828 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Deo. 16, 1803. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



\By a Staff Correspondent.1 



Professionalism vs. Sport. 



r THIKK that the reader will grant that when professional- 

 ism invades the realms of sport that the latter suflfers from 

 the eifects of the invasion. The man, or men, who follow 

 the sport for its own sake become steady contributors to 

 those who follow it for the sake of the revenue derived from 

 The lovers of the sport m%y tolerate a reasonable or 

 unreasonable degree of professionalism, but there comes a 

 time when the amateur public has had enough of contribut- 

 ing to the coifers of the professional under the guise of a 

 competition. 



When the amateur is confronted with an array of profes- 

 sionalism at every turn, an array so formidable that there 

 is almost a certainty of his losing in a competition, what, 

 as a sensible man, is he to do? And what does he do? The 

 history of competitions will readily afford the answer. 



At the outset let me state that there is nothing intended 

 in this communication to reflect on the standing or value of 

 professionalism. To professionalism the world is indebted 

 for its best advancement. In the kennel world the profes- 

 sionals have bred the highest class of dogs, and perfected 

 systems of training and conditioning which are of lasting 

 benefit. They, too. have attained a wonderful degree of 

 skill in their specialty. The need of it is conceded. Its 

 value is unquestioned. The only particular under considera- 

 tion is the inability of the amateur to cope with professional- 

 sm and the consequent harm it does to sport. 



Professionalism in Field Trials. 



To those who have noted the development of field trials 

 from the tentative beginnings to the present time, it has been 

 apparent that the drift of the competition has constantly 

 been toward professionalism. 



The beginnmg of field trial competition had a simple and 

 direct object in view, namely, to determine which dogs in a 

 competition were the best. The purely commercial features 

 were few and relatively insignificant. There were then no 

 regularly organized kennels which bred puppies in dozens to 

 supply the public demand. The stitd service of a dog in most 

 instances was a matter of asking. The trainer commanded 

 no large fee on the score of having a successful field trial 

 record. Puppies did not sell for higher prices than horses. 



Through all the intermediate changes which mark the 

 evolution of field trials through their years up to the pres- 

 ent, the professional has grown constantly more skillful and 

 more formidable, and the amateur of to-day is much the 

 same amateur as tho.'^e amateurs of the intervening years 

 from the beginning of field trials. The amateur of to-day, 

 however, has been gradually driven out of competition by 

 overwhelming force and superior skill. He has learned by 

 expensive experience that he can not successfully or credit- 

 ably compete, hence he wisely holds aloof from participation 

 as a contestant. And why should he do otherwise? Why 

 should he match his fondness for sport against the trained 

 professional skill of an expert, who has only an interest 

 measured by the po.ssibility of gain? But the question is 

 hardly necessary in view of the fact that the amateur is not 

 coming in competition with the professional very frequently 

 in 1893. The classes are differentiated. 



The Inducements to Amateurs. 



What are the encouragement and induc'?mentto amateurs? 

 In the first place, he has opposed to him as handlers men 

 who have made a profession of dog training and handling 

 for years; men who have been in dozens of field trials and 

 know how to take advantage of every circumstance, and 

 who know what to avoid; in short, how to make the best of 

 everything. These men are thoroughly conversant in the 

 matter of rules and field trial requirements. They know to 

 a nicety what quality of dog to select for a field trial compe- 

 tition. Many of them have a large kennel from which to 

 select their dogs. 



It needs no argument to establish that a man who has 100 

 well bred dogs to select from can produce a better lot than 

 the man who has but two. The man who has the 100 can 

 enter five or six or ten picked dogs in a field trial where the 

 other man can enter but one or two at the most, and Avith a 

 probability that they are inferior. With five to one or ten to 

 one chances against him, how much less, then, is his chance 

 of winning? With the success of the five or six or ten entries 

 of the big kennel come a good win of prize money and a 

 ready sale at remunerative prices of the remainder of the 

 100 puppies on the score of relationship to the ones which 

 won. The amateur is so far surpassed in skill and material 

 that there is not even a forlorn hope left to him The purely 

 business phase of field trials, tltat is, to win purses which, 

 being quite large, are worthy of keen effort to capture; to 

 make reputations for dogs with a view solely to fees for stud 

 services or sales of puppies, and to win a wider reputation 

 and prestige which go to make up that invaluable feature o£ 

 a business called the good will — all these are well known to 

 the field trial supporters. 



No field trial club, whose environment is such thatitmtist 

 draw its chief support from amatetir.?, can survive if it 

 throws open its trials to the competition of the world, if it 



uts up sufficient money to tempt the professional At this 



ay, there is no place in any game section of the United 

 States but what a professional will go to if a field-trial event 

 is inaugurated and money enough offered in prizes. This is 

 partictilarly true if the competition is largely amateur. 



For Instance. 



I have in mind a club which this year held a field trial. 

 There was a good deal of enthusiasm in its membership. It 

 offered good cash prizes, enough to make them attractive. 

 A professional took a string of dogs to those trials, and won 

 all in two stakes except a trifling division in third. He made 

 a trip of 1,800 miles, more or less, as near as I can estimate 

 the distance. He won the prizes all right. He had a perfect 

 right to compete. There is no question whatever in that re- 

 spect. But from the point of the amateur, what is the re- 

 sult? That club will probably never hold another trial. 

 Some of the members expressed admiration for a man who 

 would go so far to win their money. Others said that they 

 were willing the money should go, in return for the knowl- 

 edge of what constitutes a good dog. 



But they have now the knowledge. They have a stock of 

 admiration. They have a knowledge that there is no chance 

 to win against tbe professional, and that knowledge keeps 

 them in future out of the trials, and wisely so. If that club 

 holds another trial, and that or a similar win is repeated— as 

 it probably will be— the fate of that club is a certainty. 



The Philadelphia Kennel Club threw its competition open 

 to the world last year. What was the result? From having 

 been a gathering which was the embodiment of goodfelloM'^- 

 ship and friendly competition, it as.9umed all the stern 

 earnestness of a competition on one line, a competition 

 straight to the money without any embellishment or senti- 

 ment. There were the usual unpleasant features and un- 

 pleasant responsibilities fnisted on the men who followed it 

 for the love it; by the men who followed it as a business. 

 That ended the open-to-the world feature. This year it re- 

 turned to the previous conditions, i. c, a restriction to mem- 

 bership. It was a wise move. Though urged to again re- 

 open its competition to the world by aiSpareatlvdisinceresced 

 field trial supporters, the club had the flrm"ne-s and good 

 sense to refuse. There is no very good reason why it should 

 devote its energies and its revenues to something in which it 

 is not particularly interested. 



Several cluba which had arranged to hold field trials this 



year withdrew from the venture. Nearly every one of them 

 had some sjjecial reason for withdrawing. Undoubtedly the 

 hard financial year, had some effect in producing such re- 

 sults. 



The Distinction. 



While professionalism has grown steadily and has been 

 energetically encouraged, the amateur has received very 

 little attention. Once in a while an amateur stake has been 

 arranged, which, being run with a large element of specta- 

 tors who were professionals, was largely an event for 

 amu.sement or derision. 



The solution of the problem is the holding of trials similar 

 to that of the Philadelphia Kennel Club. The members own 

 their dogs and in the competition handle them themselves 

 or engage professionals to handle them. 



The great trials of the United States, the Eastern field 

 trials, the United States and the Southern trials, are almost 

 exclusively supported by professionals or semi-professionals. 

 They afl'ord every opportunity for a professional com- 

 petition. 



For a new club of amateur membership and support, to 

 frame its existence and policy on the same lines as the great 

 clubs aforementioned, is to court failtire. Each club in its 

 policy must be governed by its support and its environment. 



Clubs can be organized and their competitions arranged 

 for limited prizes. It is a great mistake to attempt to offer 

 prizes which will equal those of the great clubs which are 

 better known, which have the prestige which comes from 

 years of success and good name, and which have trained 

 and skillful managers. 



There is one thing certain. The man who owns one dog 

 and in whose nature there is a fondness for the sport in a 

 pure form, is worth considering and encouraging. When 

 the competition is reduced to the great kennels alone field 

 trials are in their decadence. In the competition between 

 the great kennels some one or two kennels are sure in the 

 end to defeat the other.s, and the great kennels alone can not 

 maintain field trials, interest the public at large or meet the 

 true demand of field trial competition. After all is .^aid and 

 done it is tbe man who owns one dog or two for the love of 

 them and of field sports who is the fottndation of the super- 

 strttcture. He should be properly recognized, first because 

 he is engaged from a love of sport, second because withotit 

 him there is sure to be a cramp or a break, and third because 

 the whole interest would be better with him as a member 

 and supporter. 



Dr. R. H. Tullis, of Columbiana, Ohio, writes me that the 

 shooting in his section is poor this year. He is fortunate in 

 owning a .sister to Strideaway, the pointer which made 

 such a phenomenal competition in the U S. trials at 

 Bicknell. 



Manitoba Shot. 



The follovving, in a letter from Mr. Thomas Johnson, of 

 Winnipeg, followed me around a part of the field trial cir- 

 cuit, hence was received too late for last week's issue. It 

 recounts the loss of a valuable dog, a dog great in the quali- 

 ties which make a companion and a worker. Under date of 

 Nov. 27 Mr. Johnson writes: 



"You will sympathize with me I know when I tell you 

 that Manitoba Shot died a week ago to-day. In Shot I had 

 the mosit pleasant shooting coiupauion I ever owned in dogs 

 and I hardly ever hope to have his equal for ottr prairies. 

 He was dift'ereut in disposition from any other dog I ever 

 owned. He had any amount of courage.,"yet fxoiu the first 

 time be went afield, if he through accident or down wind 

 made a flush, even if he was a half mile away from me, he 

 would feel so mean that you had to give him a friendly slap 

 and a word of encouragement before he wotild again go with 

 his peculiar style and dash. 



"I have seen him scores of times this fall turn around on 

 his point to see how far I was away, and if I was a long dis- 

 tance, he would drop until I got near him, when he would 

 rise to his point again. I feel his loss very keenly, so mtich 

 so that 1 shaU probably not take any part" in field trials this 

 year. 



"I have returned Mr. Lonsdale's dogs to England, but my 

 own are still at Chatham. Our mutual friend Mr. Wells 

 will likely keep them until the end of the shooting season 

 there." 



I do heartily sympathize with Mr. Johnson in the loss of 

 so great and valuable a dog. He was that great combination 

 in the best sen.se, a great lield-trial competitor and a gi-eat 

 field dog, terms which are now commonly believed to be 

 contradictions. The same good sense, industry and pleasure 

 in working to the gun, were traits, if 1 remember correctly, 

 which were pos.sessed by the whole litter of which he was 

 one. 



I well remember Shot's first field trial competition last 

 year at Morris, Man. When he was placed in the Derby 

 there was a wail long, loud and harsh from some present 

 who had an interest in setters. The following day Shot ran 

 in the All-Age Stake, and there was a full attendance of spec- 

 tators to see what was to be seen. They saw Shot go with a 

 dash, an intelligence and a skillful beating out of the 

 grotmds which either silenced completely his detractors or 

 excited their admiration. On birds he made that day some 

 brilliant performances. He was nearly a model of what 

 breeders should strive for in field performance, good sense, 

 endurance, industry and good temper. 



Mr. John Davidson, in a letter of recent date says: "My 

 loueliue.ss was relieved by a little accident lately, just byway 

 of variety, I suppo.se. A runaway team, dragg'ing the front 

 wheels of a lumber wagon, dashed into my buggy, starting 

 me on an exctirsion toward the moon and reducing part of 

 the buggy into kindling wood. The bystanders stated that 

 I came down with such force as would have killed anything 

 but a mule or a Scotchman, and I am not prepared to dispute 

 them. I was badly bruised, but was feeling recovered in 

 about 20 minute.s. No bones are broken, and the soreness and 

 stiffness ai-e gradually disappearing." 



There was but little difference between that accident and 

 meeting a disappointed exhibitor. I am glad it was no worse. 



B. Watees, 



900 Security Bctldinq, Chicago. 



Akron Show. 



It .seems as if the Akron Poultry and Kennel Club is mak- 

 ing every effort to get up a nice show in this busling Ohio 

 town. Mr. Peck, the secretary, writes us that everything is 

 looking bi'ight, and they have secured a fine hall that will 

 be lighted with 100 electric lights, and will be well heated. 

 It is located in the center of the business part of the city, and 

 street cars run past the door every five minutes. In addition 

 to cash specials that are in the premium list, SIO cash is 

 oft'ered for the best kennel of four American foxhounds, and 

 S.5 cash for best kennel of fotir beagles. The committee is 

 still at work on specials, and hope to secure more cash; all 

 arrangements have been niado to take care of the dogs that 

 come from the Chicago show. 



We received the premium list too late to be of much bene- 

 fit except to those of our readers who receive Forest and 

 STEEA.M on Wednesdays. The show will be held Dec. 19 to 

 23. The classilication is very liberal, there being 148 classes, 

 but as the prizes are on the percentage plan, 60 and 30 per 

 cent, of the entry fees, the club has no direct interest iu the 

 matter as no club money is at stake. No doubt several of 

 the Chicago entries vnll take the show in on the way home 

 and wins will count. The entry fee is SI and enti-ies close 

 Dec. 13. 



Irish and Gordon Setter Field Trials. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In their remarks on the unsatisfactory re.sults of the vari- 

 ous field trials just finished, in the way of entries and attend- 

 ance, it seems to me that the papers have ignored the mo.st 

 potent influence of all, viz., the last summer's silver panic 

 and subsequent "hard times." Considering the fact that 

 most of us have had grim business necessities to attend tOj 

 and but little heart of time for the indulgence of our hobbies; 

 it is a matter for congratulation that we have done as well 

 as we have. 



As regards the Irish setter field trials, when we reflect that 

 the Central, Ohio, and New England field trial clubs gave 

 up entirely this year, and look at the sparse entries of the 

 Philadelphia and other strong clubs, it don't seem to me that 

 six Irish Derby and eleven All-Age entries show up so badly. 

 It must be remembered, that there are at least five broken 

 English setters and pointers (combined) to every field trained 

 Irish setter, and that it is much easier to get ten very good 

 performers from fifty entries than two such from an entry of 

 ten. Lovers of English setters and pointers have had twenty 

 years of field trials to train up to and comp-jte in. Long be- 

 fore that time we Irish setter men will have the satisfaction 

 of seeing otir favorites compete successfully in open trials. 

 Business ought to improve before another year rolls around, 

 and next autumn see a better state of affairs. So let us hope 

 that Dr. Davis will look at matters in this light and continue 

 his efficient and almost indispensable services as secretaryof 

 our Irish Setter Club, for it was not iuflift'erence that made 

 him the only member that attended the late field trials at 

 Thomasville, N. C. 



I may be allowed to remark here that I sent my red bitch 

 Nugget II. to the trainer in North Carolina as soon as I be- 

 came her owner, last October, and ran her in the trials, 

 although she had then been only a short month in trainer's 

 hands, and was suffering from an absce.ss on her neck, which 

 has been lanced. Perhaps that caused her to get only second 

 iu the Derby, as she had shown, previously, great speed and 

 good powers for such a green pup, and, afterward, hearing 

 that there were likely to be so few entries in the All-Age 

 Stakes, I sent my red bitch Lady Alice, which divided third 

 last year with Currer Bell, to a North Carolina trainer, 

 although she hadn't .seen a bird since then and was very fat. 

 As she had only two weeks' preparation .she wasn't placed 

 this year. 



Doubtless others acted from like motives, endeavoring to 

 help the Irish setter field trials. If the owners of the large 

 Irish kennels, which now contain the best bench show win- 

 ners, Mr. Fowler and Dr. Sauveur, would also enter their 

 dogs, the field trial entries would foot up a goodly number. 

 Let us hope that they will next season. 



So with the Gordon setter field trials at Fremont, Mass 

 on Nov. 20 last, which seem to have been the result of labors 

 of Eastern owners of Gordons who probably disliked to have 

 the season pass without an effort to do something. And so 

 they formed a Gordon Setter F^eld Trial Club. " But they 

 started too late, and didn't announce their intention until 

 October. A month is not enough time to prepare in; train- 

 ers and handlers are hard to get, especially in the Noith and 

 East, and the result was that the entries 'had to come alto- 

 gether from kennels near the placeof trial. Allusion has 

 been made in some of the papers to the fact that the well- 

 known Gordon kennels of Dr. Di.Kon and Mr. Blossom were 

 not represented. 



I can't speak for the doctor, but I know that I was not in- 

 dift'erent. Gordons are my favorites, even over Irish setters. 

 It was not possible to run my own dogs; and, after vain en- 

 deavors to get a handler, I had to give up making any 

 entries. ^ The two which I intended to enter were as fat as 

 a miller's hogs, ;iiid hadn't seen a bird since last year. As it 

 was. so short was the notice, some of the dogs mi\di_- ;l poorer 

 showing because ini.ndled bv siraLigors or an} cue tiiat could 

 be gotten. Pets, taken from their owners' "lireside almost, 

 are not ready for a creditable appearance in the field, espe- 

 cially if that field be bai-e of birds. 



Let all credit be given to those that took so much trouble 

 in the cause of the Gordon setter; but let us hope that ample 

 notice will be given next time. Doubtless tho.se present at 

 the field trials had "a good time; but so many excuses have 

 been made heretofore for the comparatively poor showing by 

 Gordons that I think we, their owners and" advocates, .should 

 endeavor to .start them for public competition, with such 

 training and other timely preparation as shall give them a 

 chance for creditable performances as other breeds have had. 



Gordon setters are probably only half as numerous as the 

 Irish, and while many are used for private shooting, very 

 few are prepared for public competition. 



Cannot we Gordon owners join our forces, and instead of 

 desultoi-y and divided efforts, endeavor to get together in 

 time for field trials next year that shall be properly prepared 

 for and at timely notice? 



If anything which I have said shall encourage owners of 

 Irish and Gordon setters, or be the means of getting theni 

 together for united efforts for next year's trials,! will be very 

 glad. James .13. Blossom 



A Member of Irish and Gordon Setter Clubs. 



New Toss. Cms, Dec 9. 



Death of Rioter. 



Editor Foreit and Stream: 



I write to inform you and your readers of the death of that 

 well-known dachshund, champion "Windrush Rioter. This 

 great dog was found dead in his kennel this P. M., evidently 

 having died from a fit, though I never knew him to have one 

 before. Champion Windrush Rioter has met every dachs- 

 hund dog (except champion Jackdaw) of late, ancl to his 

 honor, it may be said, his li.st includes nothing but firsts. 



Champion Windrush Rioter was whelped Nov. 29, 1887., 

 and bred by Mr. J. G. Ravenor. Mr. F. F. Dole imported 

 this dog for me in the spring of '91. He was probably the 

 best known dachshund in America, he and champion Janet 

 having always been kennel mates and shown together. He 

 was sired by champion Maximus out of Polecat. His wins 

 are as follows: In England, fir.st open Birmingham 1889;' 

 first open Liverpool, Gloucester, Southnmpt(jn and Stock- 

 bridge 1890; in Canada, first Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto 

 1891; in this country, first Dan bury, Gloversville 1891; first 

 Albany 1892; first challenge Chicago, Jackson, New York, 

 Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburg and Brooklyn 1892; 

 first challenge New York, 1893; specials at every .show where 

 they were given. These are the only times shown. We feel 

 his loss keenly, as he was a pet as well as a show dog. 



Edward A. Makice. 



Dec. 4. 



Southern California Field Trials Abandoned. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have been a.sked to notify you that the trials that were 

 to have been held here on the 4th have been abandoned and 

 am exceedingly sorry to have to write it, as I had hoped 

 there would be a good meeting. There are plenty of birds 

 on the grounds, and in fact the shooting during the past 

 week has been better than at any time since the season 

 opened. There was, however, a lack of interest evinced 

 lately by the very men who should have taken the keenest 

 interest in the trials. 



The eut ry , \vhieh was none too larse, suffered by the deat h of 

 C. J. Miller, who would havehad five starters, and were with- 

 drawn alter paying the second forfeit. Again, the changing 

 of dates had an unwholesome ett'ect. Had they held to the 

 first date chosea they would at least have received thecred.it 

 of being firm in their decisions. 



