480 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



[May 19, 1892, 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



CHICAGO, May 14.— The Kansas City Kennel Club is 

 energetically completing the preparatory arrangements 

 of its bench show. At a meeting held recently at Kansas 

 City, a committee was appointed to consult with the officers 

 of the Fair Association in respect to holding the bench show 

 in connection with the fair this fall. The club believes that 

 the show, held in such manner, will do more to develop a 

 general interest in good dogs and promote their welfare 

 than it would if held independently, since the thousands of 

 people who attend the fair would also attend the bench 

 show. The club decided to secure membership in the A. 

 K. C. 



» :: 



I notice that thai eminently sound writer and skillful 

 sportsman, Capt. C. E AJcMurdo, in a letter on retrieving in 

 another journal last week, mentions the fact that retrieving 

 will injure a dog's manner of searching for live birds, inas- 

 much as pointers and setters should not trail them. He 

 says: "All they ought to know about footscent is to detect 

 a hot trail, otherwise they would make inexcusable hushes." 

 This, coming from so experienced and well known a sports- 

 man as Capt. McMurdo, is worthy of careful consideration. 

 In connection with retrieving, he also st ates that "much has 

 been written for and against it, but the most important 

 question with regard to it has not (so far as I remember) 

 been discussed." If he will look in Forest ajtd Stream of 

 April 28, he will find the matter fully discussed on the same 

 lines which he presents. 



siThe only reason why it is desirable to have both finding 

 and retrieving done by one dog is one solely of expediency. 

 A retriever is indispensable in field.'shooting". Many sports- 

 men own but one dog, hence the necessity that that one 

 should retrieve. In New England and other sections where 

 birds are scarce, it would not be worth while to have a 

 special retriever, since the small number of birds killed 

 each day would give little occasion for his services. But be- 

 cause it is expedient and useful to have the dog both to find 

 and retrieve, it does not follow necessarily that he would 

 not perform better as either a finder or retriever if he did 

 but one branch or the other of field work. Of course, a 

 sportsman who has hunted year after year over a dog which 

 has found and retrieved, is by experience and habit con- 

 vinced that such is the most perfect manner of field work, 

 he unconsciously setting up his partial experience of what- 

 ever grade it may be, as a standard of all experience. 



It may be mentioned, however, that some dogs will find 

 and retrieve to perfection in a proper manner without any 

 injury to either their finding or retrieving Qualities, but 

 such dogs are extremely rare and do not affect the objections 

 against retrieving, 



In regard to many subjects interesting to sportsmen, it is 

 to be regretted that many readers take the superficial view 

 that all arguments or discussions are more or less of a quar- 

 rel or unpleasant contention; at least such is the inference 

 from the tone of letters which appear from time to time. 

 This I presume is due in a great measure to the bitter per- 

 sonalities and diatribes which appear in some journals 

 betimes, although it is a source of congratulation that For- 

 est and Stream is always free from such. Such, however, 

 should not be confounded with fair argument and discus- 

 sion of interesting and instructive subjects. I believe that 

 fair criticism and argument are always in order if there is 

 any desire to be progressive. On the other hand, the 

 writings which serve no other purpose than to gratify per- 

 sonal spite or to give vent to a malevolent disposition, re- 

 tard progress and growth. 



It is strange that very few new field trial clubs profit by 

 the experience of older ones. A new club commonly start's 

 off with a determination to run its trials on such theories as 

 the members have of actual field shooting. It does not seem 

 to occur to them that their experience is insufficient to en- 

 able them to decide understanding^ or that the ideas of the 

 older clubs would be worth investigation and a trial. Every 

 club which started out on the idea of running a field trial as 

 in an ordinary "day's shooting, made great changes in its 

 rules after the first trial. Nearly every club of any note has 

 adopted the rules of the Eastern Field Trials Club or a 

 slight modification of them. 



The Western Michigan Kennel Club, in the announcement 

 that the club would endeavor to hold a field trial this fall, 

 state that "retrieving will be required and all dogs hunted 

 as in an ordinary day's hunting." It would be most inter- 

 esting to see this attempt to run a field trial as in "an or- 

 dinary day's shooting." it has been often attempted, but 

 has never yet been done. It cannot be done, yet the same 

 old fallacy lives on, and is perpetuated by every new asso- 

 ciation. In practice it is soon discarded, but the rule stands 

 a dead-letter in the rules of nearly every association. It is 

 misleading and harmful. Spectators at a field trial do not 

 realize that the manner of an ordinary day's shooting can- 

 not be observed, but they do know that such manner is re- 

 quired under the rules; hence they notice what appears to 

 be constant violations of the methods applied in an ordinary 

 day's shooting. These furnish sufficient grounds for un- 

 pleasant comment. This venerable fallacy should be elim- 

 inated, and allowed to take its place with the mess of rub- 

 bish which in the past marks the course of field trial pro- 

 gress. 



In respect to progress, few realize the great advance be- 

 tween the old five-point system, where the number of points 

 determined a dog's worth and where trickery was at a 

 premium and the comprehensive theory of field trials of the 

 present, where dishonesty in handling is rarely attempted 

 and is always discouraged. 



* 



Now that the Mascoutah Kennel Club has decided not to 

 hold a bench show next year, the bench show in connection 

 with the World's Fair will have a clear field. Considering 

 the importance of the event, the preparatory arrangements 

 are being conducted very noiselessly and calmly. It can 

 hardly have an international character unless skillfully 

 and energetically pushed. There is, however, time yet to 

 accomplish a great deal. 



For a concise and farcical exposition of true field trial 



in cleanness, soundness and finish. It is worthy of the 

 most careful perusal of all who are interested in field trials 

 and the trutn as to their present status. The masterly 

 manner in which he analyzes and reduces glittering 

 generalities and tests the results by facts are admirable. 



May 16— The prosecution last week of the "fox hunters" 

 for giving an imitation fox hunt under the delusion that it 

 was real, and incidentally murdering a tame fox, was a 

 failure, which is much to be regretted. The following 

 clipping from the Chicago Tribune will explain how it was 

 donr, and it is difficult to imagine anything more farcical or 

 ridiculous: 



"The officers of the Illinois Humane Society detailed to 

 [jrosecute the participators in the tame fox hunt at Fair- 

 land are much disturbed over the methods of legal proced- 

 ure in Douglas county. The action against the fox hunters 

 was called befoie Justice Lamb at Tuscola Thursday. Wit- 

 nesses testified before a jury that a tame fox had been 

 chased by the defendants and their hounds and had been 

 caught and torn to pieces by the latter. Attorney A. W. 



Thomas, of Chicsgo, cited a Massachusetts decision sus- 

 taining the position of the Humane Society, which, while 

 not denying the right of men to hunt and kill wild foxes, 

 held that a tame fox, cared for in captivity by man from the 

 time it was only a few days old, is a domestic animal. 



"C. W. Wolverton, of Tuscola, attorney for the defend- 

 ants, then addressed the jury. He troubled. himself but 

 little about replying to arguments of the Chicago lawyer, 

 but the fact that a Massachusetts decision had been cited 

 severely wounded his local pride. 



" 'Gentlemen of the jury,' he said, 'we are residents of the 

 State of Illinois in the glorious West— wild and woolly, if 

 you will— where each man is an independent American 

 citizen. What is Massachusetts? An alien Commonwealth. 

 It is Massachusetts. Why, gentlemen of the jury, on Bos- 

 ton Common to-day witches are burned at tne stake, and if 

 a man is found outside of a church Sunday he is placed in a 

 lockup. What has Massachusetts to do with us? We are 

 American citizens and we want to chase foxes and we chase 

 foxes.' 



"After hearing which the twelve good men and true of 

 Tuscola rendered a verdict for the defendants. The Humane 

 Society had hoped to make; this a test case under the State 

 laws, which provide that any person guilty of 'torturing 

 any animal' shall be subject to a fine of not more than 8200. 

 The Massachusetts decision was directly in point, and 

 although the j ustice before whom the action was brought 

 was manifestly impartial, the jury, which was composed 

 largely of friends of the defendants, rendered a favorable 

 decision on the questions of law impossible." 



B. Waters. 



FLAPS FROM THE BEAVER'S TAIL. 



n^ORONTO, Can.— The greyhounds belonging to the late 

 _L Dr. Gordon, VS., Ottawa, were raffl?d last week, over 

 500 tickets being sold. Justinian went to Mr. J. W.Wurtle, 

 who is a member of the bench show committee; Jetsam to 

 Mr. John Abbott, and Stylish Girl to Mr. C. Roger. The 

 two former won firsts and special at the late Ottawa show 

 under "Honest John." 



I hear that several new classes have been added to the 

 Ottawa list, the building, too, is to be remodeled. The 

 new members of the committee are Mr. F. Robson and Mr. 

 F. H. Cunningham. 



Mr. Geddes has added another black and tan to his string, 

 a six months old bitch puppy, by Kaiser out of Desde- 

 mona. 



Further particulars about the Rideau Kennels' new fox- 

 terrier informs me that he is Merle Guy (renamed Rideau 

 Rivet), by Dolly Dandy (Vesuvius— Lally Mayfair) out of 

 Bodkin III. (Rivet III.— Clarke's Racer). Weight 16>slbs. 



The Cooktown Kennels, Ottawa, have sold their best 

 stud cocker Tim O bo to a breeder on your side for a price 

 well up in three figures. He is by Bob Obo out of Clio. 



Kingston has lost another of her breeders, Mr. J. D. G. 

 Shaw, who has moved to Toronto. 



Dr. Griffin, Hamilton, has lost his bull-terrier bitch Edge- 

 wood Belle from intestinal rupture while being bred to 

 Gully the Great. He has replaced her, as I "flapped" last 

 week, by a young bitch of Frank Dole's, Edgewood Robin, 

 in whelp to the same dog. 



Rugby Norah, the Irish terrier bitch purchased by Mr. 

 Murdoch and partners, Hamilton, has been bred to Ben IV. 

 and is now on her way across the pond. 



The poisoners have been getting in their fine work in 

 Toronto and Hamilton. The kennel club in the latter place 

 purpose taking the matter up and will prosecute any cases 

 brought to its notice. 



Mr. A. D. Stewart has disposed of his brace of bulldogs, 

 one, The Dude, going to Manitoba, the other, Flash in the 

 Pan (Crib— Sister to Lion), going to a fancier in Nova Scotia. 



The directors of the Montreal Exposition are anxious to 

 hold another bench show next fall, but as the date would of 

 necessity clash with that of London they are in a quan- 

 dary. If London will forego its dates they will hold a show. 

 The management has been offered to Dr. Wesley Mills, who 

 organized the show under such difficulties last year. He 

 will, hoWever, advise them not to hold a show if London re- 

 tains the dates chosen. He insists, also, that adequate ac- 

 commodation for the dogs be provided; indeed, he has ad- 

 vised the directors to erect a large and suitable building for 

 show purposes, and it is hoped they may see fit to comply 

 with this request. 



Several of the committee of the Toronto Kennel Club are 

 inquiring why their names were not mentiondd as being 

 most industrious when they did twice the work of some 

 named in your report. Mr. Shirley Stewart was indefatig- 

 able and several of the others worked very hard. 



In the same report if you read Forest Lou for Forest Sire 

 in setters, and Agate for Spot in cockers, you will strike it 

 nearer. H. B. Donovan. 



BLACK AND TANS. 



BUFFALO, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: Replying 

 to Dr. Foote's letter in your issue of May 12, I wish to 

 say that as a "novice" in the black and tan terrier fancy, I am 

 greatly obliged to the Doctor for giving me the benefit of his 

 "wide" and varied experience. I am always glad to get in- 

 formation, and the Doctor's letter contains a great deal that 

 I have never seen before. It is true that show reports are not 

 always reliable, but as the Doctor admits that Madge was 

 "wide in front" at Toronto 1890, he acknowledges the cor- 

 rectness of the report quoted. Well, the Doctor answered 

 my question anyway. Madge "did greatly reduce in width" 

 between the time of New York and Pittsburgh shows. 1 

 have had enough experience as a breeder to know that a 

 bitch changes her appearance for the better five or six weeks 

 after weaning puppies, but must confess to ignorance of the 

 fact that one would "greatly reduce in width" of front in 

 three weeks. My letter was not written for the purpose of 

 running down Broomfield Madge. I did not say I thought 

 her worse or better than Louie. What I wanted to know 

 was, why Louie won at New York with "consummate ease" 

 and within three weeks under the same judge, Madge won 

 as the Doctor says "with considerable to spare." The Doc- 

 tor says Mr. Raper is able to see something in a dog besides 

 front. What was it, that he saw in Madge that beat Louie? 

 He also says a "straight front is not natural. or desirable in 

 a black and tan." Here is an item of news for the Black 

 and Tan Terrier Club of England. When they hear thie 

 they will probably change the standard. The Doctorshould 

 take one of the stud cards issued by Rochelle Kennels and 

 turn to the last page and read the following from "Points 

 of the Black and Tan Terrier as set forth by the Black and 

 Tan Terrier Club of England. " 

 "Chest. — Narrow between the legs, deep in the brisket." 

 ' 'Leys.— Perfectly straight and well under the body, strong, 

 and of proportionate length." 



I think this would imply that a straight and narrow front 

 is desirable in a black and tan, the genial Doctor to the con- 

 trary notwithstanding. A, W.Smith. 



THE BEAGLE STANDARD. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In the discussion of the proposed change of the standard 

 height of the English beagle, yon may add my name to 

 the list of those who most emphatically oppose such a 

 measure. 



The National Beagle Club can feel proud of its record so 

 far, but should it tamper with the standard that has done 

 the breed so much good since i^s adoption, I predict that 

 the harmony which now evidently prevails in its ranks wiil 

 be marred. 



There is no necessity for enumerating reasons for the oppo- 

 sition to such a change. No logical reasons have been 

 given— and never will— why such a change shruld be made. 



My acquaintance and experience with tbe beagle fraternitv 

 at large is of considerable scope, and as I l«t them file by 

 me mentally I fail to see but two (Mr. Phosbus one of 

 them), who would favor such a change. 



Should the N. B. C. have any intentions of attemptiug 

 such a change— but I give that body credit in believing that 

 such a possibilit f does not exist— th-n let us have their best 

 reason for so doing, and I am confident that our little 

 favorites will find defenders of their cause in plenty. 



As for myself, the standard to which I endeavor to href d 

 will never exceed fifteen inches, rather less if any change 

 must be made, and that for basket beagles not over twelve 

 inches. They do the work I require of them to my entire 

 satisfaction, and any additional size would only impair the 

 quality of the work. 



Just as every other breeder, I have bred some overzized 

 specimens and some as good as any man has produced. They 

 have, with the other extreme, been classed as weeds. Let 

 every breeder seek to breed to fit the standard and not en- 

 deavor to have the standard changed to fit his breeding. 



If larger dogs are desired and squired for work which 

 does not suit our favorites, then let harriers and foxhounds 

 perform it. That's what they are for. 



As to a change of the point scale of the standard, a few 

 minor changes may be of benefit, but I would just as vigor 

 ously oppose a reduction of tbe points given to head quali 

 ties in the present standard. There is where you find tbe 

 character and quality of every breed and most particularly 

 so in the little beagle. 



The wonder of it all to me is that a letter of one man, with 

 no logic whatever advanced, should bring about a discussion. 



A, C. Krtteger. 



Wbightsvilue, York Co.. Pa. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am glad to see that most of the beagle men, writing in 

 Forest and Stream, disapprove of raising the standard 

 from 15in. to l(iin. But am exceedingly pleased to see the 

 12in. measurement raised to 13in. This will do away with, 

 what seems to me, rather a ridiculous idea that some beagle 

 men have fallen into, also a few beagle judges, that a beagle 

 14>£in. or 14%'in., or even up to the standard of loin., has not 

 (other points being equal) as good a right to first honors as 

 a beagle from 12)£in. to 13iu. Will some of the beagle men 

 who hold that a beagle 143*'in. tolSin. is too big kindly give 

 their reason in Forest and Stream for so thinking. The 

 gentleman judging beagles at Toronto last September paid 

 no attention to whether a beagle was I'ii.in. or lojoin., pro- 

 vided the dog was not over the standard in his class, but 

 gave the ribbon to the best dog. In the class from 13in, to 

 15in., why is not the beagle nearest to 15in. as good a dog as 

 the nearest to 12in? Why is he not a better dog? Take him 

 into the field, and in nine cases out of ten he will be found 

 the. superior of his smaller brother. Enter a horse 13K hande 

 high at a horse show in the 15 hands and under cJass and 

 see where he will be. Now, the loin, and under class will 

 bring the larger dogs together, and the under 13in. class all 

 the smaller dogs ditto. The 12in. class always appeared to 

 me to be a wrong height to have chosen, as the beagles 

 mostly entered for this class went invariably a trifle over 

 the 12in. Amatettr. 



Cookstown, Canada. 



MY KINGDOM FOR A PEDIGREE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In your last number Mr. R. L. Ogdeu ("Podgers"; re- 

 quests me to inform him if I have Mike's pedigree. Re 

 gretfully I must answer no. I have wished many times 

 that it was possible for me to trace his lineage to the aristo- 

 cratic family of blue bloods from which he must bavesprung. 

 The blood is there, but from whence it came I know not. 

 He is a waif, or as dogmen might say, "a pick up.'' 



It is the old story: A favor to a stranger, stranger no 

 money, but plenty of gratitude and a pup; everything agree- 

 able, no questions asked, stranger goes away and the poor 

 orphaned pup is left to grow up to dog's estate, ignorant of 

 the blood and traditions of his royal family, and bereft of 

 that most prized of all the adjuncts of royalty, pride of 

 pedigree. But Mike may console himself with Seneca's 

 reflection: "He who boasts ot his descent, praises the deeds 

 of another." Or he may, like Ciesar assert, "My family be- 

 gins with me." 



But I am forced to say that if Mike's lineage were trace- 

 able at all it would undoubtedly lead to the Emerald Isle, 

 as his name would indicate; and that, while he is evidently 

 not pure bred, he is mostly Irish with a taint, like the boy's 

 puppy, of "jist dog." 



After carefully reading Mr. Ogden's remark about the in- 

 troduction by him of blooded dogs into this country, I am 

 satisfied, fvma my acquaintance with the northwest Pacific 

 coast, that we have numerous descendants of his dogs among 

 us; and all the sportsmen of this country will join with me 

 in an expression of gratitude to him for his service, for it is 

 a noble breed. S. H. GREENE. 



Portianu, Oregon. May 6. 



CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB DIPLOMAS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



It will, I think, interest you to know that the Canadian 

 Kennel Club has decided, with a view of encouraging 

 Canadian breeders to give annually in future, at one show 

 during the fall circuit, special diplomas for, first, the best 

 kennel of not less than four dogs or bitches; second, the best 

 brace of dogs or bitches; third, the best dog; fourth, the 

 best bitch. These diplomas, which will be offered for all 

 recognized breeds, can only be competed for by Canadian 

 members of the Canadian Kennel Club, and will without 

 doubt be eagerly sought after. The possession of the diplo- 

 mas will be in itself a high honor, and the advertisement 

 received by the lucky wiuners will well recompense them 

 for any trouble taken to win tbe distinction. 



The'classification of the diplomas is thoroughly good, for 

 it will be readily seen that tbe winner of the kennel priz; 

 showing four dogs, may easily be beaten in the competition 

 for the best brace, while both may lose to others in the com- 

 petitions for single dogs or bitches. 



The diplomas referred to will not in any way affect the 

 customary diplomas and special prizes offered by the various 

 bench show committees. The Canadian Kennel Club is only 

 seeking now to encourage her own members, and stimulate 

 Canadian breeders. She never did a better thing or took a 

 wiser step, and in her present effort she deserves, and will, 

 I feel sure, receive the hearty support of all true dog lovers. 



A. D. Stewart. 



H.4MHTON, Ontario, 



