Feb. 8, 1896. 
FORESt ANt) STREAM. 
OUR FIRST DOG. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
We were two little boys, living on a new farm in the 
woods. "We wanted a dog. Of course we did. There 
was never a live boy that did not want a dog, but mother 
did not want a dog, and the more she did not want him 
the more we did want him. 
After five years of asking and being refused by mother, 
there came a litter of puppies to one of our intimate 
friends and neighbors, and we were offered one of them. 
Then we laid siege to mother and plead the cause to such 
effect that she consented, and no doubt we love her better 
for it to this day. 
The puppy's mother was a smooth-haired Black and Tan 
terrier and his father a long-legged "yaller dog." The 
pup was colored after his mother, but shaped like the 
father, and as we bore him home in triumph one bright 
Sunday morning we agreed that he was the handsomest 
pup and was bound to make the smartest dog in the 
world. 
The pup was consigned to a box in the kitchen and we 
went to church, but our thoughts that day ran more on 
the pup than on the church services. 
When we returned from church one of the neighbors 
was waiting for us, a man whom we had always feared 
and hated on account of his evil countenance and bully- 
ing ways. He said he had the promise of that pup, had 
come for him and was going to have him. There ensued 
a war of words, which ended by the fellow going away 
full of threats against us and swearing he would kill the 
pup rather than let us keep him. Next morning the pup 
was christened Watch arid given the liberty of the prem- 
ises. Ten minutes afterward the sounds of a great com- 
motion were heard in the barn lot. The mothers of a 
half dozen broods of young chickens had combined to 
defend their chicks from the pup, whom they took for 
some strange varmint. When we got there we ran six 
old hens in a heap, squalling, pecking, spurring and flop- 
ping, while from the midst of the mass came puppy yells 
of agony and terror. Scores of little chickens were 
"cheeping" and running everywhere, and several lay 
where they had been trampled to death in the battle. 
After the affair was over mother said she would not be 
troubled that way, and Thomas should come and get the 
pup. Then, for the first time in our lives, we rose in open 
rebellion and said that Thomas should not have the pup. 
We even went so far as. to declare that we would kill 
Thomas before we would give up the pup. Then we 
plead for the pup and laid the whole blame on the old 
hens until our tears were too much for mother, and we 
carried our point. 
A few days later an uproar broke forth in the hog lot, 
where we found the pup was being chased by some furi- 
ous old sows, and in immediate danger of being torn to 
pieces, for he was too badly rattled to get out of the in- 
closure. Armed with clubs, we sprang to the rescue, 
thinking nothing of danger to ourselves. While I 
clubbed the vicious brutes, brother grabbed the pup and 
threw him over the fence; but in spite of my clubbing, 
one vicious old sow sprang at my brother as he took hold 
of the fence to climb over and caught him by the seat of 
his trousers. He held to the fence, the sow held to the 
trousers, and I plied the club over her head with all my 
strength. 
Presently suspenders and buttons yielded to the strain 
and brother got over the fence, leaving the trousers with 
the hog, which soon tore them to shreds. Here was 
trouble indeed, for the loss of those trousers would be 
charged to the pup: but when father and mother heard 
the story, they were too glad over our fortunate escape to 
regret the loss of the trousers. 
Next washday the indigo bag disappaared, and we 
found the pup trying to make a meal of it. Mother said 
indigo was poison and hoped it would kill the nasty pap. 
His mouth was thoroughly dyed with the stuff. Full of 
anxiety and almost hoping against hope, we washed out 
his mouth as best we could with soap and water, the pup 
resisting to his utmost, and his sharp teeth drew the blood 
from hands and fingers in a number of places. Many a 
laugh have we had over it since, but there were no smiles 
in the party at the time. After the washing we concluded a 
dose of tincture of camphor ought to be given, so I held him 
on his back between my knees, and held his mouth open 
with both hands, while brother poured the camphor from 
the bottle. I don't know just what happened next. I 
know the bottle was broken, and the pup went through a 
lot of contortions which we thought were his death 
struggles, and nothing but the thought of the broken 
camphor bottle and the punishment that was sure to fol- 
low kept us from yelling for help. The pup ran under 
the house and refused to be called out. We could not 
bear the idea of him dying under there all alone, so I 
crawled under after him. There was barely room for me 
between the ground and the floor, and the pup met my 
approach with snaps and growls. I did not hesitate, but 
grabbed him by an ear and backed out. 
Father now appeared on the scene and sent U3 to the 
woodhouse, which was our steady job when there was 
nothing else to do. The pup ran away toward the barn 
and we saw no more of him that day; but the thought of 
his dangerous condition and the fear of being brought to 
judgment over the broken camphor bottle made it a day 
of misery for us. 
That night we thought best to explain about the cam- 
phor, take the consequences and have it off our minds, 
which we did, and were let off without punishment. 
Next morning the pup showed up, seeming entirely 
well; so once more life looked bright to us. A few weeks 
later the pup took a sudden and great aversion to me; 
would not come near me, and was very suspicious. I 
could not account for it, until brother said it was the 
camphor I had put on my sore toe a few minutes before; 
and we afterward always found the pup suspicious when 
we had any odor of camphor about us. 
Things from now on ran fairly smooth with us until the 
latter part of the summer; but one afternoon brother came 
to me looking so troubled that I asked him if he was 
sick. 
"No," said he, "but Watch is." 
"He will get over it in a little while," said I. 
"No, he won't," said brother. "He is awful sick. He's 
going to die. He's thrown his insides up." 
At that I laughed, but he broke into tears, and said, 
"Come out here and see if you don't believe it." 
I went out and found a handful of intestines on the 
ground and the pup making violent efforts to eject the 
rest of himself. It looked like a hopeless case, and we 
stood helplessly by waiting for the end, which we thought 
must come very soon. After several minutes of violent 
effort he threw up the head and two feet of a chicken. 
Then we remembered that we had killed a chicken for 
supper about an hour before. Neither of us said a word. 
We just went back to the woodhouse and sawed wood. 
In spite of his mishaps and many puppyish pranks that 
often got him into disgrace, he grew apace and learned a 
lot of good dog sense. He was never gifted to the extent 
of some of the dogs we read about, but he knew enough 
to spot any stray hog that got with ours, and to note any 
change of the farm animals from one field to another. If 
he was with us when such changes were made he con- 
sidered it all right, but otherwise he was after the stock 
as soon as he saw them in a different field. He was alert 
and full of watchfulness for our interests, and saved 
many a young chicken from the "varmints" that used to 
prey on them. 
One day he "treed" a mink in a big pile of rubbish 
close by the barn. The whole family, hired man and 
dog surrounded the pile and proceeded to tear it down. 
In spite of our watching, the mink slipped out and was 
60yds. on his way to the woods before he was seen by any 
of us, and but for the dog we would have torn the pile 
down and been wondering to this day what ever became 
of that mink. Just as the mink was getting out of sight 
over a little knoll, the dog saw him and giving an excited 
yelp straightened himself in hot pursuit. Dog and mink 
disappeared over the knoll, followed by the writer, 
armed with grandfather's old three dollar shotgun. The 
chase was alongside a rail fence. Seeing his legs were too 
short to save him, the mink climbed the fence and when 
the boy saw him was running along the top rails, coming 
toward the boy, who laid the gun along the top rail and 
waited motionless until the mink was within 2ft. of the 
gun muzzle and coming right toward it. The dog was 
keeping him so busy he did not notice boy or gun. Then 
the boy pulled the trigger and the mink was knocked 
15ft. — that is, part of him was; the rest was spattered 
all round. The charge struck him fairly in the breast 
and laid him wide open from the collar to the tail. 
Then the boy let out a lusty whoop of triumph and 
threw his ragged old straw hat into the air and the pup 
pounced an the biggest piece of mink and shook it into 
saveral more pieces. 
For nearly ten years this dog was our constant com- 
panion on the farm, but at last disease overtook him, and 
as the whole family stood around him one bright Sunday 
afternoon, while his eyes grew dim and the loving and 
faithful old heart ceased beating, none of us were 
ashamed of the tears that dampened all our cheeks. We 
buried him in a neat box at the side of the garden. Peace 
to his bones. O. H. Hampton. 
Beagle Field Trials. 
Nanuet, N. Y. , Jan. 30.— Editor Forest and Stream: We 
have now had beagle field trials for five or six successive 
years; and practical results toward the advance and bet- 
terment of the breed as are liable to accrue from such 
work should have manifested themselves by this time in 
a tangible form. Has it ? 
A mild "yes" and an emphatic "no" would each be suit- 
able answers. Having used and put to a practical test 
such ideas as have been advanced heretofore, I think the 
time has come when new theories should be introduced 
and reduced to practical working methods, to acquire the 
purpose of a specialty club, i, e., advancement of the breed. 
As bfench shows are now conducted, a useless dog for 
all practical purposes may become a prominent champion. 
The same principle applies to field trials, inasmuch as the 
most wretched specimen in form may acquire high honors 
there, and how does either one advance the breed in the 
broad sense of the term ? 
With a view to overcoming what is no w a radical weak- 
ness (from this standpoint) I propose introducing at next 
quarterly meeting of the National Beagle Club a scoring 
system for reducing each dogs field and bench qualities 
to an average, thereby establishing an d recording each dog's 
actual merit in both forms, winners, losers and all. 
Under such a system each entry at trials will be first 
scored for its actual bench show merit by a practical judge 
of Buch form. Then the dog to pass into the hands of j udges 
for field quality form and each dog scored at the termination 
of each neat. Those scoring above a ceitiin average;(for 
field work) to pass into the second series, the same to apply 
for third series with a higher average. The winners of 
each class to be those scoring the highest combined aver- 
age of both field and bench qualities, and awards to be 
rendered by the field trial committee. 
Under this system each owner to receive a certificate 
of each dog's work and form, and unless radical defects 
may be discovered in my calculations, the most practical 
results can thus be obtained in advancing a breed by a 
specialty club. 
This, of course, is a somewhat brief synopsis of a radical 
change and is a subject matter for reflection and discussion, 
and eventually to be reduced to a satisfactory working 
system. 
I bring this matter out at this time for two reasons: First, 
to draw from the many members and breeders and others 
a liberal exchange of views through the ever available 
and obliging press, and secondly to give other beagle clubs 
than the National sufficient time to consider, act or adopt 
the scoring system if deemed advisable. 
H. S. Kreuder, 
Proprietor Rockland Beagle Kennels. 
United States Field Trials. 
West PoiNT,Miss.,Feb.4— Special to Forest and Stream: 
The grounds are in fair condition after the recent heavy 
rains. Birds are plentiful. 
There were ten starters in the Pointer Derby: Sister 
Sue, Wrestler, Nabob, Rip Saw, Tory Jessamine, India, 
Ridgeview Cash, Virginia, Cracker Jack, and Hessie D. 
The judges were A. Merriman and Theo. Sturgis. Fol- 
lowing were the winners: First, India; second, Nabob; 
third, Rip Saw; fourth, Tory Jessamine; fifth, Sister Sue. 
There are 12 starters in the Setter Derby: SamT. For- 
zando, Harwick, Feu Follet, Tory Fashion, Bob Taylor, 
Arapahoe, Domino, Gleam's Ruth, Conor, Accelerando, 
Marie's Sport. B. Waters. 
The Altcar Produce Stakes. 
For dog and bitch puppies at $20 each, half forfeit; or 
if declared out by Sept. 1, $5 forfeit; or if declared out by 
June 1, only $2 forfeit, Entries, which must be accom- 
panied by S3, close March 15 Second forfeit of $3 must 
be paid on or before June 1. Third forfeit of $5 must be 
paid on or before Sapt. 1; balance $10 must be paid on 
or before 6 P. M. the night of the draw, viz. Oct. 20. 
Moneys: To winner, $100 added by the Altcar Coursing 
Club of America and 35 per cent, of all moneys; runner 
up, $50 added by the Altcar Coursing Club of America and 
25 per cent of all moneys; third and fourth, 10 per cent, 
each of all the moneys; four winners of two courses, 
5 per cent, each of all moneys. (Should more than thirty- 
two dogs start, division of moneys will be made satisfac- 
tory.) 
Conditions: Breeding'and date of birth of puppies and 
breeder's name must be furnished the secretary at time 
of entry. All payments of forfeits must be made prompt- 
ly to the secretary-treasurer. 
Ten per cent, deducted for expanses. 
T. W. Bartels, S9c'y-Treas. 
City of the Straits Kennel Club. 
Detroit. Mich., Feb. 1.— Inclosed please find advance 
proof of our Premium List, which will be issued on the 
3d inst. More interest is being shown this year, locally, 
than ever before in the Dog Show and we are getting a 
number of inquiries from outside, and I am very sure 
that we will have one of the finest exhibitions of beagles 
ever had in America. Will you please notice that our 
entries close on Feb. 20. R. Humphreys-Roberts. 
The premiums are $15 for first and $10 for second in 
mastiffs and St. Bernards; and $10 and $5 for all other 
classes, with $3 for third in pointers and setters. 
POINTS AND FLUSHES. 
We have received from the Olombia Publishing Co. a 
copy of a work entitled "Heads, or In the Wilderness," 
which professes to treat of an outing in the Adirondacks, 
but which in reality is devoted to the introduction and 
advocacy of a religious doctrine. The outing features 
serve as a vehicle for presenting and advertising the doc- 
trine in a pleasing form. It would seem the better way, 
if the doctrine has merit, to strip it of pretense and pre- 
sent it by itself. Told as it is here the new doctrine is 
not clearly to be comprehended. 
The following is taken from a copy of the New York 
Clipper, published many years ago: "The Mayor of 
Janesville, Wis., is becoming perfectly desperate. He 
issues a formal proclamation in the words following, 
threatening death to some of his fellow- citizens: 'Take 
Notice! All persons residing in the city of Janesville, 
owning or having in his or her possession any dog or 
bitch, and suffering the same to run at large without 
being securely muzzled, so as to prevent their biting, will 
be killed, if found running at large after April 15.' " 
The correspondents who have no names to sign, or hav- 
ing names do not care to sign them, would do well to 
ponder over the reasons why anonymous queries are not 
answered in our columns. 
The sheep industry of South Carolina is receiving special 
consideration by the State government. Recently a bill 
was passed by the House in substance providing that a 
dog found "committing any depredation," such as steal- 
ing eggs, killing poultry or sheep, "or destroying any 
other property," "or showing symptoms of hydrophobia," 
upon any premises other than those of the owner of the 
dog, could be killed lawfully, and the proof that he was 
so depredating shall amount to a full and complete de- 
fense. In respect to the matter of hydrophobia or rabies 
no proof is required, the owner of the premises being the 
sole judge of whether the dog is afflicted with rabies or 
not. The bill, shorn of its circumlocution, provides that 
an owner can kill any dog which comes on his premises if 
he chooses to do so. 
Mr. A. J. G-leason, manager of the Kinloch Kennels, 
Kinloch, Mo., will take some of his dogs South soon to 
give them a term of schooling on quail. 
An excellent opportunity for securing a really first-class 
field dog for Southern shooting is offered in our advertis- 
ing columns this week by Mr. C. Du Bois Wagstaff, Baby- 
lon, L. I. Mr. Wagstaff advertises two dogs, pointer and 
setter. Among other new advertisements the Seaforth 
Kennels advertise the St. Bernards champion Melrose 
King and Sir Hugh at stud, also puppies for sale. Henry 
Hood, East Orange, N. J., offers a prize-winning bull 
terrier brood bitch, and the Standard Kennel, George- 
town, N. Y., beagle bitches. "Pointer Dogs," Cincinnati, 
advertises a brace of field dogs. 
We have received for the Manice Dachshunde challenge 
Cup, to be competed for at the New York show, the entries 
of Mr. Manice's Princetta, Junetta and Minnie, and Mr. 
Matthews's Polly Finders. The entries properly closed 
with the A. K. C. entries. It is possible that other entries 
may be accepted later, if so we shall announce them next 
week. 
twitting. 
[Other yachting news on first page.] 
According to the London Daily Chronicle of Feb. 4, Lord Dunraven 
has gone to Sandringham to confer with the Prince of Wales, commo- 
dore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, as to his future action. 
Undoubtedly the one weak point of the committee's report is that 
in which it expresses a confidence that will he shared by very few— 
that Lord Dunraven is eagerly awaiting an opportunity to do what 
lifctle is still left to him in the way of an honorable amend by a full 
and frank apology. We have very little hope that the- anticipations 
of the committee, will be realized, or that Lord Dunraven will even 
now admit that he is and has been in the wrong. Borne criticism has 
been directed against the committee because it has dealt so leniently 
with his Lordship, and because it has not proposed some punishment 
adequate t» the offense of which it has actually found him guilty 
