210 
FOREST AND ■ STREAM. 
|Sept. 8, 1894. 
a 
think all loving observers and students of canine nature will 
indorse my assertion that no dog ever attacked a human 
beingwhen the latter was swimming. The particular account 
that I have alluded to above stated that a large St. Bernard, 
standing with his owner on the river bank, after watching 
some boys bathing, suddenly sprang into the water and 
made for the boy furthest out and attacked him viciously, 
both treading him underwater and biting at him. After the 
details of a "fight," beyond the depth of either dog or boy, it 
stated that both in some way reached the. shore, that the dog 
again sprang at the boy and tore him, and that then, for the 
first time, his owner interfered. 
Who that knows anything of large dogs on reading the 
above, which I condense from memory, can not at once pic- 
ture, the scene more truly than the reporter does, and aquit 
the dog? Since I was ten years old I have owned dogs of 
various large breeds and no matter how obedient any one of 
them may have been while I was on land, or not beyond my 
depth in water, I found it simply impossible to swim a stroke 
n deep water with one of my dogs anywhere about. No 
command, no threat, would keep the noble and devoted 
animals from me the moment I struck out, and they always 
knew, unerringly, when my feet lost "bottom." I never had 
auy difficulty except with the first dog— a monster, half mas- 
tiff, half great Dane — but the callow observance of a ten- 
year-old boy enabled me to understand him and prevent any 
rouble in the future. The very first time he came for me 1 
was a little frightened at the situation and tried to swim 
away from him and make the shore in a semicircle, the very 
worst thing I could have done, the very worst thing a man or 
boy can do under the circumstances. Of course he could see 
only the back of my head, and of course he rapidly over- 
hauled me, and equally of course his forefeet (innocent of 
any intention on his part) first struck my sloping back, and 
it was scarred by his claws and I was driven under water. 
Luckily I gained foothold in shallow water almost immedi- 
ately. To this day I am a little proud that, at that ag:e and 
in spite of my pain, I resisted the temptation to whip him 
and went at once to experimenting. I soon found, as I have 
said, that it was no use to try to keep him on shore, or to try 
to convince him that I was in no danger and could take care 
of myself in deep water. It was not his business to learn 
that, and he was a strictly "business dog " But I also found 
that whenever.he saw fit to interfere and pull me out of the 
water, if I would pause and either float or stand upright in 
the water at his approach, I could easily turn which side I 
pleased to him and that then, if I calmly extended an arm on 
or above the water, in front of him, he instantly gripped it 
with a firm, but not at all a painful grasp, and as I always 
et him come up behind me, I could easily and comfortably 
swim in with my other arm and his assistance. I may add 
that I have found the same course to answer in every case 
and with all kinds of dogs, my dogs and the dogs of others. 
I would urge upon every one who may read this, that moder- 
ate degree of presence of mind required to meet such an 
emergency. 
And now, to picture the scene of the report which I have 
criticised above. Can we not see the nervous and anxious 
St. Bernard watching these. boys,,restrained by his master 
until the usual cries and noises and the distance of one boy 
from shore (perhaps he may have even pretended to sink and 
to call for help as boys will) made this noble and self-sacra- 
ficing animal decide to disobey? Reading between the lines, 
can we not picture, his impetuous rush and plunge? His 
white muzzle pointed straight for the boy's head, or the spot 
where it disappeared? Can we not almost see the powerful 
strokes of the broad, webbed feet as he breasts the river? 
As soon as conscious of the approach of the dog, the boy has 
probably turned, with another shriek, and the dog swims 
silently and grimly at the back of the head in front of him. 
Of course, the boy's back is first touched and scored; of 
course, he is forced under water (which would not have been 
the case had he held out an arm for the dog to sieze, for the 
latter would have turned beside the boy to seize it, and his 
fore feet would have had free room to plunge). 
The boy comes up from his duckine:, but is now terrified, 
probably has lost all presence of mind, and if he is a good 
swimmer probably has turned and faced the dog, thinking 
to fight him off. Remember the dog is there to save life, 
and for that purpose only. It is impossible to beat him off. 
If the dog ever reaches shore aeain that boy will reach it 
with him, that you may be sure of. But now the dog grabs 
for an arm whenever one is exposed (that is the chosen and 
best hold for a dog on an unclothed body), yet each of these 
attempts is thought to be a bite, and the whole is called "an 
attack" and "fighting." He now does just what any strong 
man would do; he stays there and tries to tire out the boy, 
who to him seems bent on self destruction. Remember that 
a really drowning person always flings the arms up, and you 
may be sure that even if the dog has to wait till the boy is 
really drowning he will bring him ashore by an arm. Re- 
flect also that all the time the boy has been fighting off his 
true friend, those fore paws have of necessity lacerated the 
boy's legs, arms or chest, where contact occurred. 
Of the subsequent "attack" of the dog when both have 
reached shore in safety, you may make what you choose. Say 
the boy had really hurt the dog in the water or coming out, 
or agree with me and set it down for a simpla lie, that can 
be settled. But what I urge — nay, entreat — is that all who 
read this will do what they can to spread the understanding 
of a dog's purpose and the best way to assist him and to 
prevent injury or disaster when he is mistaken as to the 
need of his assistance. I reflect that once a dog thinks a 
person in the water needs assistance he cannot be shaken off 
if he is of any size. The best, therefore is to know how to 
help him to "meet him half way," literally. If the daily 
papers would copy this letter it may be the means of 
giving wider circulation to a knowledge that should be 
known. Tract Gould. 
Trot, N. T. 
A Reporter's Duties. 
IK alluding to Mr. Doyle's letter on fox-terrier size, that 
we mentioned last week, Mr. Lloyd in Sporting Mirror hits 
straight out from the shoulder on the subject of dog show 
reports in English kennel journals. He draws attention to 
the fact that men are employed to write up these shows who 
are interested in the animals exhibited and more than hints 
that they are biased in their critcisms. If any one on 
this side follows the career of a dog at different shows in 
Eugland through the medium of the sporting journals he 
will surely become bewildered in the multiplicity of views 
expressed and no line can be formed as to what the dog is 
like, one can merely judge of the dog's standing from the 
number and character of his wins. The day of signed re- 
ports will surely come and then, and only then, shall we see 
some uniformity of opinion on a dog's merits, for hastily 
formed judgment on a dog's shape and makeup will no 
longer be shielded by the ubiquitous "we." 
Kennel journals owe it to their readers that reports should 
be signed so that there may be no stabbing in the dark or 
self interests worked in. Of course there is some excuse for 
the present state of things in English reports. So many 
shows must be covered during the week and there seems to 
be such a mad hurry to get reports published the same 
week in which the show takes place that their reports must 
necessarily be written under the most unfavorable circum- 
stances. Beyond a list of awards and a few of the general 
terns of interest connected with the show there is little good 
or gain in this "beating the record." One of Mr. Lloyd's 
paragraphs reads: "As a reporter of many years' standing, 
I have some right to write in this manner, and some know- 
ledge of the subject I am on. I have met reporters at shows, 
employed by papers for the sake of economy, who nave had 
little or no experience. It is millions that the persons allud- 
ed to have some interest in a dog or two, and if you watch 
carefully, and follow events, you will see that the very devil 
is put afoot. It was only a few months ago I noticed a cer- 
tain animal cracked up to the heavens. The reporter, I am 
sorry to say, was interested in him. Now, these shams and 
frauds would soon be put an end to if the editors of newspa- 
pers were apparently not ashamed of the names of their 
critics, or the reporters themselves weak-kneed and brained 
enough to hide themselves behind that infernal 'we'." 
We have a good deal of this sort of thing over here but we 
are proud of the fact that such reports' are not admitted 
knowingly in these columns. Whatever mistakes are made, 
and we do not claim to be approaching the infallible, it is 
the mistake of honest conviction and not from interested 
motives. In writing reports it is not always necessary when 
a dog merits severe criticism to do so in a manner that will 
hurt either the feelings of the judge or the unfortunate 
owner. When a reporter from his experience aud know- 
ledge of the breed is certain of his ground his criticism can- 
not be too plainly emphasized but always in such manner 
that offence'will not be taken by those interested in the dog. 
Many a budding fancier has been disheartened by such im- 
politic writing and no wonder he believes that the reporter 
has it "in for him" or is taking advantage of his novitiate. 
Then again we do not think it the office of a reporter to con- 
tinually set up his opinion against that of the judge. The 
judge's appearance in the ring is, or should be, a guarantee 
that he knows something either as a "breeder and exhibitor" 
or through considerable observation at shows, of the breed 
he adjudicates upon, and his awards should always be crit- 
icised with a due regard to the opinion to which his posi- 
tion entitles him. This is too often lost sight of by the re- 
porter whose opportunities for comparison are, at the best, 
not on a plane with those of the judge. There are exceptions 
of course: for instance when a dog, through nervousness or 
other causes, does not show himself to any advantage in the 
ring, while the reporter in going over the class quietly after- 
wards, is enabled to see points, good or bad, as the case may 
be, which escaped the judge during the excitement in the 
ring. 
. A number of exhibitors have an idea that a reporter's mis- 
sion is solelyto criticise the judge; if their dogs are set back 
the reporter is primed with material for a scatning criticism, 
at the first opportunity. If he is sensible he will listen de- 
murely and write his own report afterwards; he will thus 
command the respect of both loser and winner in the end. 
This is suggested by our own experience: he who essays to 
report, a class of say bullterriers — we do not mean to be invidi- 
ous — and listens to all the contrary suggestions he will be 
loaded with down the line of benches, will soon find himself 
hooelessly muddled and he had better stick to his own individ- 
ual opinion — even it be a wrong one. He will at least have 
written intelligently to himself. 
While on this subject we might as well allude to the cus- 
tom of merely reporting on the winners in a class and leav- 
ing the great unwashed, represented by the lower cards, to 
the imagination of the readers. Many times a careful review 
of the highly commended dogs will show grave errors of 
judgment and the reporter is able to apply a little balm to 
the ruffled feelings of the owners who know their dogs ought 
to have been higher up. Further, the owners of the lettered 
dogs are as a rule the very men who should be advised of 
the faults or good points of their dogs and the reason they 
were not placed higher. Again the man who makes the 
same stereotyped criticism on a dog that appears frequently 
at shows shirks his duties, although exigencies of space of ten 
demand that something shall be cut short, aud these are the 
dogs that are generally sacrificed to that end. Still a reporter 
is not always to blame if his criticism on a certain dog is 
not always the same, and this has often been made much of 
by those who should know better. Dogs have their moods 
and conditions, like unto men, and a little less flesh or a 
little more will often in a very short time exaggerate or 
modify a fault that had been overlooked before or not so 
apparent. Still when opinions are changed some explana- 
tion is due for the writer's own sake. A conscientious, 
careful, unbiased reporter need not be afraid to write can 
didly, and with right-thinking men neither his paper nor he 
will suffer. 
Bone Producers. 
As WE from time to time have queries from our readers as 
to the best means of improving the bone in their puppies it 
would be well to draw greater attention to the benefits de- 
rived from the use of precipitated phosphate of lime. This 
agent is considered by more than one breeder of large dogs 
that we know of as far preferable to bone meal, which is dif- 
ficult to assimilate, especially in puppies of a tender age. 
Mr. Wiggins, the breeder of the Alton — Judith litter of St. 
Bernards, is convinced that this agent is mainly responsible 
for the great bone that most of his young stock possess, as 
he commences to give this powder to the mother directly 
after service. 
"Ashmont" in "Kennel Secrets," in which work elaborate 
instructions are given on the care of the dam when whelp- 
ing, says: "To give the precipitated phosphate ol lime— a pro- 
duct of bones— during the period in whelp is advisable, 
especially to large breeds, the offspring of which in these 
days are notoriously 'deficient in bone' and singularly liable 
to suffer from rickets." 
Precipitated phosphate of lime is a white, odorless powder 
and may be mixed with the food once daily during the first 
month of gestation and twice daily from then on until the 
puppies have been weaned. For large dogs an even teaspoon- 
i ul is the dose, slightly increased during the month before 
whelping, if a large litter is expected; and in lesser propor- 
tion for smaller breeds. If this procedure has not been pur- 
sued it is a good plan to give the powder to the puppies after 
weaning, say at seven weeks old, or earlier, if there are 
signs of deformity. The dose is a quarter of a teaspoonf ul 
for each dog once a day, with the last meal. If there is a 
decided tendency to deformity give the powder twice a day 
and increase the dose to half a teaspoonf ul. Breeders of fox- 
terriers, and in fact ail breeds of dogs with whom good bone 
is a distinct advantage for show purposes, would do well to 
try this preparation. 
We did not think it worth while to allude to Mr. Howard's 
letter in a contemporary, wherein he sought to defend him- 
self on the "bribery" question' by publishing the letter he 
sent to Mr. Elliott, over his own signature. We thought 
after that the case might well be left to the judgment of 
those who were interested in the matter; our duty was done 
when we called the attention of the kennel world to this 
attempt at bribery. The English Stock-Keeper, which fol- 
lows events in American dogdom very closely, has this to 
say and probably echoes the views of most men on the sub- 
ject: "Running our eye over the kennel columns of Turf, 
Field and Farm we came across an astonishing letter under 
the heading of 'That Bribery Case!' A Mr. T. A Howard, 
of Columbus, O. (we think he deserves the fullest descrip- 
tion), dallies with the question of whether he attempted to 
bribe a judge. We have read the letter, and if it does not 
amount to bribery then all we can exclaim is what in the 
name of corruption is the use of an English dictionary? 
However, we are pleased to see that the American Kennel 
Club is to have an opportunity of elaborating Mr. Howard's 
neglected education." We do not believe that anyone has 
as yet made any direct charge before the A. K. C. in this 
case, but as Mr. Howard is a delegate to that body it would 
seem as if some action should be taken, if only as a matter 
of courtesy to his fellow delegates. 
DOG CHAT, 
The English setter Mandan, well known to show goers in 
the West a few years since, has joined the large majority. 
He was eleven years old last June. Mandan was owned in 
former years by "Dick" Morgan, who sold him to Mr. C. E. 
Sheldon, of Akron, O., who owned him at the time of his 
death. Mandan was a good show dog, winning many prizes, 
and as a field dog it is said that few could surpass him. 
In the Ladies' Kennel Association recently organized in 
England, there are nine ladies of title, whose patronage tends 
to give both eclat and material aid to the Association, and 
there are already 64 influential exhibitors who have joined 
the club. Mr. George R. Krehl has laid the foundation for, 
we hope, many happy tete-a-tetes by donating a tea service 
to the Association. The club's debut will be made at the 
Crystal Palace show next month. 
In a whippet racing handicap, held recently in Lancashire, 
England, there were 260 entries for a purse of $100. This 
shows to what extent this exciting sport obtains in that part 
of England in which the whippet racing originated. 
Some people have peculiar ideas as to the mission of an ad- 
vertisement. One prominent breeder writes us that while he 
agrees with us fully in the merits of Forest and Stream as 
an advertising medium, says there has not been a demand 
this season for dogs of the sort he breeds, and "with forty 
dogs in one's kennels the demand for grub eats into the sur- 
plus rapidly, and about all one can do is to whistle to keep 
up his courage while passing through the woods." This is a 
funny argument and calculated to make one appear like the 
picture of the man who doesn't advertise— all wrinkles and 
care. 
The man who does not advertise now is looking backward, 
when business is slack that is just the time to advertise 
most. 
In the past year or two there has been some trouble at 
Canadian shows through exhibitors from this side of the 
border showing challenge dogs in the open classes at Cana- 
dian shows where challenge classes have not been provided. 
American exhibitors should bear in mind the Canadian rule 
that dogs eligible for challenge honors are not allowed to 
compete in open classes in the absence of a challenge class 
for their individual breed. 
A Notable Terrier Transfer. 
Mr. H. H. Hunnewell, Jr., the owner of the Hill Hurst 
Kennels, though well ahead of competition in the way of 
brown poodles, has not been so successful hitherto with his 
wire-haired fox-terriers; his Oakleigh Bruiser, until the ad- 
vent of Bushey Bramble, being his main dependence as a prize 
winner. He can now claim to hold a full and winning hand, 
having just purchased Cribbage, Sister Janet (late Surrey 
Janet), Sister Pattern and Brittle from Mr. H. W. Smith, of 
Worcester, Mass. This team, with Mr. Hunnewell's Oakleigh 
Bruiser and Bushey Bramble, places that gentleman's ken- 
nel at the top of the heap, for these dogs represent the cream 
of the fancy in this country. While congratulating Mr. 
Hunnewell upon his plucky purchase, we do so with a shade 
of regret if it means the retirement of Mr. Smith from this 
booming fancy. Wire-hairs rated along in a very desultory 
fashion until the Worcester fancier gave the needed fillip by 
importing such cracks as Cribbage, Janet and Pattern, and 
the influence of such importations was clearly seen in the 
increasing entries at some of the spring shows. The news of 
this important transfer was received a few hours too late for 
bur last week's issue. 
It is said that there are over 600 lady exhibitors at English 
shows. No wonder they want to have a say. 
Mrs. Samuel Jagger, of Honley, Yorkshire, whose husband 
is now on a visit to this country, will be the third woman to 
"don the ermine" at a show on the other side. Mrs. Foster, 
the well-known Yorkshire exhibitor, and a clergyman's wife 
in Scotland whose name does not occur to us at this moment, 
were the first and only ladies to carry out this mild form of 
woman suffrage. Mrs. Jagger is to judge at Belfast show. 
It is very likely that when Mr. Jagger returns to this country 
next January he will bring his wife and their crack St. 
Bernard bitch Frandley Stephanie back with him. In that 
event Stephanie will be exhibited at New York and other 
spring shows. 
From Aug. 10 to 30 there are thirty dog shows scheduled to 
take place in England and Scotland. 
Pet dog exhibitors have been very busy last wdek in 
England, for one of the largest gatherings of toys and other 
dogs was to take place at Brighton. The specialty clubs 
devoted to the principal pet breeds made a grand display of 
challenge cups and other specials. The Toy Spaniel Club 
offered about 31, the two pug clubs nearly as many, while 
Pomeranians were not far behind, to say nothing of York 
shires and schipperkes, for the latter of which there were 
two challenge cups and a number of useful specials in 
cutlery and cash. We mention this just to show the stand- 
ing over there of some of the breeds compared to the general 
lack of interest in the same breeds in this country. We have 
a Pet Dog Club, but it does not seem to make much head- 
way. The "paucity of judges" for these breeds may have a 
good deal to do with this, for, to tell the truth, the pet dog 
classes seem to be looked upon by the average show com- 
mittee as necessary evils, the classes being tacked on to some 
good-natured judge willing to take them on with the rest of 
his assignments, and as a rule the prizes are miserably small. 
If the Pet Dog Club would make an effort to have judges 
appointed in whom they have confidence, we are confident 
that an improvement would soon be apparent in some of the 
classes that at present are lamentably weak. 
The Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association have 
been making an effort to secure better terms for the trans- 
portation of hunting dogs on the Pennsylvania lines. Their 
suggestion was to have dogs checked in the same way as 
baggage, charging 25 cents per check on each division of the 
road. The passenger on purchasing his ticket to be allowed 
to purchase these tickets at 25 cents each, the checks to be 
attached to the dog's collar, and each divisional baggage 
master to detach the check for his particular division, and 
collect the 25 cents for the same at such stations as the com- 
pany would designate. Thus a passenger from Philadelphia 
to Pittsburgh would buy three checks stamped Harrisburg, 
Altoona and Pittsburgh respectively. This plan would save 
the trouble of seeing and feeing the baggage master on every 
division, which is such a nuisance, especially when traveling 
at night. The idea, which seems a good one, did not, how- 
ever, meet with the approbation of the railroad company, 
and no change will be made at present. 
The recent dog show held in Zurich under the auspices of 
the Swiss Canine Society, gathered together 824 entries. St. 
Bernards, the different sporting dogs of Switzerland, dachs- 
hunds and fox-terriers were the principal breeds represented. 
So great was the success of this first venture that the society 
intends to give a large show at Geneva next autumn. The 
Federal Government has subscribed 25,000f r. for the purpose. 
The French journal La Chervil tells rather a funny story 
