Tm. 13, 1806.] 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
478 
irish setters which never competed at the trials gained a 
wide reputation as field dogs of much merit. One of 
these, Mr. Scott Rodman's Dash, gained a very wide and 
favorable reputation among sportemen who lived in and 
around New York. He was owned by Mr. Soott I^odman, 
who lived at that time, I believe, at Pine BrooH, N. J. 
Mr. Jacob Pentz, who had shot over this dog extensively, 
once told me he was as good as any he had ever shot over. 
Dash in his day was famous as a snipe dog. You can hear 
of Rodman's Dash and his desdendants to this day in that 
part of New Jersey. 
I will give another instance i:)r two of the good old Irish 
better. In the year 1885 I was at the Poncho Agency, 
I. T., with Dr. F. S. Dawey. The Doctor owned an Irish 
better, by Erin out of Queen. He was at that time six 
years old, but a splendid dog on chickens and quail, and 
also was a wide, fast ranger. He carried a high head 
and constantly used his nose. I also owned at that time 
an Irish setter which I had purchased from a freighter, 
when I bought the dog the following conversation took 
place: 
"What kind of a dog is that?" 
"Him's a Irish setter, I reckon." 
"Will he point chickens?" 
"Wal, I reckon— he'll set." 
"How long will he hold a point?" 
"Erbout a minit." 
"What is your price for him?" 
"Wal, pard, I reckon he's wuth erbout two plunks and 
er ha'f ($a 50)." 
So I came into the ownership of Frank. In color be 
was medium dark, with no white. He was a business- 
looking dog, with a sensible-looking head. 
The day following his purchase I took him out to see 
what he would do. He went away with a long, swinging 
gallop, and carried his head high— with fairly good tail 
action. He soon showed his ability to find chickens, and, 
as the freighter said, he stood "erbout a minit." He 
seemed to think it a waste of time to stand longer, and 
would then put up his chicken and chase it as far as he 
could see it, which was some distance on the prairie. 
I saw at once I had a dog of much natural ability, but he 
would need considerable training before he was useful to 
the gun. 
The next day a check cord was attached to his collar; 
this, together with a somewhat liberal use of the whip, 
soon brought him down so that he would point long 
enough for the shooter to come up, but as soon as the 
birds were flushed he was off. A short time was con- 
sumed in getting him steady to gun and wing. He de- 
veloped rapidly after this and made a remarkable dog in 
some respects. 
He had followed the freighter's wagon so long and lived 
on freighter's biscuit and bacon so much that he was as 
tough as wire nails. He never seemed tired and his wind 
was always good. 
Aside from making a good dog on chickens and quail 
he made a remarkable one on wild turkeys. He would 
hunt turkeys as a dog hunts grouse. 
I found him one day on a point in some very high grass 
near a creek. When I came up he commenced reading 
carefully through this grass, occasionally stopping to 
move his nose from side to side in the wind. After read- 
ing 300 or ,300yds. he pointed, the hair over his fore 
shoulders rising as he did so. In an instant I heard the 
tysrit of a turkey hen, and as she rose I killed her with my 
right barrel and cut down a young gobbler with my left. 
I stood still and saw seven more fly across the creek from 
me. The hair on Frank's back would always raise when 
he pointed turkeys, but on no other game. 
On chickens and quail he was a bold, fast ranger— on 
turkeys exceedingly cautious. I killed a number of turkeys 
over him and a great many chickens and quail. His 
judgment in handling game was remarkable, as were his 
efforts to aid the shooter. 
So it will be seen that in those days there were Irish 
setters of splendid field quality. They were not, how- 
ever, show dogs. I have always believed that had Erin, 
Pluiiket and Rodman's Dash been more extensively bred 
to it would have improved the breed very much in field 
quality, It would at least have given breeders more blood 
lines to have bred to and from, and aided them in the 
selection of good blood for field work. It is this, I believe, 
that has aided the breeders of the English setter and 
pointer to get so far in advance of breeders of Irish set- 
ters. 
The cross of the Count Noble blood with that of Glad- 
stone has produced in English setters a race of dogs sur- 
passed by none. 
Pointer breeders also took adva,ntage of the various 
strains. Croxteth blood was crossed with that of Sensa- 
: tion and others until the pointer is on an equal footing 
I with the English setter. 
Then again it is necessary for breedera to attend the 
<5-eId trials; to there learn what is desirable for an advance 
in breeding. Otherwise they may never know what 
really high class work is and can form no intelligent idea 
of what they should do to improve the dogs that they 
breed. In breeding one must know what is desirable as 
well as what is not. The practice of matching together 
dogs of which little or nothing is known, except that 
their blood lines are thus and so and that they may have 
been winners, is not intelligent breeding. They may 
have been winners where the competition was so poor 
that they could not help winning, or there might have 
been a dozen things conducive to their success other than 
their merits. Again, disposition must be taken into ac- 
count on both sides. Much depends on that; otherwise 
the offspring may be rattle-headed, gun shy, soft-hearted 
or a dozen other things not desirable, and not conducive 
to successful breeding of field dogs. 
Again, color in the Irish setter is a matter of very little 
moment so long as he is red. He might be dark, medium 
or light red, and stQl be a good field dog. It is my 
opinion that the breeders of this dog would do better if 
they eliminated color from their estimates in breeding. 
They should know more of their dogs' dispositions; of 
»ihe elements that will produce a good brain, nose, speed 
d style, and a disposition to stand and endure hard 
v7ork. Color is a mere matter of fancy. The practical 
sportsman cares very little for it. He wants a dog that 
will hunt and find game. He wants a dog with brain 
anough to handle his game alter it is found. In my next 
[ will try and give your readers some of my observations 
in owning, breeding and handling this setter— an expe- 
lience extending over a period of eight or ten years. 
Db, H. B. Anderson. 
A. K. G. MEETING. 
A MEETINCJ of the American Kennel Club was held in 
the club's ofllce, 55 Liberty street. New York, on Dec, 7, 
at 2 o'clock. The club meeting was a formality to clear 
the way for the regular quarterly meeting of the execu- 
tive committee, to be held at same time and place. The 
meeting was called to order, Mr. Edw. Brooks in the 
chair. It was immediately adjourned and the executive 
committee meeting began. 
There were present: American Bedlington Terrier Club 
(Thomas Pearsall); associate members (A. Clinton Wil- 
merding. Dr. H. T. Foote); Boston Terrier Club (L. A. 
Burritt); Central Baagle Club (Dr. W. E. Johnson); Gor- 
don Setter Club (James B, Blossom); Irish Setter Club (G. 
H. Thompson); Maacoutah Kennel Club (C. F. R. Drake); 
Metropolitan Kennel Club (G. M. Kernoohan); National 
Beagle Club (H. F. Sohellhass); National Greyhound Club 
(Horatio Nelson); New England Beagle Club (H. S. Jos- 
lin); Pacific Kennel Club (James Mortimer); Pacific Fox 
Terrier Club (Capt. C. B. Knocker); Pointer Club of 
America (George Jarvis); Poodle Club of America (Henry 
G. Trevor); St. Bernard Club of California (George Bar- 
gate). 
The reading of the minutes of the previous executive 
meeting was dispensed with. 
The secretary's, treasurer's and advisory committee's 
reports were approved as read. 
The field trial committee was not ready to report. 
The application of the California State Poultry and Ken- 
nel Club for membership was granted. It had claimed its 
dates beginning on Jan. 10, Sunday, and much debate fol- 
lowed pro and con on this point, there being some prece- 
dents of the. club against Sunday shows, and on the other 
hand it was shown that Sunday shows on the Coast were 
not considered improper, as there were theaters open on 
Sunday, etc. The matter was referred to the advisory 
committee of the Pacific Coast to report upon later. 
The resignation of the Rhode Island State Fair Associa- 
ciation was accepted. 
Application was granted for the following prefixes: Dr. 
J. T. Kent, Belleplain; C. M, Selfridge and Perry Ward, 
Thornhills. 
A committee of three was appointed by the chair, 
Messrs. Mortimer, Blossom and Burritt, for the purpose 
of investigating a matter in which T. J. Farley is involved. 
At the New York show last year his Irish setter puppy 
Kenmore, Jr., won, and soon afterward he sold him; 
then, it is alleged, he put another puppy in Kenmore's 
bench, which bore his winning number and card, and sold 
this puppy also as Kenmore, J r. At Mineola both pup- 
pies were entered: one as Kenmore, Jr., and the other as 
Joe, formerly Kenmore, Jr., and thus the investigation 
came about. These two dogs, entered in Class 42, Irish 
setters, Nos. 92 (Kenmore, Jr.) and 95 (Joe), were disqualir 
fied. 
The win of the bull terrier Milwaukee Tinker at the 
Milwaukee Kennel and Pet Stock Association's show was 
canceled, on the ground that he was under six months of 
age. At the same show the beagle bitch Kittle Clover 
was entered by the owner's agent in the open class when 
she was qualified for the challenge. 
The Blenheim spaniel Murillo and the Ruby spaniel 
Princess Bee were disqualified as to wins at the Mineola 
show for being transferred from one class to another 
against A. K. C. rules; also the win of Black and Tan 
terrier Balacy's Flora was canceled, as she was incorrectly 
entered as a registered bitch. 
Several cases at the recent Brooklyn show will be 
investigated later. 
The treasurer's report was accepted. His statement 
was as follows: Receipts from all sources to date, $6,- 
475.37; balance on hand Jan. 1, $2,233.08; total, $3,708.45. 
Disbursements from Jan. 1 to date, $6,343.82. Balance 
on hand, $2,364.63. 
The bills for annual dues for 1897 were mailed to all of 
the A. K. C. clubs and they were urged to remit promptly. 
Failure to pay such dues before Jan. 1 next deprives 
delinquent clubs of representation, and they may be 
dropped from membership at the following meeting. 
Mr. Mortimer moved that Rule 2, concerning dog shows, 
in so far as it states that exhibitors must abide by the con- 
sequences of their own mistakes, should be amended, as 
it was a great hardship on people who unwittingly vio- 
lated that rule. He showed that originally it was in- 
tended to prevent unfair changing about from class to 
class, and not to apply to mistakes of innocent owners. 
The matter was referred to the committee on constitu- 
tion and rules to report some manner of equitable amend- 
ment for later action. 
The secretary, in behalf of Mr. Klein, presented the 
matter of making some arrangements with the XJ. S. cus- 
toms whereby U. S. clubs could give bond for Canadian 
dogs to be shown at their shows, thus saving the 
Canadian owners serious delays and consequent loss. It 
was concluded that the matter could not be arrranged. 
The advisory committee's report was read, but it con- 
tained only matter already published. 
Hartford's Dogs. 
Haetford, Conn.— /editor Forest and Stream: We have 
all read the little piece from the afflicted tradesman. 
That is one side; now hear the other. This person 
claims that dogs do a great amount of damage to pro- 
visions belonging to marketmen and provision dealers. 
If this provision dealer would put his goods in his store, 
where they belong, and not on half of the sidewalk— which 
on Asylum street they thoroughly block— the offensive 
dog would find nothing to spoil, and it would satisfy 
more than nine-tenths of all the people who have to get 
out in the mud, as it now stands. 
Furthermore, this tradesman says he derives! only a 
very small amount from dog owners, who use scrap-box 
food. He may feed his dog on such if he has one, but 
"there are others" who do not, and as for kicking a dumb 
animal, a man is a coward who suggests or does such. 
Now about the provisions which are spoiled by dogs. 
What becomes of them? Are they thrown away? No. 
The man who has a good dog does not allow it to run 
at large in the street, and he or any one else that values 
a dog to any extent would not risk its life among the 
deadly trolleys. Owner of a Good Dog. 
Field Trials and Field Work. 
New York. — Editor Forest and, Stream: A good field 
trial dog should be a good dog to shoot over, and a good 
field dog should be a good field trial dog. Especially 
should this be true of dogs broken on quail, dogs to be 
used in an open county. 
They, ought also to be well broken and easily and quietly 
handled. An owner who puts up from $150 to $200 ought 
Ao have a run for his money. There has been a practice 
among some of the handlers of starting dogs which they 
knew would not win. This ought in some way to be dis- 
couraged. 
Of course all cannot win, but there are dogs started 
which never were good enough to make a decent run. If 
a dog cannot handle quail decently well, I do not know 
of what use he is as a field dog. If he cannot handle 
quail he certainly could not handle grouse and woodcock. 
Handler, 
POINTS AND FLUSHES, 
During the period of agitation, when what has been 
commonly known as the "cropping question" was being 
everywhere discussed, many ot those who so strenuously 
fought for a continuance of the barbarous practice loudly 
predicted the utter ruination of the bull terrier and the 
speedy oblivion of Great Danes in this country. Facts in 
connection with the late show at the Crystal Palace, and 
which admit of no controversy, go to prove that the fears 
of those most interested have been groundless. It was 
naturally to be expected that the passing of the new rule 
would affect for a time the breeds to which it applied, 
and the statements on all sides that such and such fanciers 
were giving them up for other specimens of the canine 
race created, among some, the impression that the fears 
of the advocates of cropping were going to be realized, 
and that the size of classes for these particular breeds 
-would soon diminish to a vanishing point. It is now 
eighteen months since the Kennel Club passed its rule to 
prevent any further continuance of the practice of crop- 
ping dogs' ears, and the bull terrier is still in our midst. 
Great Danes are yet with us, and Manchester terriers still 
grace tne show-bench in great numbers. Nay, more, the 
entry of bull terriers at the late show was actually a 
record one, and Great Danes have not paraded before a 
judge at a Kennel Club show in such numbers for years. 
—Kennel Gazette (England). 
In our report of the E. F. T. C. All- Age Pointer Stake, 
in describing the general merits of Odd Sides, the woro 
quantity was intended instead of quality in the follow- 
ing sentence: "Though his bird work was inferior in 
quality to theirs," etc. His bird work was inferior in 
quantity owing to birds not being so plentiful where he 
ran as they were on other parts of the grounds, but the 
quality of his work was superior to that of all the others. 
Communications for this department are requested. Anything on 
the bicycle in its relation to the sportsman is particularly desirable. 
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. 
Century runs do not over-fatigu,e some wheelmen, but 
for many men ten or fifteen miles over good roads is all 
they should attempt, and especially if their riding is at 
irregular intervals. Men with weak digestions should be 
particularly careful to avoid fatigue, and should refrain 
from climbing difficult hills or holding a hot pace when 
set by their companions. 
Strict moderation is an absolute essential to secure the 
benefits of bicycle riding from the standpoint of health. 
The occasional rider suffers perhaps most from overdo- 
ing the thing, but no one is exempt from the bad conse- 
quences of over-exertion. 
Professional racing men build up great powers of en- 
durance by careful training. Their muscles are hardened 
and strengthened by constant exercise, and their hearts, 
lungs and digestive systems gradually brought into trim 
to stand the increased demand made upon them. The 
professional understands that it is easdy possible to build 
up muscular power that may be hopelessly handicapped 
by poor digestion or a weak heart, and he knows that a 
symmetrical development of muscles and vital organs is 
essential to success. 
He is consequently careful to avoid excess in training 
and to guard against undue fatigue. Ac the time of his 
race, however, he cannot spare himself , and he rides to 
win, even if it costs his life. 
Huret, who holds a number of world's records for long 
distance races, says that when he was on the point of 
breaking the twenty-four-hour record — he actually 
covered 544 miles within that time — he was practically 
out of his Head. He was haunted by the fear of accident, 
which, as he became fatigued, seemed inevitable at every 
turn of the track, and made his riding absolute torture. 
All the arc lights on the track were merged into one 
gigantic electric globe that dazzled and blinded him, and 
for the time being the worla was afire and he in a 
delirium suffering the agony of the damned. 
What's in a Name. 
The FoBSST and Stkbam is put to press each week on Tuesday 
Correspondence intended for publication sTiould reach us at Ms 
atest.by Monday, and aajMtch earlier a* praaticabUt 
Our antipodean friends in Australia have names in their 
geographies that rival some of our own choice specimens 
as found in Maine and elsewhere. Here is a sample from 
the letter of a wheelman describing the road from Warr- 
nambool to Geelong: 
"A few words about the track in its present condition 
may not be out of place. Starting from Warrnambool, 
the road to Allansford has a very uneven surface for 
about four miles, thence on through Cudgee to Gar- 
voc it is very good. After leaving Garvoc a patch of 
new metal about half a mile long is met; after which, 
with the exception of a little rough ground before reach- 
ing Terang, the road right through to Pirron Yallock is 
perfect. Then comes the worst part of the journey. 
From Pirron Yallock for a distance of four miles the road 
surface is very uneven, and after passing through Colac 
the road, to within two miles of Winchelsea, is aU patches; 
from this point to Geelong the road is good." 
