Jwm 89, 1898.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



569 



ance and number. i\Iauy of them are fixed annual events, 

 held by clubs who have game preserves, and every facility 

 and knowledge of how to run trials. These clubs can count 

 in their membership many of the wealthiest and best gentle- 

 men sportsmen in the land. 



In 1S75, at the second trials of the Tennessee State Sporfcs- 

 'Miea's Association, the blue blood, so-called, appeared in the 

 competition. Thereafter for many years there was one of 

 the greatest controversies oa the merits of the imported and 

 native dogs. However, it ended in the native dog being de- 

 creased in public value, and at last they appeared no more 

 in public competitions. It cannot be denied that there were 

 many good dogs among them. A few owners, who a,dmired 

 the native dogs in the olden time, still retain them, but the 

 number of such is very few. The blue blood, so-called, is 

 the dog of the present. 



The Llewellin setter, soon after the trials were established, 

 became the fashionable dog and drove the native out of 

 public astimation, particularly in connection with field 

 trials. 



The great variety of setter colors were weeded out tiU black 

 and white, or black, white and tan became the common color. 

 Orange and white or lemon and white seems to be next in 

 popular esteem. This in respect to English setters. The 

 Laveracks had a few admirers, but as they were unable to 

 make much of a showing with the pure Llewellins at field 

 trials, the interest in them gradually died out. 



The IrLsh setter has many admirers to-day, and had, too, 

 many years ago a powerful support. They are beautiful 

 dogs and have real merit atteld wliich has never yet been 

 properly brought out by good earnest support at field trials 

 by Irish setter bi*eeders. 



That the field trials of this country have done great good 

 In improving setters and pointers, no person will deny. They 

 served as excellent educators. In fact, they educated people 

 too fast and in too great numbers. The lessons of modera- 

 tion and care in preserving the game supply were not learned 

 coincidently with the knowledge of how to kill. Still, there 

 is the monitor ever vigilant and ever helpful, the press. The 

 pages of Forest and Stream contain the teachings needed 

 in the present and the futaire. Therein are found true les- 

 sons in sportsmanship. Its pages show that it has kept pace 

 with the vast growth of sportsmanship pertaining to land and 

 water, forest and stream. 



The humble little trials at Memphis were the beginning of 

 a great movement for better sportsmanship and its univer^ 

 sal growth. Last year there were field trials held in Califor- 

 nia, Canada, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Texas, 

 Massachusetts and North Carolina. These do not indicate 

 the number of field trials held, for there were three held in 

 ^ISTorth Carolina, three in Canada. In the past twenty years 

 . field trials have been held in, besides the places already 

 enumerated, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Tennes- 

 see, Alabama, I'enusylvania, Virginia, Robins Island, Fish- 

 er's Island, Louisiana and Illinois. 



This growth would never have been possible without a 

 special joui-nal. The special literature on the dog is really 

 an outgrowth of lessons first taught by the journal of the 

 sportsmen. T\venty years ago it was impossible to get in- 

 formation at any price on matters which are now common 

 knowledge or easily available to all. 



There was great pleasure in those days in following a dog 

 in whose veins flowed the blood of fifty vai-ieties. The muz- 

 zleloader, too, was a medium of pleasure. I have followed 

 as scurvy a working dog twenty years ago, and shot with as 

 poor a muzzleloader as could be imagined, yet I then 

 thought it great sport. It was great to me, for it was the 

 best we had. To-day an educated sportsman would think 

 that sport, under such conditions, was too frivolous and poor 

 to engage in. The good old times are good mostly in our 

 imagination. The good tunes of the present are better than 

 the good old times of our imagination. The good old times 

 are strictly personal. The new times of to-day will be the 

 good old times of by and by. 



In the history of field trials the pointer has held an im- 

 portant part. The relative merits of setters and pointers 

 have engaged many champions in controversy and argument. 

 Each class comes to the competition each year prepared for 

 the struggle, though setters greatly outnumber the pointers. 



The fii'st scale of points for field trials is interesting at this 

 day, nearly nineteen years later. It was as follows: Nose, 

 30; pace and style, 20; backing, 10; breaking, 1,5; retrieving' 

 5; style and staunchness in pointing, 15; roading 5 Total 

 lOO. 



In 1876, this having proved unsatisfactory, the system 

 called the five point system was adopted. Each competitor 

 had five opportunities to point. A failure to point was a lost 

 opportunity. E.ach point was valued at 5. Other qualities 

 had values in the scale. In 1879 the heat system was adopted" 

 and this system was the prevailing one everywhere till it 

 was superseded by the spotting system, which is the prevail- 

 ing one at present. Thus many different links connect the 

 present time with twenty years ago. B. Watkks. 



A Dog's Sagacity. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Au ;u-t Icle 1 re;nl a week or so ago in FOREST AKD Stream 

 abou t a dog s sagacity, reminded me of an incident related bv 

 au old surgeon ot Burlington, Vermont, and which others 

 can \'0uch tor. It will interest any true lover of do<^s Re- 

 turumg home one afternoon this old surgeon saw bv the 

 road a dog suilermg from a fractured fore-leg. He lifted hirn 

 into his buggy, took liim home, .sei the bone, and fedhim He 

 nursed him lor some six moutbs, and the recovery was com- 

 plete, Ihe dog realizing that his "visit" was over, com- 

 placently trotted away one morning and nothing more was 

 seen of him tor nearly two years. Then one morning the 

 doctor heard a scratching on the side door leiidina; to his 

 oflice. He opened it, and beheld Ins old friend waggini his tail 

 with a cur by his side, who presumed a fore-leg broken in 

 almost the same way that the dog's had been. This surtreon 

 was none other than the eminent Dr. Hayes, who died some 

 eight years ago. Dogs always appealed to and delighted 

 ^1™- J. D?B. 



Bay Ridge Juue 15. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



[By a Staff Correspondent.] 

 The American Kennel Club. 



I PEEI, constrained to write a few words about the American 

 Kennel Club, now that it has awakened from its coma. At 

 the outset^ I desire to say that I am not inimical to the 

 A. K. C, Such a club is necessary, I believe there should 

 be a governing body in the dog world. But I feel perfectly 

 free to ofi'er legitimate criticism on shortcomings, errors or 

 abuses. If I am in error, the same monitor which governs 

 the A. K. C. and other public bodies, that is, public opinion 

 and measures, will correct me. I believe it is truer friendli- 

 ness to point out failings with a view to improvement than 

 to be a sycophant or a friend for revenue. Support given 

 for the crumbs which fall under the table is not the best 

 kind of support. Advice given with these same crumbs in 

 mind is not the best kind of advice. 



Many men who are members of the A. K. C. are the best 

 in the land. Some of them, I believe, are my friends. I 

 concede their ability, their integrity and their fitness. But 

 as a club I believe they have been following wrong lines of 

 policy. I do not believe they have appreciai ed the situation 

 of the interests of the dog world or the sentiment of the 

 fanciers. Furthermore, I do not think it was possible for 

 them to do so under the past policy. How' could they know 

 the real situation? The representation by delegates as prac- 

 ticed hitherto cut the officers off from a knowledge of the 

 desires of their constituents outside of their own immediate 

 circle. I have been at A. K. C. meetings enough to know 

 that a very few men did all the talking and were the leaders. 

 Clubs in the far West or South were represented by delegates 

 who sat_ mute in their chairs throughout the meeting. 

 Graven images would have been quite as representative. 

 Theoretically, these delegates represented their clubs. It 

 went on record that they so did. Practically, their clubs 

 were not represented at all. Representation was .simply 

 m such cases a parliamentary fiction. Now, I do 

 not blame the few men for doing all the talking— under the 

 existing conditions some one had to talk and act. However, 

 there is no doubt that a man who accepts the office of dele- 

 gate is doing a wrong when he does not know what his club 

 wauts, or, knowing it, does not act. How can a man who 

 has lived all his life in New York, know what measures, 

 purposes, sentiments, or ideas are best for a club in Mexico? 

 What particular interest can he have in its success? If this 

 man represented one club last meeting, another one next 

 meeting, etc. , and if several men similarly represent several 

 other distant clubs, it is easy to see that the clubs themselves 

 can develop and have wants and aspirations far ahead of the 

 official knowledge of the so called delegates or the A, K, C, 



u J uiccuiug.s, ixh leasL once a year, rtepresentation 



by delegate as practiced in the past has been a mere make- 

 shift, save in a few rare instances. The real legislative force 

 has been practically in the hands of the same individu.als for 

 mouths. It was not their desire, perhaps. The faulty sys- 

 tem forced it on them. No makeshift delegate can under- 

 stand the needs or environment of a club whose personnel he 

 does not know or whose section of country he has never been 

 in. He has not the membership pride in its success or reoret 

 at its failures that a member of the club would have He 

 has nothing to gain or lose. He is indifferent, and his action 

 at the meeting shows it. If instructed as to a certain ques- 

 tion he simply casts a vote. He can't discuss measures of 

 his club because he don't know. There are a thousand de- 

 tails he does not know as a delegate. He cannot know them 

 He does not return to his club to inform them of the inter- 

 esting details which interest the fancier. His club gathers 

 its knowledge from a dry report. It is no wonder that clubs 

 get indifferent and out of touch with each other, 

 _ I do not think any man should attempt to represent a club 

 if he has no personal knowledge of its members, needs and 

 policy. It will be said that a club then might not be repre- 

 sented at all, I believe that it is better not to be represented 

 than to make a hollow, fictitious pretense of representation. 



Dr. Perry's Policy, 



I desire to express my admiration for the soundness of Dr 

 J, Prank Perry's measures in the recent meeting of the A K 

 C, They showed a keen and true perception of the situation" 

 There was no little courage displayed in presenting truths 

 which were apparently not popular. Any one who thouo-ht 

 it wasn't going to be much of a storm did not know the sftu- 

 ation, I firmly believe that Dr. Perry has averted the most 

 serious disaster which ever threatened the A, K C More- 

 over, Dr. Perry knew the true situation. If the A. K C 

 thought that there would be an organization which would 

 waste its energies trying to fight it, it was much mistaken 

 It would have organized with the intention of ignoring- the 

 A. K, C. If the movement had no history, it mightliaave 

 made one. That the movement was the result of one man's 

 eff!orts is too trifling to consider. 



In a private letter to me Dr. Perry suggests that all those 

 discontented have patience till next September, "when thev 

 should pick their best men, state their grievances and help 

 the more liberal delegates from the East to set matters rieht 

 They should, for the time being, withdraw their credentials 

 from Eastern men and give tThem to the members of their 

 club. Let their new delegates be the best men amono- them 

 Let them naeet us fairly and all will be made right. #e have 

 no honors or privileges which we are not ready to share with 

 them under their own ng tree, and they can tell us wherein 

 we are wrong; and they may feel certain that no fault which 

 can be corrected will exist once we appreciate it," 



There is a broadness and kindliness about those few lines 

 which give them more force than all the "Whereases" and 

 "Be-it-resolveds" which could be uttered. There is no East 

 or West in such talk. It is free from all provincial lines It 

 is fairness itself. And withal there is a feeling of good fel- 

 lowship and sincerity in it which puts it beyond question 

 that it will all come true. It is right and just. No man 

 East, West, North or South can object to it. 



There is no question but what Dr. Perry's measures have 

 put in abeyance all action toward forming a new orc^aniza- 

 tiou, and possibly the legi.slation of the A.K.C. in the'f uture 

 may cause such intentions to be entirely abandoned I think 

 the A. K, C, and the dog world were both fortunate in hav- 

 ing Dr. Perry's counsel at the present juncture 



Mr, Belmont's speech at the A, K. C, meeting impressed 

 me forcibly that he was not in touch with public sentiment 

 By public sentiment I do not mean a meetiuc of two or 

 three soreheads or grumblers; there is a difference between 

 chronic grumbUng and a fixed public sentiment and deter- 

 mination, A number of events which have come to the 

 surface this year shows it. Behind all these was a strone 

 sentiment of support, I i-ealize fully that Mr, Belmont has 

 done a great work for the A, K, C, that he tided it over 

 dangerous financial places in its weaker days, and that he 

 has done a great deal to strengthen it in every way. But the 

 canine interests have grown, the territory has grown clubs 

 have grown. What were good lines and legislation in 1890 

 were as compared to 1S93 inefficient, or narrow or irrelevant 

 Mr, Belmont, in his recent A, K, C. speech, said: "In \he 

 case of the National Dog Club, we thought then, and main- 

 tained then, that it would result in a concentration such as 

 I have described, and would be an unfortunate thing Now 

 there is a remedy. For instance, there is the remedy with 

 regard to the constitution. There is the remedy against auv 

 ruling of the advisory committee. There is a remedy against 

 the executive government of the club. There is a remedv 

 for everybody, and the fact that they do not avail themselves 



of it is not the fault of the American Kennel Club. It is the 

 fault of individuals themselves that they do not watch and 

 do not know how to reach the American Kennel Club," etc. 



Those things may be there, but how long does it take to 

 get action? On some simple matters coming before it, how 

 many months has it sometimes taken to settle them? It is 

 too slow. 



Again: The American Kennel Gazette, although not a 

 readable paper, is a record, and when anybody wants to look 

 back for ten or fifteen years, that paper will be more service- 

 able than all the sporting papers put together. Its dry bones 

 are what make it useful. 



I always had a feeling that the Gazette was awfully dry. 

 How it can be more useful than all the sportsmen's papers 

 put together is a conundrum. They contain all the records 

 of value and a great deal of useful matter besides, which is 

 not found in the Gazette. I have often thought that the 

 Gazette could be made of real use in the present and future, 

 and interesting too. One would not have to wait then fif- 

 teen years for it to get value. If the delegates of the dif- 

 ferent clubs throughout the country could have space in it 

 to present and disociss their views on their clubs' needs, their 

 ideaa,on any general legislative measures, the beneficial or 

 injurious effects of any rule or law, the local situation in 

 canine interests which would make some special legislation 

 necessary, etc, there would be a better understanding 

 among clubs; a better and more accurate knowledge of 

 details and of the situation of delegates; a better educated 

 lot of men to attend meetings as delegates, and a better 

 general understanding and good fellowship. If thereto the 

 secretary or other cliib officer who had time would each 

 month write an editorial covering fully pertinent current 

 events, presenting legislative topics for discussion, suggest- 

 ing improvements, expose errors of legislation, advise those 

 who wish to begin, etc., the Gazette would have subscribers 

 who would read it for its usefulness. It is possible that 

 the secretary might not have time to do all that; 

 but look at the departments of any great weekly see 

 the amount of original writing and editing which has to be 

 done by one man, most of which is done on a salary of $15 to 

 •$30 per week, and see how money is there earned, I know it 

 IS said that the A. K. C, office is a hard worked office. I be- 

 lieve there is a deal of work to do there, and probably the 

 secretary can do no more than he does do. I infer so from 

 the statement in the report that if there was an A K C • 

 meeting in Chicago, he could not attend there. We' news- 

 paper men working for a salary go wherever our business 

 calls us— to New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, and we 

 would go to Australia if necessary. When we are paid to 

 do a thing we do it. If Mr, Belmont were to direct one of 

 his employes to do a certain important work in line with his 

 business and said employe should calmly but firmly tell him 

 that he couldn't do it, what would happen? Vacations would 

 be in order. 



There is one matter I wish to object to. That is the state- 

 ment that the West is sectional. The West asks for nothing 

 which IS not conceded to the East. It, so far as I know 

 asks for no special favors. I do not think that there is any 

 sectional issue. I have not heard of any measure advanced 

 because it was Western or Southern. The dog men of the 

 country cannot split on sectional lines. They have enough 

 other matters to interest them, 



I had the pleasure of a pleasant visit at the Grange, the home 

 of Mr E, Bardoe Elliott, at Maywood, 111., on the Chicago 

 and Northwestern Railway, about forty minutes' ride from 

 Chicago, I will confine my remarks to the roomy and com- 

 iortable kennel grounds and buildings which Mr Elliott 

 has m charge, A fence, made of strong wire netting securelv 

 fastened to posts and rails, incloses about three acres In 

 one corner, nearest the house, are the kennels A building 

 is subdivided into compartments, each of which has an ad- 

 joining yard, inclosed by the same kind of wire netting 

 atorementioned. In each yard was a low table made with 

 interstices between the slats of which the top was made 

 The dogs were all contented and looking well. Neatness 

 was a conspicuous feature of the kennel kitchen There waS 

 no offensive smell in any part of the kennel. 



The affairs of the Canicura Co. are in the hands of a receiver 

 owing to the dissatisfaction of a member of the company 

 and not to financial embarrassment. Its business will not be 

 discontinued. 



I met a few days since Mr. George Waddington, of Geneva 

 Iowa, whose name was prominent in field trial matters ten 

 years ago. The years make little impression on his powerful 

 physique. He told me that hereafter he will again pay atten- 

 tion to dog training and will make a specialty of furnishing 

 trained dogs to hunting parties who have none of their owm 



In reading different papers, I notice periodical mention of 

 the ferocity of the psovoi at Denver. Therewith is added the 

 embellishment that Mr Davidson judged them in their stalls 

 they being too fierce to be judged in the ring. It is remark- 

 able that such a silly canard has such marvelous vitality 

 The psovoi were not fierce at Denver, and had they been so 

 ^Ir^Davidson would have judged them in the ling just the 



In a private letter Mr R T, Madison, secretary of the 

 United btates Field Trials Club, informs me that the pros- 

 pects oitiie club s Bicknell Derby are quite favorable, and 

 there will probably be a success of it. There are many im- 

 portant kennels which are yet to be heard from, and which 

 undoubtedly ^vill make large entries. 



Those interested in beagle matters should bear in mind 

 that there will be a meeting of beagle fanciers at the Wis- 

 consin State Building, at the World's Fair grounds 13 M 

 June 14, ' -I 



There appeared in a Western contemporary, in its issne of 

 June 17, a vilely malicious and libelous article. It was 

 mostly a string of assertions, detached from anything mate- 

 rial, yet broadly asserting rascality. Not a single proof of 

 any statement therein was offered, nor was there any claim 

 that such proof existed. It seemed entirely the reckless out- 

 pourings of spite, irresponsibility and resentment. It is said 

 that the matter, since the publication of the libel took a 

 serious turn, and the editor will treat himself this week to a 

 solitary repast of the epicurean dish called crow It is vul- 

 garly called "eating crow," I do not believe a single word of 

 the insinuations in said libel. I have known the libeled 

 party many years, and never knew him other than upright 

 and honest. Such libelous publications are disgraceful and 

 harmful. 



The columns of Forest and Stream are in sharp contrast 

 to the bickerings, quarrels, semi and whole libels, crimina- 

 tions and endless mud slinging which seem to comprise the 

 said contemporary's estimate of the literature needed by the 

 gentlemen sportsmen of the country, and published in its 

 columns. 



The great growth and influence of Forest ah-q Stream 

 constantly growing wider and firmer, prove that a clean 

 journal, fearless and just, is appreciated. It discusses intel- 

 ligently live questions of the day, it is not the organ of any 

 faction, and it is not astride any fence on any issue. 



909 Security Building, Chicago. ^' '^^'•^^^S. 



Mr, E, Gerry Robert.? is getting down to business in good 

 order. His noted beagle bitch Prudence whelped June 21 

 XSod'reSt.''^^^' Ki-ueger.and the c^ross should 



