Jan. 39, 1801.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



31 



consider Mr. "Gothamite" Mercer personal, he tacitly in- 

 dorsed him by saying nothing tben and a great deal now. 

 It was a part of the racket. Why then, when some of us 

 make incontrovertible statements are these statements 

 called "personalities" ? 



Nobody is more opposed to the introduction of personali- 

 ties into a discussion of any subject than T am. But when a 



man has proved bv his own statements, over his own signa- 

 ture, that no sharp curve is too sharp for him to take theu I 

 want to show what he expects to find on the curve; and I 

 fail to see why tracing truthfully and consistently every 

 step leading to that curve should be considered personal. 

 More especially do I fail to detect anything personal when 



^i-^j *. — . ^ ^1 ^ .^n*- Itvt fhcif. mQn'c txTT'ii-l'on 



have a right to demand this. ITsmg a pseudonym, he has 

 made statements which neither he nor anybody else can 

 verify. These misstatements ought to be retracted and a 

 most ample apology made before the writer of them is 

 allowed to discuss either dogs or any thing else. 



Mr. Mercer's mistake, of course, was not in writing his 

 fir.st letter over a pseudonym. He had a perfect and indis- 

 putable right to do that provided he started in with an hon- 

 orable motive. But he had no right, no one has the right, to 

 make a mis-statement about others, neither over a pseu- 

 donym nor over his own name. And no one, having made 

 such inisstatemeuts, either ignorantly or purposely, can 

 refuse to reti^act his misstatements when they are shown to 

 be such. . , 



I need not add that if a writer is genuinely concerned to 

 deal with facts, to get at the truth, to discuss a question as 

 truthful gentlemen discuss it, to give others their exact due, 

 he will uot require prodding to hasten to correct such mis- 

 statements as in this particular case "Gothamite" (Mercer) 

 has made about Mr. Watson and myself and also about cer- 

 tain dogs. 



Mr. Mercer's conduct thus precludes self-respectmg people 

 from noticing anything he may write or say in the future, 

 until he shall have reti-acted arid apologized. Nobody can 

 possibly be benefited by discussing dog matters with men 

 who distort facts, evade real issues, and put forth arguments 

 which are not only empty of points and knowledge, but silly 

 as well. ' Charles H. Mason. 



New York., Jan. 17. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



To briefly reply to Mr. Chas. H. Mason's letter, which is 

 clearly pointed at me under the supposition that I am 

 "Gotliamite," I say that. First, I do not and never did own 

 Doc. Second, as I own the Clumbers which would be .J ohnny 

 and Drake's'most dangerous opponents, 1 cannot compre- 

 hend of what benefit it would be to me to depreciate Judges 

 that are inimical to them, Mr. Mason wrote iu 188T that he 

 did not process to be a judge of Clumbers. Since then he 

 has seen only my dogs, and it seems to me he assumes a 

 good deal in writing as he does of a .subject on which he 

 does not assiviie to have authority. Third, I have no inter- 

 est whatever'iu the sale of "The Spaniel and Its Traiuing," 

 consequently its advertisement would be of no benefit tome. 

 Fourth, I have not purchased a cocker for some years. 

 Fifth, I did not get a couple of dogs four years ago from Mr. 

 Vieth. Sixth, Johnny and Drake, who Mr. Mason infers I 

 got in '87. I got in August, 188i, and they were not my first 

 Clumbers. Seventh, fu 1885 I was breeding Clumbers and 

 cockers, though Mr. Mason states that I did not own a dog 

 prior to 1887. Eighth, I have been to more than six dog 

 shows in my life. Mr. Mason's apologies are now in order. 



F. H. F. Mercer. 



Ottawa, Canada. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"It is, I believe, untrue that I , "Doc was light In flesh and his 

 'repeatedly' said prize money ] coat all our. of condition. What 



a pity it is that men .should 

 thro^y prizes away when they 

 have iliem at their mercy."— 

 Chas. H. Maso7i in Forest and 

 Stream, Bzc. 12, '88. 



would be at Dor 's mercy if the 

 dog were in good condition. 

 Therefore, I call upon Mr. F. H. 

 F. Mercer to produce proof, 

 etc."— Chas. H. Mason in Forest 

 and Stream, Dec. 26, '90. 



Some more parallel lines for the printer to worry over. 

 Mr. Mason appears to forget that I have announced my readi- 

 uess to withdraw the above uoted statement should he deny 

 the impeachment. It would be well for him to reserve some 

 of his teaching for home use and to practice a few of the 

 axioms he preaches. He has made several statements about 

 me personally that are entirely at variance with the facts, but 

 I have yet to read an ajjology or retraction from him. In a 

 letter not yet published by you I have shown in detail how 

 wofully he has erred, not to use a stronger term, in his two- 

 column letter of a fortnight ago. It is unnecessary, there- 

 fore, to touch" on the questions therein dealt with, here. 

 The Clumbers, as usual, bear the burthen of Mr. Mason's 

 " song, so I suppose I must consider what he says. With 

 many apologies to j'our readers, therefore, I shall refute some 

 of the statements which he defies me or any man to prove 

 untrue. 



1. Never having read "Our Prize Dogs," Mr. Mason's 

 criticisms therein of Johnny and Drake could uot have in- 

 fluenced me in retiring the former (the latter is not retired.) 

 Johnny was retired before "Oitr Prize Dogs" was published. 

 "The well knovro Clumber spaniel Johnny has been re- 

 tired from competition on the show bench." — Forest and 

 Stream, July 5, ^88. Thus we see that the criticisms in "Our 

 PriKC Dogs" could not have affected the retirement of cham- 

 pion Johnny, while Drake not having been retired, the criti- 

 cisms could not "result in his withdrawal from the show 

 bench." 2. Johnny and Drake have never competed for a 

 prize since "Out- Prize Dogs" was published, therefore they 

 could not win them. S and 4. I will leave time to answer. 5. 

 Judgingfrom Mr. Mason's. standpoint, winnings in England, 

 Snow, having won first at Birmingham t-svice, first Barn 

 Elms and many other prizes, must be considered "a good 

 dog" (bitch), I 'owned her some time prior to 1889. 6. It 

 would be profitless to consider. 



Mr. Mason claims most of the credit for the importation 

 of Boss III. and Bromine. Let us see how much he deserves 

 of it. In '87 I secured the then invincible champion Psycho, 

 Cynic, Snow, Cherie, Clover aud a couple of other crack 

 English Clumbers to come to this country. From some 

 hitch or other the arrangement, most regrettably, fell 

 through. This evidences how matters stood with me long 

 before Mr. Mason commenced his "downing" campaign. 

 Mr. T. C. Bate, who imported Boss III. and Bromine, never 

 read, and probably never heard of, Mr. Mason's criticisms 

 on the American Clumbers. He was thinking of going in 

 for dogs in the spring of '89. I happened to be in his office 

 one day on a visit to his brother. Johnny was with me, and 

 Mr. Bate expressed admiration for him. The talk went on 

 to dogs and ended in my lending him several dog books to 

 read, and especially articles by me iu various publications, 

 on Clumbers. He caught the fever, bought a pair of young 

 bitches here and later imported Boss III. At that time I am 

 stu'e he had never heard of Mr. Chas. H. Mason. After Boss 

 arrived I received a letter from Mr. H. H Simmons, of 

 Sevenoaks, England, f fferiug me Bromine and Snow. I went 

 to Mr. Bate and, by diat of perseverance, persuaded him to 

 import the former. I have Mr. Simmons' letter in which he 

 thanks me for my kindness in having sold Bromine for him, 

 and states that Mr. Bate had written that he purchased her 

 only on my recommendation. I had the good of the breed 

 sufficiently at heart to rejoice at this important addition to 

 the snare ranks of American Clumbers. Who then is en- 

 titled to "claim credit fo;- the importation of Boas III., etc.? 

 Mason or Meroar'-' Altihouoth Johnny and Drnk^^. for good 



and sufficient reasons, were not shown against Boss III. and 

 Bromine, I showed others again.st them, even in the face of 

 certain defeat, thus Mr. Mason's statement that I did not 

 exhibit against Boss III. and Bromine is untrue. 



Mr. Mason says that the question before the house is whether 

 "Gothamite" and I are one and the same. Pardon my 

 obtu.seness, Mr. Editor, but really I thought the "question" 

 was the "Cocker Spaniels of 1890." |It i.s supposed to be.] 



Some people are extremely fond of giving advice toothers. 

 Mr. Mason is one of them. "Give and take" is fair play. 

 Let him then act up to his asseverations. Having made 

 ".statements which he cannot substantiate" he must now, if 

 he has the courage of his published convictions, apologize 

 and retract. F. H. F. Mercer. 



Ottawa, Canada. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



After reading the various letters, and taking them into 

 consideration, are we not to conclude that this was a discus- 

 sion started for a selfi.sh motive and not for the good of the 

 breed? Mr. Mason has followed the originators of the 

 scheme quite sharply. Mr. Mercer now admits he knows 

 M^ho "(lOthamite" is, which I have never doubted. They 

 have seemed to chime together so nicely in their letters 

 right aloug. He now wishes to have personalities dropped. 

 Should this not have been thought of at the start? Mr. 

 Mercer states in reply to my letter that "I have only Mr. 

 Mason with me, quoting Mr. Watson as indorsing Mr. Fel- 

 lows'snice little bitch Velda," a specimen I have no recol- 

 lection of a single spaniel man insinuating was not a good 

 one, and not honoring Mr. Fellows for producing such. 

 His indorsing her is no evidence that he indorses Mercer's 

 views. Facts and those proved to be such are accepted as 

 evidence I believe. Mr. Mercer has made the statement, "I 

 should have liked to have seen Dolly Obo placed over .Jersey 

 in the challenge class." Right there I have him, for at that 

 same show Mr. Watson positively stated that Dolly co«?cZ 

 not beat Jersey, an opinion that any competent judge would 

 indorse. 



His statement, "There is not much to be said in answer to 

 Messrs. Willey, Nelles and Mason on. the question of the 

 cocker type. Our views of what a cocker spaniel should be 

 dififer so entirely." There is no question on that point. 

 Whether Messrs. Mason, Nelles and myself are right, or 

 Mercer. I will leave it to your readers' good judgment. He 

 admits he was unknown as a dogman before 1887, yet claims 

 he has now been breeding, I take it from his letters, about 

 nine years, in all this time where has he produced a good 

 specimen? If ray advice — to show his knowledge before 

 posing as a critic— was, as heterms it, a piece of impertinence, 

 what shall we say regarding this would be self-appointed 

 teacher and critic! 



He Avishes to know why .Jersey should be called a typical 

 cocker. During the season of 1890 my dogs were exhibited at 

 three .shows only, namely, New York, Boston and Buffalo. 

 At Buffalo and "New York was placed the SlOO silver cup, 

 donated by the American Spaniel Club, for the best Ameri- 

 can-bred cocker. Lender Mr. Wilmerding as judge, Jersey 

 won that cup at New York, and again at Btiffalo under Mr. 

 Mason. Having won this cup twice, and being the only 

 cocker who ever has won it, that certainly entitles him to 

 all the honors I have claimed for him. Yet this is the dog 

 which "Gothamite" or Mercer has designated as the fish- 

 headed, sway-backed, weak- join ted , almost coatless aud 

 lifeless Jersey. Mr. Mercer refers to my not judging, to im- 

 ply that my services were not in demand, I suppose. I will 

 say that I have no desire to officiate in the ring. I have re- 

 fused many times to judge at our most prominent shows, 

 moreover I have no desire to pose as an authority or assume 

 Mr. Mercer's position. My reputation as a breeder has 

 been won in an upright and honorable manner. My .spaniels 

 which I have exhibited have won their honors in honest 

 competition, as every honorable exhibitor should expect. I 

 have not aspired to rush into print in every paper that wotild 

 publish my letter's, and then blowing myself and dogs into 

 notoriety. A dog which requires these has no place in my 

 kennel. How well I have .succeeded as a breeder and ex- 

 hibitor the record of shows and pedigrees of the most noted 

 cockers now on the bench will show. I frankly admit that 

 there is room for improvement, and it will be my aim in the 

 future as it has in the past to make it smaller. I think I 

 know the weak spots as well as any person who gives them 

 a casual glance now and then, but to devote my time dis- 

 cussing and criticising them with every erratic critic, I must 

 decline. J. P. Willet. 



'Editor Forest and Stream: 



The contribution of "Gothamite" in your i.ssue of Nov. 20 

 has brought a^ veritable hornet's nest about his ears, more 

 than realizing, I fancy, whatever anticipations he may have 

 had of creating a stir in the spaniel community. There can 

 be but one opinion of the writer who conceals his identity 

 in a discussion where his opponents are advocating their 

 opinions over their own signatures. Should these letters 

 pro and eon (too manj^ is.sues, are there not? Stick to the 

 text, gentlemen) be kept up I trust he will have the cour- 

 age and manliness to discard his norn dc plnme and stand 

 upon the footing of his past record alone. We can all de- 

 cide then whether it entitles him to our favorable considera- 

 tion or otherwise. If, however, as Mr. Mason very dis- 

 tinctly alleges, "Gothamite" and F. H. F. Mercer are so 

 closely connected that they have never been separated, we 

 must be re.signed to see "Gothamite's" utterances like the 

 famous letters of Junius, "pass into histoi-y, shrouded in 

 mystery." 



His statements to the effect that Mea.srs. Mason and Wat- 

 son started the "long and low" craze, is certainly uot cor- 

 rect. With dogs of this type placed before them to judge, 

 they in a degree indorsed it by granting prizes, btit how 

 could tney have done otherwise:-' It is undeniable that the 

 fancy for breeding a dog with a long back and short legs has 

 been carried to excess, but nevertheless a reversal to "Uncle 

 Dick's" hobby would in my estimation be leaping to the op- 

 posite extreme and is more to be avoided than recommended. 

 ■ "Gothamite" is pleased to pass severe strictures upon Jersey. 

 It is rather remarkable th.at none of the well-known judges 

 who from the time .Jersey made his debut in the show ring 

 until to-day, have been awarding him ribbons, discovered 

 these grave" defects, which the all-discerning "Gothamite" 

 has brought to light. Let me say mj'' dear "Gothamite" (or 

 "Ottawa-ite," whichever it may be), that when you can put 

 your finger on another "fish-headed, sway-backed" dog like 

 Jersey, do it at once. It Avon'tbe necessarj"^ to go to New 

 Y^ork and pick him out from the aiTay of talent at the beuch 

 .show in this instance. Rescue him from obscurity any- 

 where, and he will give you the reputation you so .sadly lack. 

 With reference to Mr. Mercer's Clumbers it appears to me 

 that the criticism passed upon them by Chas. H. Mason re- 

 sulted at least in the importation of fresh blood to recruit 

 the renowned Ottawa Kennels (as Mr. Mercer with charm- 

 ing modesty says the best in the world). Whether the lot 

 shown at Ottawa last year, which comprised some fifteen 

 specimens, represented the pick of his kennel or uot I cannot 

 say: it is safe to assume that they did, but among them all 

 there was only one Cluml^er, Bromine, who won second prize. 

 The rest were most emphatically an inferior collection. 



To look at cockers again; Doc, that much-praised, much- 

 maligned little dog, has, as I have frequently said, very few 

 good points. His head is typical and his ribs are well 

 .sprung. Outside that his greatest friends, if they be judges 

 at the same time, can say nothing favorable to him. When 

 we want to establish a new. type, for heaven's sake let us not 

 turn to Doc as a model. 



I have written these few lines not beeau.se I have a deaii-e 

 t-'v embroil myself m the curreflt disptiter, on the contrary, 



this is my last letter, lent more as a protest against the In- 

 consistencies of "Gothamite" and in support of Mr. Mason's 

 attitude throughout. Judges of his .stamp, fearless men 

 with the courage of their convictions are what we want. 

 Mr. Mason may at times be incorrect in judgmeut, but his 

 influence and arguments are, and during my acquaintance 

 with him have been, nearly always on the right side. 



G. Bell. 



ToHONTO, Jan. 21. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Now the question that must interest you spaniel men 

 really the most of all is who is "Gothamite?" His identity 

 means s|50O for the American Spaniel Club IF 



This club will get five hundred copecks from the great 

 and only Mason, if "Gothamite" is uot Mercer, hut alas, if 

 it be proven that "Gothamite" is Mercer, then will said club 

 experience the heavy loss of said five hundred copecks, 

 because of its not gaining that which it anticipated. Trixly 

 Mr. Gothermeris not Mercite, and we know it, or vice versa. 



However, Bre'r Mason may just as well shove that five 

 hundred along and we will hold it "pending investigation," 

 for fear Bre'r Peshall might lay hands upon it and work it 

 edgewise into the "Peshall gig," 13-38 38, or that Bre'r Vre- 

 denburgh should manipulate it to swell the A. K. C. funds 

 for 1890. Five hundred is small and the gazing committee 

 would never see it. 



But, all this seems to have very little bearing on the text 

 "Cocker Spaniels of 1890." Just the same, there is pretty 

 nearly as much here about dogs, and nearly as much about 

 other people, as in some of the letters we have had before 

 this. Yours for peace, SLY DOG. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Before writing the few subsequent words, I might say 

 that, except by letter and having purchased a few puppies, 

 also having had the stud services of two of their dogs, I nave 

 no acqtiaintance whatsoever with any of the spaniel men 

 now engaged in the cocker controversy. 



That Mr. F. H. F. Mercer and "Gothamite" cannot possi- 

 bly be one and the same pei'son, I think the following is 

 conclusive proof. "Gothamite" writes in his letter dated at 

 New York city, Nov. 9, issue Forest and Stream, Nov. 20, 

 "I never saw' spaniels judged so badly as at Toronto, etc. 

 There, in open black dogs, a nice puppy, Ivildare, got noth- 

 ing whatever. This is so promising a dog that I feel sure 

 under his new name, Obadiah, he will appear prominently 

 in the prize Tists of future shows," 



"Gothamite," by the above, certainly implies (in fact says) 

 that he was present at the Toronto bench show, and saw the 

 cocker spaniel Kildare. Mr. Mercer writes, issue Forest 

 AND Stream, Dec 18, "Unnoticed Obadiah (nee Kildare) I 

 have not seen, but Mr. Geddes recently showed me his photo, 

 and if it is to be relied upon, he is indeed a nice dog." I 

 have no interest whatever in Kildare more than wishing the 

 little fellow well, having sold him to Mr. Geo. Bell, of To- 

 ronto. Henry B. Nicol. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I looked in vain over your issue of the 23d inst. to see if 

 Mr. C. H. Mason's offer of $500, in your previous issue, had 

 been accepted. Bvidentlv the sum w^as not large enough to 

 draw the badger, His lair has been too carefully overhauled 

 and he has now gone on another tack. 



The time has now come for "Gothamite" to acknowledge 

 the fair Dominion of Canada as his home, and that his 

 criticism of Jersey, even if dictated, was not more to belittle 

 •Jersey than to draw attention to the wonderful and (on 

 paper) invincible Doc, who, since his fifth year and change 

 of ownei'ship, seems to have developed qualities which the 

 best judges failed to detect when he was in his prime. 



E. M. Olbham. 



New York, Jan. ^6. 



Editor Fore><t and Stream: 



One writer on the "Cockers of 1890" says in PoREST AND 

 Stream, "There has been no general improvement of late." 

 This I doubt, and to prove it I will ofli'er a special of $10 for 

 the best cocker bitch in the show, provided Miss Obo II., the 

 best bitch of 1889, and Bene Silk, are entered to uphold the 

 above quotation. The rest I feel safe in trusting to the 

 younger, and I trust, improved bitches. 



I will also offer *10 for the best type of cocker for field 

 work, both to be awarded by Mr. Watson or "Uncle Dick" 

 Fellows, the two best posted' cocker judges in this country 

 to my notion. These specials are to be competed for at the 

 Cleveland Kennel Club show in April next. I should like 

 to hear from Messrs. Willey, Whitman and others, if fny 

 oft'ers meet their approval. I am glad to see you shut off 

 those who insist on making this question avenues of person- 

 alities. A. W, P<S.ncoa,st. 



AuBDRNDALE, Ohio, Jan. 35. 



Editor Forest imd Strea m: 



Mr. Mercer, by failure at once to deny the charge that he 

 is "Gothamite" has thereby admitted it. Such being the 

 case he will see that be must without delay withdraw his 

 original statement regarding Mr. Mason and myself. 

 Viewed in the present light of facts, Mr. Mercer has 

 placed himself in an unpleasant position, but he has only 

 himself to blame, and it shotild be a warning to other 

 novices to be careful how they write on .subjects they know 

 nothing of. I now await Mr. Mercer's retraction and 

 apology. Jas. Watson. 



Editor Forest and Stream: • 

 Having read the various letters on cocker spaniels in your 

 paper of late I wish to say I fully indorse Mr. C. H. Ma.son's 

 views, especially his article in Forest amd Stream of Jan. 

 1, on the improvement in cocker spaniels during 1890. 

 When one enters into a discussion on cockers, with as able a 

 man as Mr. Mason, it is quite necessary to be fully posted 

 on the subject before starting to discuss. Geo. H. Bush. 

 BuFPAiiO, N. Y., Jan. 24. 



Editor Forest and. Stream: 



When I predicted that "Gothamite" would- "break his 

 young neck" 1 had no idea that Mr. Mason would put an 

 end to his inglorious career as neatly and speedily as he did. 

 Now that one-half of this inexperienced young man has 

 been retired, Mr. F, H. F. Mercer is doing the talking for 

 both, and a pretty mess he is making of it. His telling us 

 that he knows who "Gothamite" is is on a par with most of 

 his other statements, it is inclined to be funny. If Mercer 

 does not know Mercer, who does know Mercer? 



There is no getting away from the general belief that in 

 all human probability a nice little scheme was planned to 

 boom a dog and a judge at the expense of better dogs and 

 vastly better judges. But for Mr. Mason's clearsightedness 

 that scheme would .surely have been put through. 



Look here, Mr. Mercer, "cocker type" is out of the ques- 

 tion. "Gothamite" made untruthful statements about two 

 of our best judges and "slandered" the best cocker dog in 

 America. Mr. Mason, Mr. Watson and little Jersey each 

 have a reputation to lose. Before you can be permitted to 

 discuss dogs we want to know: Did "Gothamite" concoct a 

 scheme whereby the cocker spaniel Doe was to be placed 

 over Jersey? Was it a part of that scheme to push Mr. 

 West to the front to the exclusion of older, more experi- 

 enced and better- judges? Did that scheme provide that 

 misstatements shoitld be made about Mr. Mason because he 

 placed Jersey over Doc, and about Mr. Watson because he 

 did not think well of certain dogs owned by Mr. Mercer? 

 Shall a writer in an intrenched position be permitted to 

 T^iake statements he would n,ot dare t'O over hU own sigj?.(^' 



