon pay his cost. Your 

 bitch is of the best possible breeding, and I would not put a 

 dog to her that I could not follow straight in the E. fc. C. 

 S. Book. I have been looking into the different strains very 

 carefully, and the great trouble I find is in getting a strain 

 of pedigree and purity. By commencing in the right way 

 you can save time. I would not sell Patsy to any Eastern 

 party. In your country it would not make any difference. 

 A letter received yesterday from England lays a great deal 

 of stress on the blood and Patsy's sire Frisco, and he has 

 bred many dogs that to-day in England cannot be bought at 

 any price. Now, I cannot advise you to breed to or to buy 

 Darby II., from the fact that, while his blood is said to be 

 good, and while many of his sires can be found in the E. K. 

 C. S. Book, some cannot, and so a doubt is thrown upon his 

 worth, which I am frank to tell you of. Such a dog should 

 never be bred to so fine a bred bitch as your Nino. Mauv 

 fanciers would tell you that Darby II. was the best. While 

 he is a fair dog, his pedigree goes back to local dogs, dogs 

 not to be found in the E. K. C. S. Book. In the North of 

 Ireland perhaps good, but not good enough to import, and 

 so I say, let him alone. Should you entertain my sugges- 

 tion, I will give you a point on Patsy that is not public, but 

 which you can quickly substantiate— a matter which would 

 give additional worth to the dog. I cannot buy Darby II. 

 or advise you. Let me hear from you, and please do not at 

 this stage say anything of my considering a sale." Does 

 any man in the dog fancy require further evidence of the 

 shaky character of Damon? If he does, let him read on: 



Jan. 16 Damon wrote to me: "You must remember that 

 your buyer did not mention a word as to Patsy being so 

 short or low down on his legs, and right here you as well as I 

 was awfully deceived. Had he been up oil his legs, that 

 first requisite of the Irish dog, with heavier bone, would 

 have put a very different phase upon his merits. A short 



limb, light bone, with straight stifles ruins him in my eyes. 

 I am not at all fault-finding with your efforts. Your efforts 

 I appreciate fully. You did your best, no doubt, but Patsy 

 would fill the bill of a novice selection, I hate the sight of 

 the little fellow." 



As soon as Damon had concluded this letter he sat 

 down and wrote to Mr. Perry: "If you. wish to negotiate for 

 Patsy I am free to tel I you bis cost, but it is to go no further, 

 and you can prove this by writing to Mr. Mason. Patsy 

 cost me $530, and at this price. $530, cash, I will sell Mm. 

 Such ft dog as Patsy would soon pav for himself, and T have, 

 now the promise of several bitches for his services. If I 

 sold him I should breed one of mv hitches again to him. 

 He is so well calculated to nick well with her. If vou are 

 looking for a dog of this breed it is a chance not often to be 

 had." Jan, 21 Damon sent the following to Mr. Perry: 

 "Have your favor, and in reply, if you wish to purchase 

 Patsy you can do so at my price, already given you, the 

 actual cost of the dog, I should not offer' Patsy to you on 

 any termB were he not sound, and I will say that the dog 

 does not stand with a hardier constitution or in better 

 health. His coat is bright and fine, nose cold as can be, and 

 in perfect condition; not a blemish can be found. As to 

 showing Patsy, I always hate to put so valuable a dog into 

 the show room, and f don't think I should do so. certainly 

 not until I had bred him. Patsy is wonderfully like the 

 don Chief. Chief a trifle heavier, but, not a whit better in 

 coat, or color or style. He. shows very strongly, and it takes 

 a great one to beat him. The dangers of show rooms are 

 many— diseases, fire and the thief. Unless you care 

 for the dog yourself, I have another man 'from the 

 West anxious for a price on him, but I cannot, give it, you 

 have the first chance. He would not be a loss to you and 

 would surely make his mark." Damon was in too big a 

 hurry to wait for an answer to this letter, and so the nexfc 

 day, Jan. 22, he sent Mr. Perry another. Here it is.- "I 

 wrote you somewhat hastily last nigbt. It seesus to me the 

 amount is so small that if you really care for Patsy you 

 could arrange it without much trouble. There is a, great 

 demand for dogs in the West, and a dog of Patsy's breed- 

 ing and quality would very soon bring in ouite ah income. 

 One party wrote me he could have sold a great many 

 Irish puppies had he had them to spare. You could breed 

 him to your bitch, then select one of the finest and breed to 

 the sire, or a son to a mother, and then mate a. dog to a bitch 

 out of each breeding together. This is the way the finest 

 dogs are produced and yousoongeta strain with very strong 

 formation in every breeding. The oldest and most success- 

 ful breeders in Europe breed in this way, men that are al- 

 ways at the front. I have just received a ohoto of the bitch 

 Mollie, owned by Dr. Nichols, of Troy. N. Y., a bitch that 

 has won all around East. She has fine head and nose and 

 neck, but all other parts— back, loin, feet, legs, tail and 

 chest very deficient, and this called one of our cracks. Patsy 

 excels in all these parts, and as a stud dog he will give our 

 reds a great boom. He is so steady that in your country he 

 would prove a good field dog. He has a beautiful motion 

 and is of tremendous power and speed. Tf I were you and 

 wanted such an animal it's a chance too good to let go." 

 Mr. Perry began to fight shy of Damon and he put the letter 

 aside for further consideration. Feb. 1 Damon wrote, him: 

 "Have heard nothing from you relative to Patsy. Did the 

 price scare you?" Mr. Perry did not answer and so Patsy 

 was entered for the New York show. 



Patsy got a vhc. under Mr. Wenzel, and because he did 

 not take first Damon became very sore. He met a generous 

 sympathizer in a New Hampshire man. and before he went 

 home he swore veugeance and sent me a very polite note, 

 nere is a taste of it: "Two days spent here bave at least 

 given me an insight into this swindle of a Patsy business. I 

 would at least like the pleasure of showing up your buyer 

 iu the English papers, and I ask you for his address. He is 

 a d— d trickster. I would like to ask if you have no redress 

 from a buyer in such a clear case of beating a man as this. 

 Your way was to have returned the dog. Five hundred 

 dollars loss is no worse than this typical dog— a miserable 

 apology ( 'an you take the dog off my hands at any price?" 

 Feb. 33 I replied to this letter: "I am in receipt of' yours of 

 the 18th and 20th Inst. Mr. Wm. Graham purchased Patsy 

 forme, and I have always found him straightforward and 

 thoroughly reliable. He wrote me and I wrote you that he 

 considered the dog too small, giving at the same time his 

 exact weight. The dog you said was large enough and in- 

 structed me to buy him. You ask if you can have redress. 

 How could I suggest sending the dog back after you had 

 written me that you were much pleased with him, and after 

 having expressed this opinion in some of the sporting 

 papers as well? 1 judged from what you said to me ana 

 from your correspondence that you were an old admirer and 

 breeder of Irish setters who knew what was what. Your 

 letters to me go to show that your opinion of a dog is in- 

 fluenced by what first one man and theu another has to say 

 about him. I presume and one or two others actuallv suc- 

 ceeded in making you believe that Patsy was not only a 

 duffer but a mongrel as well, whereas any man who knows 

 an Irish setter must admit that the dog is a good little one." 



Feb, 25 Damon sent me a long, rambling and contradictory 

 letter, such as only Damon can write." He bestowed his 

 blessing on Mr Graham, dubbed him a trickster for send- 

 ing a little dog instead of a big one, and wound up bv leav- 

 ing nothing of Patsy but the claws. About the same time 

 he wrote to Mr. Graham and informed him that he had been 

 swindled by a "party in New York." Then he went to work 

 and sent Mr. Perry a few lines. The letter was dated March 

 4, and in it Damon (remember he is not a trickster) said: 

 "He is a dog which impresses fanciers differently. One 

 don't, know enough of the breed to appreciate his strong 

 points, and the next man who sees him is all carried away 

 with him. No doubt the very unfair criticism in a Chicago 

 paper's report of New York show will be answered. In 

 Forest and Stream's report, of the show Mr Mason says, 

 'Patsy, vhc, best in class barring his size.' Now it is true 

 Mr. Mason imported this dog; it is also true he would not 

 make such an opinion unless he had in the dog sufficient 

 quality to warrant it. Now you must also remember it 

 would be a very difficult thing for any imported dog in the 

 stud at $25 to have gone into the ring at New York and won. 

 It is unfair to exhibitors for a judge owning dogs in the 

 stud to pass upon that breed of dog. Mr. S. T. Hammond, 

 the veteran, was much interested in Patsy. He examined 

 him critically and his opinion was this: 'I much prefer him 

 to Dick Swiveller, aud he will breed grandly with Elcho 

 bitches.' I said, 'Why do you like him?' His reply was, 

 'He is a dog of much sfrong-sr character, better coat and 

 color, and he is put together like iron.' Such an opinion 

 from such a, man is doing the dog justice. I shall show 

 in Boston, probably, and his standing will be differently 

 placed." Notice the mean and cowardly stab at Mr. Wenzel, 

 who judged at New York. Damon imputes that he gave 

 Patsy only a vhc. card because he owns two stud dogs, Chief 

 and Tim. Is any further evidence of the character of this 

 man required to show that anything he says or does with 

 respect to Trish setters must be regarded with suspicion by 

 honest people? 



March 1 and 5 Damon sent me two letters, from which I 

 will quote: "I am anxious to see if the dog really has qual- 

 ity enough to call forth a line in his defense." In the letter 

 of the 5th he said: "As a judge Max Wenzel is a farce'. Do 

 you consider Desmond inferior to Patsy, and by that I 

 mean, judgingthese two dogs together,.could you honorably 

 give Patsy the first place?" In reply to these two last let- 

 ters I said: "Yours of the 4th and 5th inst. at hand. Let 

 me ask you as a favor not to write first one thing and then 

 l another about the same dog. Your statements are so wholly 



