FOREST AND STREAM. 
101 
The American Spaniel Club. 
A meeting of the executive committee of the American 
Spaniel Club was held at the residence of Dr. S. J. Brad- 
bury, treasurer, on the 21st inst. Present — Messrs. E. M. 
Oldham, R. P. Keasbey, James "Watson, S. J. Bradbury 
and Marcel A. Viti. Mr. Oldham in the chair. The 
minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. 
The secretary reported that the club's sweepstakes had 
closed as follows: Of twenty-one dogs nominated twelve 
had filled, making a total of $78 received for entries. The 
Westminster Kennel Club and the Spaniel Club have each 
added $25, making a grand total of $128, to be allotted as 
follows: 40 percent, to the first, 30 percent, to the second, 
20 per cent, to the third, and 10 per cent, to tbe fourth. 
For the novice sweepstakes thirteen entries had been re- 
ceived, which, with 50 per cent, added by the American 
Spaniel Club, made a total of $39 to be competed for. 
Messrs. R. P. Keasbey and James Watson were appointed 
a committee to audit the treasurer's books. 
The secretary read a letter from Miss Anabel Green 
offering two challenge cups, as follows: (1) The Sunning 
Hill Brace Challenge Cup, for the best brace of American 
bred black field spaniel puppies, to be won five times be- 
fore becoming the property of any one member. (2) 
The Sunning Hill Challenge Cup for the best Irish water 
spaniel, to be won five times. It was resolved that the 
cups be accepted and the thanks of the club extended to 
Miss Green for her generous donation. It was resolved 
that the following cups be offered at the Boston Show : 
The American Field Cup, the Sunning Brace Cup, the 
Bell Paintings and the Sunning Hill Irish Water Spaniel 
Cup. 
It was resolved that the following cups be offered at 
Detroit, provided that the club's classification No. 1 was 
adopted and a judge be engaged: The A. S. C. Cocker 
Cup, Bell Cup and the Saybrook Trophy. 
It was moved that the club's delegate to the American 
Kennel Club use his . own discretion in voting on the 
cropping question. 
The M. K. C. Premium List. 
The premium list of the Mascoutah Kennel Club can be 
obtained on application. The club's address is 1102 Mo- 
nadnock Building, Chicago. 
The entry fee is $3. Entries close on Feb. 24. The 
specialty clubs' trophies and prizes are numerous and 
valuable. The club offers kennel prizes of $20, $15 and 
$10. In some challenge classes tUe prizes are $15, in 
others $10. Open classes vary from $15, $10, $5 and $3, 
and $10, $5 and $3, to $10 and $5. In such breeds as have 
puppy and novice classes the prizes are: Puppies $5 and 
$3. Novice classes $10, $5 and $3, and $10 and $5. The 
special prize list is a long one and will be augmented still 
more, as there are specialty clubs yet to hear from and 
many more private specials expected, all of which will 
be announced later. 
Spratts Patent will bench and feed, and that skillful 
expert, Mr. E. M. Oldham, is engaged to superintend. 
The management desires photographs from exhibitors for 
use in press notices. To appreciate the full value of the 
premium list send in your address to the club and have 
one mailed to you. The list of judges is as follows: 
Mastiffs, St. Bernards, pointers, spaniels, collies, poodles, 
bulldogs, bull-terriers, fox-terriers and Irish terriers, Mr. 
Chas. H. Mason, New York. 
Newfoundlands, Russian wolfhounds, deerhounds, grey- 
hounds, foxhounds, English, Irish and Gordon setters, 
Chesapeake Bay dogs, old English sheep dogs, Dalmatians, 
Scotch terriers, whippets, Bedlington, Dandie Dinmonts 
and Skye terriers, schipperkes and miscellaneous, Mr. 
John Davis, Monroe, Mich. 
Great Danes and dachshunds, Mr. G. Muss-Arnolt, 
Tuckahoe, N. Y. 
Bloodhounds, Boston terriers, beagles, black and tan, 
Yorkshire and toy terriers, pugs, King Charles, Blenheim, 
Prince Charles and ruby and Japanese spaniels, and Ital- 
ian greyhounds, Mr. H. W. Lacy, Boston, Mass. 
Parturition and Care of Puppies. 
Parkersbubg, W. Va.— Editor Forest and Stream: My 
pointer bitch Floss died in labor. She was due to whelp 
on Jan. 11. On the morning of the 13th she had one fine 
dog puppy. On the 14th one more; then I called a veter- 
inarian, and he treated her during the day without any 
good results. In the evening he operated on her. At 
midnight she was so much worse and seemed in so much 
agony we thought best to give her chloroform. 
She was in good condition and had the best of care; was 
very heavy with litter. The first puppy removed by the 
surgeon was tail first. The water had run off and left it 
dry and hard. I am trying to raise the dog puppy on a 
bottle, and have some hopes of doing so. He is now 6 
days old and doing well. 
I thought possible some of your contributors may have 
had experience in this line and could give some infor- 
mation that would be of help in raising my puppy and 
also give some information as how to proceed with a 
bitch during pregnancy and labor, and inform me as to 
the cause of the trouble. Is it a common thing to have 
such trouble? I never knew one to die or have such dif- 
ficulty. 
I feed the puppy milk, one spoon lime water to six of 
milk, in a bottle with common nipple, and he feeds and 
sleeps and is really no trouble. He seems to be doing 
well. This may bring out some valuable correspondence 
on the subject. C. L. Slayton. 
W. K. C. Show. 
Mb. James Mortimer, superintendent of the New York 
show, desires that attention be called to the fact that 
entries positively close on Feb. 4. The following addi- 
tional specials are offered: 
The Boston Terrier Club offers the following special 
prizes: The club's breeders' trophy, value $100, for the best 
dog or bitch bred by the exhibitor; the club's challenge 
trophy, value $100, for the best dog or bitch owned by 
the exhibitor six months prior to the close of entries ; 
entries to be made with the secretary of the Boston Ter- 
rier Club on or before Feb. 4, accompanied by an entry 
fee of $3. The owner of the best dog to receive 50 per 
cent, of the stake, the second best 30 per cent, and the 
third best 20 per cent. 
The winners of the trophies will receive a silver meda 
in commemoration of the award. 
Each trophy must be won five times before becoming 
the absolute property of the winner. Trophies to be com- 
peted for annually at the Westminster Kennel Club and 
the New England Kennel Club shows. 
The American Scottish Terrier Club offers two silver 
challenge cups, one for the best American-bred dog 
puppy, and one for the best American-bred bitch puppy. 
Dwight Baldwin, Esq., offers a silver bowl, value $50, to 
be known as the Boston Terrier Puppy Bowl, open to club 
members only, for tbe best Boston terrier between the 
ages of 6 and 16 months registered in the A. K. C. Stud 
Book. To be won five times. 
George N. Phelps, Esq., offers a silver vase, value $50, 
for the best Boston terrier brood bitch shown with two or 
more of her produce, which must be entered in their reg- 
ular classes, but need not be the property of the same 
exhibitor. To be won five times. Donor not to com- 
pete. 
Kindly note that the special prize offered by Dr. C. A. 
Lougest for the best bloodhound sired by Alchymist, Bel- 
hus, Berry's Bradshaw, applies to dogs born after 1893. 
The Westminster Kennel Club will give a special prize 
of $30 for the best exhibit of four spaniels over 281bs., en- 
tered and owned-i>y one exhibitor, and the special already 
announced in the premium list shall be for the best ex- 
hibit of four cocker spaniels, entered and owned by one 
exhibitor. 
Class 106, for spaniel puppies under 12 months, is for any 
variety except toy spaniels. 
The Westminster Kennel Club will also give a special 
prize of $30 for the best exhibit of four Boston terriers, 
entered and owned by one exhibitor. 
Class 238, ruby spaniels, will be divided by sex. 
U. S. F. T. C. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
For the benefit of sportsmen attending the fisCd) trials! 
of the United States Field Trial Club at WestPotiat, Missw 
commencing on Feb. 3 next, and the Championship 
Field Trial, commencing on Feb. 10 at the same point, 
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, running from St. liowis to 
Mobile, Ala., and on whose line the town of Wesfe Point 
is situated, have generously made a low rate as follows: 
At all junction points on their line and also all important 
towns, a one-fare round-trip ticket will be sold on Feb. 
1, 2 and 3, good returning till Feb. 29; and to those sports- 
men who can only attend the Championship trial, a one- 
fare round-trip ticket will be sold on Feb. 8, 9, and 10, 
good returning till Feb. 29; and also for the benefit Of 
those sportsmen attending the trials who desire to se- 
cure some of the very fine quail sbooting along the line of 
the Mobile & Ohio Railway, a round-trip ticket will be 
sold from West Point, Miss., to points within fifty miles 
of that place, good for twenty days. Such tickets will 
be sold only to persons holding return parts of tickets 
reading to West Point. Dogs are to be carried free in 
baggage cars. The prospects are that this will be the 
most successful trial the Club has ever held. The quality 
of the dogs entered in the several stakes is of the highest 
order. Quail are plentiful and the country open, so that 
ample opportunity is offered to see the dogs in their work. 
The Holt House will be headquarters, a reduced rate 
being given to sportsmen. Good saddle horses will be 
obtainable. W. B. Stafford, Sec'y-Treas. 
Metropolitan Kennel Club. 
The executive committee of the Metropolitan Kennel 
Club held a meeting at Rockwell's, New York, on Jan. 23. 
Present: Messrs. H. T. Foote, A. L. Lankota, A. C. Wil- 
merding, G. W. H. Ritchie and E. M. Oldham. Dr. H. T., 
Foote, president, in the chair. 
After the minutes of the last meeting had been read 1 
and approved, it was resolved that the president, Dr. H., 
T. Foote, and the secretaiy, Mr. E. M. Oldham, compose* 
a committee to select suitable rooms adjacent to Madison 
Square Garden for the accommodation of the club and its 
friends during the dog show week and to arrange for such 
entertainment as they may deem necessary. 
It was resolved that the club should at once make ap- 
plication to the American Kennel Club for membership. 
Mr. J. H, Mathews was unanimously elected vice-presi- 
dent of the club. 
The annual meeting will be held on Wednesday even- 
ing, Feb. 19, at Madison Square Garden. 
Feb. 1, 1896. 
science and judgment may dictate, be it either for or 
against the measure in question, or as for that, any other 
measure at any other time; for otherwise the very founda- 
tion of justice and the protection, sacred to us all, which 
we, the public, feel we have in the American Kennel 
Club would be undermined, and sooner or later the entire 
structure would surely fall, and the protection now pos- 
sessed by us swept away. Hermann F. Schellhass. 
Specialty Clubs. 
Perhaps of all the clubs the most recent and most criti- 
cised are those which are known as specialist dog clubs. 
To the general public, who may be unacquainted with 
such bodies, it may be well to state that these are clubs 
formed by individuals, sometimes even by a single indi- 
vidual, to look after any special variety or breed of the 
dog. This "looking after" is, unfortunately, in many 
cases, almost entirely confined to the supervision of per- 
sonal interests ; the club, or whoever runs it, taking care 
that not the dogs of the general public are benefited 
thereby, but his own dogs or those which belong to its 
members. Sometimes scales of points and descriptions of 
the animals are produced, the model from which they are 
taken being such as may be in the possession of the club, 
and not, as a rule, bearing the type and general character 
which the British public consider to be the correct arti- 
cle. The next thing is the appointment of judges. Now, 
with certain isolated exceptions, a specialist dog club will 
not employ a judge who is not one of its own members. 
It does not matter whether he can tell a good dog from a 
bad one or not ; his knowledge is a secondary considera- 
tion, his payment of subscription the primary one. 
These clubs will on no account accept, in the usual 
fashion, any individual's knowledge unless he joins their 
ranks. And he may join them for a year or two, gain- 
ing experience during the time ; then he resigns, and 
heigh presto 1 all becomes changed ; he is struck off the 
list of judges, and in future is not considered knowledg- 
able enough to make the awards at any show. These are 
ordinary dog club methods ; and thus reasons are not far 
to seek why such bodies have become unpopular, and are 
in a manner more injurious than useful. In writing in 
this strain, we are aware that some few clubs are not 
carried out on such terribly conservative,and greedy lines, 
but there is no gainsaying the fact that many of them 
are. Why should half a dozen individuals, Tooley street 
tailor like, band themselves together and tell the whole 
world that they alone know anything at all about a cer- 
tain variety of dog? and act accordingly. Unfortu- 
nately this state of things has been carried on until it may 
be said to have become chronic, and thus difficult to 
eradicate or to cure. Some of the less independent dog 
show managers look to these clubs to provide them 
judges and to increase their prize money ; others, better 
conducted, will have as little to do with clubs as possible. 
Their dictation is annoying, and, as we have said, is 
more for the gratification of private ends than for the 
good of the public or of the canine race. Something 
ought to be done by the Kennel Club to put a check upon 
their proceedings, and we are not without hopes that 
action may be taken in the matter, especially as the presi- 
dent, Mr. S. E. Shirley, quite recently expressed himself 
very strongly on the matter, taking pretty much the 
same opinions so repeatedly expressed in the columns of 
the Field. 
There is no doubt that some of the earlier dog clubs had 
considerable influence in leading the fashion in the way 
of popularizing certain varieties of the canine race, but 
without exception such were conducted on more liberal 
lines than is the case with those of later establishment 
The Fox-Terrier Club, the Bulldog Club, the St. Bernard 
Club, the Dachshund Club and the Irish Terrier Club may 
be mentioned as among the most successful bodies of 
their class. By their means the varieties they have dealt 
with have become popular, but whether individual spe- 
. cimens are better now than was the case, say a dozen 
years ago, is a matter of opinion. Then, as it were on the 
other side, instances can be adduced where valuable 
breeds of dogs have actually degenerated under club 
influence ; and, again, other varieties have progressed 
without club influence at all. Of the latter, bloodhounds 
and flat-coated retrievers are excellent examples ; of the 
former, the case of the noble mastiff is particularly ap- 
parent. We are fully aware of the difficulty there may 
be in dealing with these specialist dog clubs, but it is a 
subject which the Kennel Club ought not to avoid. In 
many cases the presiding body over our canine affairs has 
set itself against the dictatorial system as to the appoint- 
ment of judges, and we think the time has now arrived 
when it and others may go further, and refuse to accept 
cups and other donations unless such are for open compe- 
tition, and not confined to certain members. Exceptions 
could, of course, be made in the case of valuable chal- 
lenge cups— but the ordinary prizes ought to be open to 
all. Until this is done there is no likelihood of stopping 
this dictatorial policy, which it was generally thought 
reached a climax at the late Crystal Palace show, when 
a certain unimportant body seriously asked if their classes 
might be judged over again by a person of their own 
appointment, and this, too, when the original judge was 
considered to be one of the first authorities on this special 
variety in the land. 
We are writing solely in the interests of the dog and of 
dog shows, and in the belief that unless something is 
speedily done with regard to the matter we have alluded 
to, our usual canine exhibitions will cease to exist, and in 
their place specialist gatherings run in the interests of 
clubs or cliques will become the order of the day. Allu- 
sion has not been made to the various petty quarrels and 
asperities which are continually arising among certain 
of these clubs; that they are constantly taking place the 
columns of papers which are devoted to matters concern- 
ing dog shows plainly indicate, and such personalities as 
result therefrom are, to say the least, exceedingly mis- 
chievous, and by no means likely to improve either the 
appearance or intelligence of the canine race. — The Field 
{England). 
There will be a meeting of the executive of the Canadian 
Kennel Club at the Queen's Hotel, Toronto, on Feb. 14, at 
8 P. M. The business to be considered, besides matters of 
routine, is: Boyle vs. Trebilcock; field trial rules; incor- 
poration; revision of constitution and by-laws; to receive 
and count ballots re cropping; and reception of new 
members. 
Gordon Setter Club. 
New York, Jan. 25.— Editor Forest and Stream: In 
addition to the $320 cash prizes (same as to other setters) 
offered by the Westminster Kennel Club to Gordons at 
the coming New York show, the Gordon Setter Club offers 
$40 in cash prizes to dogs and bitches in open classes, be- 
longing to members whose dues are paid up before close 
of entries on Feb. 4 next; also the American Field silver 
vase (cost over $100). 
The annual meeting of the Gordon Setter Club of 
America will be held at Madison Square Garden on 
Thursday evening (the second night of the show), Feb. 
20, at 7:30 o'clock, for the election of officers and the 
transaction of such other business as may then come up. 
Members are requested to send in their annual dues ($5) 
and the names of those to be proposed for membership to 
L. A. VanZandt, secretary-treasurer, 938 Prospect avenue 
New York city, 
Irish Setter Club Meeting. 
New York, Jan. 24. — A meeting of the executive com- 
mittee of the Irish Setter Club of America was held on 
Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 54 Stone street, New York. 
Present: James B, Blossom, B. L. Clements and G. H 
Thomson, and by proxy, Dr. G. G. Davis, W. L. Wash- 
ington, F. L. Cheyney and Ray Tompkins. 
George H. Thomson was elected delegate to the A. K. C. 
It was decided to offer the following specials at the w" 
K. C. show in February, 1896: $5 for the best dog, $5 for 
the best bitch, $5 for the second best dog and $5 for the 
second best bitch; to be competed for in open class by 
members of the club whose dues are paid by the time of 
closing of entries, Feb. 4, 1896; and $5 for the Irish setter 
having the best field trial record made in 1895. 
It was also decided to hold the annual meeting at 
Madison Square Garden on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 1 P. M. 
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.. 
Geo. H. Thomson, Sec'y I. S. C. 
