90 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[FP,B. 19, 1891. 



THE SOUTHERN FIELD TRIALS. 



ALL-AGED STAKE. 



THERE wei-e twenty entries in this stake, anrl the first 

 four heats were rtin at the conclusion of the Paul Bo — 

 Rupert heat, to decide first place in the Derby, on Friday, 

 Feb. 6. The farst brace was 



DAB WILSOK, JR., AND SHOTMASTEB. 

 The English setter Dad Wilson, .Jr., by Dad Wilson— Lit, 

 and owned by .J. Shelley Hudson, was in charge of H. M. 

 Short, and the Idstone Kennels' Shotmaster, by Planet- 

 Lady Croxteth, was handled by D. E. Rose. At" the start, 

 at 3:39 P. M., Dad Wilson, .Tr., soon showed his superior 

 pace, which he kept up to the end of the heat. On the scat- 

 tered birds from the previous heat. Dad pointed and Short 

 flushin]K, killed, and Dad made a difficult retrieve in good 

 style. He followed tliis up by a good point on a bevy, and 

 was steady to flush. Shotmaster in the meanwhile had 

 shown his running powers off to good advantage on a rab- 

 bit. In the woods. Dad Wilson coming at speed from the 

 right, went in ahead of Shotmaster, who had scented game, 

 .T.nd wheeled to a fine point. Shot, not to be outdone, passed 

 him in turn and pointed as well. After another short gallop 

 Dad was rightly awarded the heat, being superior to the 

 other all round. 



.lACQXIES AND COKSAIE. 



Jacques, by Ered W. , and owned by Chas. Tucker, 



was. in the absence of owner, handled by D. E. Rose, and B. 

 M. Stephenson handled his dog Corsair^ by Dad Glad.stone 

 — Haidee. In the open, some distance from where the last 

 heat was run, these two were cast off. They both soon 

 made points on a bevy and were steady to shot. Soon after, 

 following the birds, they were both found again on a point 

 in a plum thicket, but nothing was found: further on, 

 they each made good points on singles and birds flushed to 

 each, birds were shot at but neither killed, both dogs steady. 

 Jacques then made two points to only one of which a bird 

 was flushed. Coming to a stand a little further away, three 

 birds flushed to his point. Moving on, he stood again, and 

 Rose flushing the bird, .shot and killed, Jacques bringing 

 the game up in good style. After a short run both dogs 

 pointed near a ravine in some grass. They had, however, 

 been ordered up but after consultation they were sent on 

 again. Not far away Jacques wheeled to a good point and 

 Corsair coming up at speed, caught the scent while jumping 

 a ditch and landed stiff. Nothing being found, they roaded 

 on and Jacques soon located the birds; they were not fol- 

 lowed. Then Jacques flushed one. On the other side of a 

 deep ravine Corsair pointed nicely, and a woodcock was 

 flushed. Jacques got into trouble by flushing a bevy to the 

 right down wind, afterward redeeming himself by a point 

 on a single. Dogs were then ordered up and the judges 

 awarded the heat to Jacques. Down 4.5m. 



CASSXO AND KENO. 



The English Cassio, by Count Noble— Lizzie Hopkins, was 

 handled by his owner, j. M. Avent, and the English setter 

 Keno, by Roybil , owned by Dr. .Jones, was also hand- 

 led by her owner. They were cast oft' in the open. Cassio 

 showed his superiority by doing most of the pointing and 

 showing better speed all through the heat. Keno made sev- 

 sal flushes and pointed only two singles to Cassio's two bevies 

 and several singles. The heat therefore finished in his favor 

 after running .30min. 



ANTONIO AND LITTLE GIFT. 



The black, white and tan setter dog Antonio, by Roderigo— 

 Bo Peep, was handled by his owner, J. M. Avent, and Little 

 Gift, owned by Bert Crane, was in charge of N. B. NesMtt. 

 There was no competition in this race, as Antonio did all the 

 work, cutting out the pace and ranging wide and stylishly. 

 There is little need to enumerate points made as the heat 

 was so one sided. This finished the work for the day. 

 Sat'tirday. 



The first heat of the day was the Zula M,— Rupert one, and 

 this has already been given in the Derby report. The fifth 

 brace in the All -Aged Stake was then called up. This was 



DAD WILfSON'S BOT AND RODER. 



The English .^^etter dog Dad Wilson's Boy is by Dad Wil- 

 .son— Dolly S., and owned by G. 0. Smith, and was handled 

 by W. W. Titus. N. B, Nesbitt handled his dog Roder, by 

 Roderigo— Lufra's Cross. They were put down at 10:12, and 

 as the weather was warm the dogs soon felt its effects. They 

 ran for some time and then were taken up twice, and soon 

 after Dad pointed in good style but the bevy could not be 

 found, then just after. Dad flushed a .single, and the dogs 

 were taken up to be put down in the afternoon at 3:40, but 

 finding no game after a quarter of an hour's run they were 

 ordered up miA the heat given to Dad Wilson's Boj. 



FEED GATES AND HAMtJEL S. 



This brace was put down at 13:06. Fred Gates, owned by 

 Messrs. Hamilton and .Jackson, was handled by D. E. Rose 

 and H. S. Bevan's (agt. ) Samuel S. was handled by H. S. 

 Bevan. Samuel S. was the firsc to get to work and secured 

 a good point on a bevy. Then Fred showed his .speed in the 

 chase after a rabbit, and then another start was made after 

 the scattered birds, but they failed to avail themselves of the 

 opportunity to do good work. Samuel S. flushed some, 

 when the rest got up. Then ensued a long run and both 

 were found on a point in a hedge row, though it was plain 

 that the ci-edit belonged to Fred. Sent on, the bevy was 

 located by Fred, and when flushed, Rose made a double and 

 Fred retrieved nicely. Samuel S., after a short run, came up 

 to the same bevy and pointed them at the edge of woods. 

 Judge Rogers killed the bird, Sam S., after much urging, 

 retrieved it. Then ensued a consultation, but no decision 

 was arrived at and dogs were put down again at 1:30. Soon 

 after, ovar the hill, a questionable point was made by Samuel 

 S.: the judges did not see it, though some of the spectators 

 claimed to have done so. Then in the open Sam made 

 matters more secure by nailing another bevy. The judges 

 then decided at last that Samuel S. was the better dog. 

 Though Fred had two singles to his credit he had not the 

 speed or range of the other, but was more stylish. They had 

 been running for two hours and fifteen minutes. Sam at 

 times was unsteady and might have backed better. 



SATAN AND NATALIE. 

 The English setter dog Satan is by Baden— Bessie, is 

 owned by J. W. Renfroe and was handled by D. E, Rose in 

 place of Charles Tucker, who had been called home. Bert 

 Crane's Natalie II,, handled by N, B. Nesbitt, is by King 

 Noble— Natalie. They were cast off at 2:49. Satan soon 

 flushed a bevy in the woods; birds were marked down in sedge 

 grass. Then Natalie pointed, Nesbitt flushed and killed, 

 Natalie doing the retrieve well. Satan found some mischief 

 to do in the idle moments and pointed, Natalie coming up 

 soon got to work again with another point which Satan 

 backed nicely. Then Natalie pointed foot scent. Some sharp 

 running was now indulged in by both and Satan dropped to 

 a point on foot scent, but while pottering round Natalie 

 came up and by a cast nailed the birds. Flushed, they were 

 followed with out result, the dogs were soon after ordered up 

 and the heat was given, much to the surprise of many, to 

 Satan, 



NELL OF IDSTONE AND NOBLE C. 

 The black and white pointer bitch Nell of Idstone is by 

 Planet— Lilly Bang, owned by Idstone Kennels and was 

 handled by 'D. E. Rose. Patrick Henry's English setter 

 Noble C. is by Rapier— Belle of Hatchie, and H. M. Short 

 had him in charge. They were cast off after a short heat 

 between Dad Wilson's Boy and Roder, alluded to above. 

 Noble soon got to work and found birds at the edge of woods 



and'foUowed this up, at the other side of some imderbrush, 

 by finding another bevy. Nell dtiring this had found a 

 single, but flushed it. Then on scattered ijirds both secured 

 a point, when time was called and Noble won the heat. 



SAM E. AND BLADE. 



Owing to Mr. Tucker's absence and' Mr. Rose's request to 

 withdraw Blade, the heat was given to Sam R. He is by 

 Dash B. out of Daisy Hope, and is owned by G. P. .Jones. 

 Blade is by Toledo Blade out of Lula C. The tenth and last 

 brace of the meeting was 



TENNESSEE CHARLEY AND TUBEROSE. 



B. M. Stephenson handled his dog Tennessee Charley, by 

 Fred W. out of Ida S., and Tuberose, by Count Noble out o'f 

 Lit, was handled by E. H. Hyde, Her owner. Will Wilson, 

 had sold her to J. Shelley Hud.son. They were ca.st off at 

 4:4.5. Not much work was done, they only running the 

 allotted -30 minutes; but Charley showed himself the better 

 dog, being a fa.ster and a wider ranger. He was first on 

 game, finding a bevy and some singles. Tuberose secured 

 one. They were ordered up at ,5:1.5, and Tennessee Charley 

 won. Thus ended the first series. 



Mondaii. 



As rain fell in torrents, with no sign of a let up, the hand- 

 lers, many of whom were sick, decided unanimously that 

 the judge decide the stake on the work done in the first 

 series, and their request was accordingly acceded to with 

 the result as wired last week. 



Antonio first prize, Dad Wilson, Jr., second prize, Satan, 

 Sam R, and Noble C, divided third. 



This brought a rather unsatisfactory meeting to an abrupt 

 close. Max. 



COCKER SPANIELS OF 1 890. 



Editor Fureft and Stream: 



Mr. F. H. F. Mercer's letter of apology, which appeared in 

 your issue of Feb. .5, is not altogether satisfactory. He ad- 

 mits he made misstatements intetitirmally and apologizes 

 for thesf , and he a.sks forgiveness of those whose feelings he 

 advisedly hurt. As an introduction to this he says "the end 

 justifies the means," and then drags Mr. Wade into the 

 muddle as his advisei'. My friend Mr. Wade knows nothing 

 about cockers, regarding them more as acreation of "fancy." 

 Reljing undoubtedly upon Mr. Mercer's statements being 

 correct, Mr. Wade advised bina to go ahead. 



In his letter which reached me after having sent my letter 

 which appeared in Forest and Stream of Jan. 29, Mr. 

 Mercer adVised me that he was "Gothamite" andthathe had 

 sent Mr. Wade his original conTuiuni cation with a request to 

 send it to me for my opinion. If Mr. Wade had been in 

 doubt as to the truth of "Gothiimite's" assertions he would 

 probably have sent it to me, but he returned it without doing 

 so. Mr." Wade is not the person to countenance ■intentional, 

 misstatements, with the purpose of ad.viscMy hurting any 

 one's feelings, especially I may say those of personal friends. 

 Mr. Wade's record as an apologizerfor hisfew unintentional 

 misstatements is too well known to allow "Gothamite" to 

 adopt. any such Adam and Eve argTiment and drag Mr, 

 Wade into the controversy. 



Mr. Mercer tells ns that good has come out of these inten- 

 tional statements. Perhaps so, but I think not. All that 

 has come out of it is the apology of Mr. Mercer for masquer- 

 ading under the name of "Gothamite" for the purpose of 

 making intentional misstatements and advisedly hurting 

 the feelings of others. All through the piece Mr. Mercer 

 has shown his profoimd ignorance of cocker spaniels and of 

 their historv since the first "long and low" spaniels were 

 imported. He doesn't know that the long and low spaniels 

 were field spaniels and that the longest and lowest cocker 

 yet imported was Miss Obo II. In fact he knows nothing of 

 cocker spaniels, and a bantam weight, he shies his castor into 

 the ring, challenging the heavyweights of the fancy, and 

 with a result that might be expected. 



When "Gothamite's" first letter appeared I was astonished 

 to see Forest and Stream publishing such a nonsensical 

 string of misstatements, and I never would have taken the 

 trouble to reply thereto. That "good has been done to the 

 cocker spimiel cause by this turmoil," as Mr, Mercer claims 

 in his apology, is admis.sible only so far as showing very 

 conclitsively what every one the least acquainted with the 

 views of our leading cocker men well knew, that there was 

 unanimity among them as to the proper type, Mr. Mercer 

 claimed in his letter to me that he had gained something by 

 securing public admi.ssion of Mr. Mason and myself that we 

 are opposed to long and low cockers. My reply to him was 

 that it was just aa'mucli gain as if he had accused us of say- 

 ing the moon was made of green cheese and we had replied 

 to the contrary. 



There is absolutely nothing in the whole buisiness outside 

 of the now admitted fact that Mr. Mercer made intentional 

 misstatements for the purpose of aduisediy hurting the feel- 

 ings of some gentlemen. 



Mr. Laidlawhi ts very near the mark when he says "the 

 craze, so called, originated in breeders importing cockers 

 from England, where the long and low notions prevailed, 

 and these importations having more quality as a general 

 rule than the spaniels then in America, were taken as the 

 .standard.'' It was just about the same thing that I wrote 

 to Mr. Mercer. No man with any sense will put a bull- 

 headed fright with a cocker build of body over a dog show- 

 ing spaniel quality all over, even if he is a bit longer than 

 the judge likes as'his ideal. If Mr. Mercer had had much 

 experience in breeding cockers, he would know that a body 

 is easily got but a good head is mighty hard. It must be 

 three years ago since Mr.Willey said to me, "1 can get every 

 thing' I want without trouble except the right heads." 

 About that time Mr. Mason drew attention to the same 

 thing. 



It is much easier for a man outside the ring to sum up 

 merits, especially if writing incognito, than if that same in- 

 dividual changed places with the judge. We had a .some- 

 what prominent case in point when Mr. Fellows judged at 

 Philadelphia a few years ago. "Uncle Dick" is well known 

 through the press as a denouncer of "crocodiles," and we 

 naturally anticipated a grand transformation scene when 

 his list 'of awards was announced. In place thereof and 

 much to the satisfaction of spaniel men he recognized qual- 

 ity as an essential, and differed in no material degree from 

 judges who had previously passed judgment upon the same 

 dogs. When Mr. Mercer is called upon to occupy the posi- 

 tion as judge, he will have the same difficulty to encounter. 

 He will find no dog without faults, and it is in the estima- 

 tion of the difficulties overcome, as opposed to the failures, 

 that he will experience trouble in order to arrive at a deci- 

 sion satisfactory to himself. 



I rather feel that the greatest injustice of all has been 

 done to Mr. Wilmerding in dragging his dog Doc so promi- 

 nently into the discussion, but I do know this that he 

 deprecated the starting of the correspondence in the way it 

 was done, and only wrote to correct errors unintentionally 

 committed by Mr. Mason, which that gentleman at once re- 

 tracted. The pufi&ng of Doc I knosv has been done entirely 

 without his knowledge or consent, and he being now in 

 Florida and not being present or perhaps caring to refute 

 suggestions as to seeking gratuitous advertising, I take the 

 liberty, as an old friend, to sa.v what I do know on this part 

 of the subject. JAS. WATSOJf. 



Phtlauelphia, Pa.__ 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In addition to the retraction which appeared in your 

 columns two weeks ago, Air. P. H. F. Mercer has written 

 me a private letter, expressing rsgret for the Gourse h.e pur- 



sued and the misstatements hemade. This letter of apology, 

 which is no half hearted affair, is accepted as it deserves to 

 be— cheerfully and sincerely. 



In regard to the "Cocker Spaniels of 1S90" I have shown 

 by a careful comparison of the dogs at New York that there 

 has been no improvement during the past year. My state- 

 ments have been indorsed by the best judges and we must 

 look elsewhere for a field of discussion. 



If a fixed type is to be obtained and maintained it vsdll be 

 done by intelligent selection, careful mating and a judicious 

 distribution of blood. And let me advise no man to be led 

 away by this cry for working cockers. M;iny men who were 

 unable "to breed pointers with square muzzles, and at the 

 same time clean and long necks, insisted that spike-nosed, 

 long-necked, characterless apologies for a pointer were the 

 proper thing. Others that failed to breed dogs with the 

 necessary amount of bone assured us that little bone of sood 

 quality was needed. The man with a ring-tailed dog coolly 

 remarked that a bad tail did not prevent a dog from run- 

 ning fast and finding birds. The unlucky possessor of the 

 staring, gooseberry-eyed specimen said that a dog could see 

 just as well with a yellow e.ye as any othei-. Ami so it goes 

 until all defects are wiped out. Look at almost all the 

 breeds and you will find connected with them men who, 

 themselves unable to breed good ones, are ever in.sisting that 

 their "workmen" are typical. The market for dogs that 

 approach the standard in name only is very limited, and 

 Ijlenty of cheap advertising and "work" are the only means 

 by which such stock can be unloaded. 



The standard of the American Spaniel Club is good enough 

 for the present. Unfortunately it is the custom in this 

 country to fit the standards to the dogs when the dogs can- 

 not be bred to fit the standards. This has been tried re- 

 peatedly with the setters, but I am glad to see that no geuu 

 ine dog man has ever had a hand in such work. When you 

 have succeeded in breeding dogs that possess all the points 

 called for by the st-andard and have satisfied yourselves that 

 these dogs cannot do all that is a.sked of them in the field 

 and on the bench, then turn your attefitiou to remodeling 

 the standard. 



For judges select only tho.se who can properly interpret a 

 standard and estimate the true value of points, positive and 

 negative. Frown down anything and everything that savors 

 of cliquism, Insist that the prize goes to the best dog whether 

 it be owned by prince or pauper, and if the cockers are not a 

 vastly better lot in 1895 sell out and leave the field to those 

 who, while always owning the best, never let anybody .see 

 them. Chas, H. Ma.son. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The issue of your paper for ,Jan. 29 has only just reached 

 me here to-night. In it I notice in the cocker eontrover.sy 

 that Mr. Mason states that the remarks made by mj'self and 

 others calling a halt in personalitie«, r:aiue rather late in 

 the day. Mr. Editor, you will bear me nut when I say that 

 you yo"urself asked me to write a line to this effect, which I 

 riid shortly after the reqtiest, but which ^va.-^ rpceived too 

 late, therefore having to lie over a week, (Jwingto the 

 state of the controversy at that time my wisbes were any- 

 thing but to go into it, nor would I have bad a word to say 

 had Mr. Mason not fallen into an error in regard to the 

 ownership of Doc, stating that he belonged to Mr. F. H. F. 

 Mercer, which I felt impelled to correct. Regarding Doc 

 being in Mr. Mercer's care at Ottawa; The latter wrote 

 asking me to send the dog to the show iu that city, volun- 

 teering at the time to personally care for him and take him 

 each night to his own home. This offer I accepted and he 

 remained with Mr. Mercer I should think .-ibonf: two weeks. 

 Mr. Mason suggests that I refresh my memory on this .score. 

 No need of that, and no need of Mr. .Mason \s 'stiggcstiDg it, 

 as I have his letter of two or three weeks auo askinir about 

 this, and he no doubt has my very prompt rtply, Htatiug the- 

 case as above, and further stating (in ans\ver to his ques- 

 tion) that I did not know that Mr. Mercer had advertised 

 the dog as at the stud over his own name, as Mr. Mason 

 asserts. In asking me to send the dog to the show Mr, 

 Mercer said in substance that he would notify the papers 

 that the dog would be at the -stud iu his hands for a short 

 period. Any further "advertisement" of the dog I knew or 

 know nothing about. And as regards the recent so-called 

 "booming'' of the dog in the present controversy, the mere 

 mention of his name has been entirely without any under- 

 standing or agreement (or consent) on my part with any 

 person whatsoever. The identity of "Gothamite" uutil 

 about ten days ago ^vas positively and absolutely unknown 

 to me. A. Clinton Wiw'ebpikg .. 



SEMiNOiiB, S. 0., Feb. 4. 



Editor Forest and. Stream: 



In your issue of .Jan. 39, Mr. Pancoast, of Auburndale, O., 

 offers a .special prize of -SIO for the best cocker spaniel bitch 

 at the coming Cleveland show, provided that Miss Obo II. 

 and Bene Silk are entered, the prize to be awarded by either 

 Mr. James Watson or Mr. J. Otis Fellows. 



Mr. Pancoastwrit.es: "I should like to hear from Messrs. 

 Willey, Whitman and others if my offer meet their ap- 

 proval." 



I desire to say to Mr. Pancoast that I am not after news- 

 paper notoriety, but if cocker spaniel lovers desire to see 

 such a competition under such well-known breeders and 

 judges of .spaniels as Messrs. Watson and Fellows, I shall 

 "be pleased to enter champion Bene .Silk at the Cleveland 

 show in April, although it is hardly justice to her for me to 

 do so, as Bene has recently whelped a litter of puppies. 



L. F. Whitman. 



Chicago, Feb. 5. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As neither of the parties engaged will make the very 

 simple explanation, I feel forced to explain how it was that 

 Mr. Mercer took stich violent offense at Mr. Mason, and the 

 more so as it was so amazingly simple, Jt is this. In an 

 article in Turf, Field and. Farm Mr. Mason wrote that "the 

 Canada official" had made more untruthful statements 

 than— " etc, Mr. Mercer being an official of the Canadian 

 Government not unnaturally took this to apply to himself, 

 and I must admit that I did the same, and it was not to be 

 wondered at that he was wrathy. But the fact is that Mr. 

 Mason had not the faintest idea of implying aught against 

 Mr. Mercer, and his i-emark was meant to apply to a totally 

 different Liuarter, and learning this, I advised Mr. Mercer of 

 his mi.sapprehension with the result, I feel certain, that two 

 of my most honored and trusted friends will yet come to- 

 gether in amity. Further than this I do not feel at liberty 

 to speak. W. Wade. 



HULTON, Pd. 



BULLDOGS. — Baltimore. Mcl.-Ediiur Forest and 

 Stream: Bulldogs certainly are booming. Last year there 

 was no club and only nineteen entries at New York. This 

 year there is a club with thirty charter members, and Mr. 

 Mortimer writes me there are fifty-one entries at New York. 

 This positively proves that specialty clubs stimulate inter- 

 est. Now, it only remains for members to come to the front 

 and increase, in the same nroportion over last year, the 

 entries at Baltimore, Lynn and Chicago, and our success m 

 assured.— Chas. D. Cugle, Sec'y. 



Dogs: Tlielr Management and. Treatm ent in Disease. By 

 Ashmont. Price $2. Kennel Becord and Account Booh. 

 Price h. Training vs. Brealiing. By S. T. Hamr/wnd-. 

 Price -fl. Fi/rst Lesso ns vn Dog Trainvng, 'Voith Points of 

 QMjB.r«ieds. Price. 50 cents.. 



