[Jan. 8, iSpS- 
POnfifetr AND STREAM. 
bottom prices, of the bag. For, judging from his criti- 
cism, it's money's worth he's after. Thus: 
2,626 pheasants at 85 cents per pair. 116.05 
539 wild ducks at 50 cents per pair....,' 269.50 
1,206 rabbits at 16 cents each. 192..% 
35 woodcock at VO cents each 24.50 
- A total of i,406, value $1,603.01 
Therefore, ten men in five days shoot $1,603.01 worth 
of game, or about $320.50 per day for ten guns; or $32.05; 
per gun per day. 
^he Mennel 
Fixtures. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
Feb. 15.— New England Kennel Club's fourteenth annual show, 
Boston. James L. Little, Sec'y. 
Jan. 17.— Brunswick Fur Club's ninth annual hunt, Barre, Mass, 
Bradford S. TUrpin, Sec'y. 
Jan. 18.— Butterly Bench Show Association's show, Grand Rap- 
ids, Mich. Miss Grace H. Griswold, Sec'v. 
Feb. 21.— Westminster Kennel Club's twenty-second annual show. 
New York. G. de F. Grant, Sec'y. 
March 1.— Mascoutah Kennel Club's show, Chicago. L. Lincoln, 
Sec y. 
March 9.— St. Louis Kennel Club's third annual show, St. Louis, 
Mo. Wm. Hutchinson, Sec'y, 
March 15.— Northwestern Kennel Club's dog show, St. Paul, 
Minn. E. D. Brown, Sec'y. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
•T,J|-"-i° T^lA S- F. T. Club's winter trials. West Point, Miss. W. 
B. Stafford, Sec y. 
c Ja"-,,!''.— Continental F. T. Club's triahs. New Albany, Miss. W. 
S. Bell, Sec y, ' 
T J^?- Pacific Coast Field Trial Club's trials, Bakersfield, Gal. 
J. M. Kjlganf, Sec'y. 
Jan. 24.— Champion Field Trial Association's Champion Stake, 
Tupelo, Miss. W. B. Stafford, Sec'y. 
Feb. 7.— Alabama Field Trial Club's second anntlal trials, Madi- 
son, Ala. H. K. Milner, Sec'y. 
The New Classification. 
Concerning the new classification we have had a num- 
ber- of inquiries, all of which indicate that the inquirers 
have given the matter but little thought and less study. 
It is palpable, furthermore, that many who have given 
the matter some study have very vague ideas as to the 
reasons why a champion is a champion, instead of being 
just a plain every-day dog, or why a plain every-day dog 
is"n®t a champion. 
What Constitutes a Champion? 
Free, unobstructed competition against all comers is 
the essence of a bona Ude championship. Any champion- 
ship won on any other lines is either a product of arbi- 
trary ruling or a sham. The rules should be such that 
a competitor, striving for championship honors, must 
make a competition of sufficient breadth and quality to 
warrant a reasonable inference that he has met all com- 
ers, either beating them by direct competition or indi- 
rectly by beating the best representatives, of near and 
more remote sections. The art of making champions 
without competition has no legitimate place in the mak- 
ing of rules. That is a matter of special study for those 
who desire the greatest honors with the least effort. 
In considering the older classification as compared 
with the new, we may here ask: Did the older classifi- 
cation make dogs compete properly for championship 
honors? No, positively no. It was absurdly inadequate 
and weak in its workings, and permitted the multiplica- 
tiom of championships till the honor of the title was much 
weakened. It was often bestowed on dogs which never 
would have been known outside of the open classes tin- 
der the new classification. No doubt there are those who 
would oppose the new classification for this reason alone. 
A classification which would enable every family to own 
a champion woidd not be without its advocates. 
But as the basis of all rules we must recognize that the 
essential of a championship is wide open competition. 
If the reader will agree to this as a starting point he will 
agreee in the main with what follows. 
Some Comparisons. 
A brief anal sis of the old classification and its im- 
perfections -yvill aid materially in a better understanding 
of the new. In a general way the old classification was 
faulty in that it afiforded a quick road to championship 
honors with an absurdly limited competition; in fact, 
the challenge class, strange as it may seem, afforded 
protection from competition in a way, as when a dog won 
all his honors in open classes in one section, and then 
was shown in a challenge class in another section where 
there were dogs he had never met nor beaten and where 
he had a walkover and a win. But let us examine the 
workings more specifically, and incidentally we may 
compare the two classifications in the points in which 
they agree, and thus dispose of much matter as we pro- 
ceed. 
As to the conditions governing the puppy class, we 
find them to be about the same as the new. The latter, 
however, further rules that no entry can be made of a 
puppy whose date of birth is unknown. That is a good 
ruling, since it prevents the showing of an aged dog in 
the puppy class. " 
There is no difference in the two classifications in re- 
spect to the novice class, though the new rule is much 
better worded. 
The open classes of the old classification and the junior 
classes of the- new are the same thing practically. The 
students of the old classification have no problem to solve 
in the new up to this point. 
We next come to the senior class, which in the new 
ji^--. classification corresponds to the challenge class of the 
* bid without its significance. A divergence begins. To 
make the resemblance and difference distinctly apparent, 
the text of the two are quoted in full: Old classification: 
"The challenge class shall be for all dogs having won 
four first prizes in the open classes. A dog having won 
three first prizes in the class, one of which shall have been 
won at a show offering not. less than $i,ooo m cash prizes, 
shall have the privilege of the wtUc ot cuampion without 
further competition. (This qualification does not apply 
to shows held west of the 95th degree of west longi- 
tude.)" 
Newclassification: "The senior class shall be for all dogs 
having \yon four or more first prizes at any recognized 
show, wins in the puppy and novice classes excepted. In 
entering a dog in the senior class it is necessary to spe- 
cify on the entry blank a sufficient number of first prize 
winnings, giving name and year of show, to entitle it to 
cornpete in such class, until such time as it has Avon in a 
.senior class, after which one senior win will be sufficient. 
These wins must be published in the catalogue." 
The senior class seems to be purposeless, aside from 
affording extra classification, and could be abolished with- 
piit loss. 
The Challenge Class and Walfcovers. 
It will be apparent that this class under the new classi- 
fication has lost entirely the significance of the old. 
Wisely so, for the old challenge class was an absurd 
grinder out of champions. In it a dog was practically 
fenced in from competitinon, and it was a fine juggling 
ground for the making of champions without competi- 
tion. But did not winners of four first prizes meet other 
winners of four first prizes in this challenge class? Theo- 
retically, yes; practically, no. A dog could secure his 
four wins by competing at the small shows, where the 
prizes were not sufficient to interest the regulars, and 
where a walkover was certain. Indeed, walkovers were 
the rule at the largest shows. Aside from the inherent 
weakness of the old rule, there developed conditions 
which tended still further to depreciate their worth. The 
professional "handlers" have various breeds of dogs; 
they could mutually assist each other in the championship 
juggle by one withholding from competition at one show 
and permitting his friend to secure a walkover for his 
challenge dog, while the friend reciprocates by doing the 
same favor for him in a challenge class of some other 
breed at the same show or at some subsequent show. 
Once in the challenge class, the dog then was protected 
from ofl:"ensive competition. The only thing to bring him 
out into the open was the special for the best dog of his 
breed, and this the owner could evade by stating on the 
entry blank, "Will not compete for specials." 
The challenge class was mostly a one-dog class. 
It was a class of competition called walkovers. The 
reports of shows reiterated with monotonous re- 
currence as the different breeds were touched upon that 
"Buster had a walko ver, or that he won without compe- 
tition, in the challenge class; in the corresponding bitch 
class Evangeline was alone and was looking well." 
Even the matter of decent conditioning was many times 
neglected, for no dog needs much conditioning to en- 
gage in a walkover. The dog is trotted into the ring, the 
judge gazes at him sharply, so that all may see that he 
has an X-ray eye, then he hands out the ribbon and it's 
all over — over quicker than you can read about it. It 
was nothing more than the handing over of a ribbon. Is 
that the essence of a championship? If any one not fa- 
miliar with these matters will investigate the records of 
the li.st of champions he will be astonished to find such 
a grand list of walkovers, and these are matters of record 
as true and meritorious warrant for the title which they 
produced — ^that is, champion of record. 
The walkover champion w^as the cheapener of cham- 
pions. He became so numerous and was often of such 
common merit that he was not much different from other 
dogs, save in the matter of mummery. Among the cham- 
pions, however, were a few first rate dogs, and from that 
down to fourth-raters more or less, many of the latter 
being champions by sneaking through a corner of the 
competition instead of through the middle of it. The 
average champion was largely the visible sign of a bench 
show fiction, a titled gladiator, a paradox which had been 
in the battle and yet had not been in any battle. It was a 
grave erroi^ to have ever recognized walkovers as wins 
having a championship significance. Of course owners 
plead that tliey had incurred great expense in showing 
their dogs, that it was not their fault that there was noth- 
ing to compete against them, presenting also all the other 
sophisms that people use when they wish to further their 
own interests in the most economical manner, but all 
that did not in the least change the fact that a walkover 
determined nothing in respect to a championship whose 
essence is competition. Tears, pleadings, money spent, 
walkovers, etc., in no wise determine that a dog has in 
any way beaten some other dqg. They are all irrelevant 
and immaterial to the purposed 
The challenge class was really a class of walkovers. 
The exceptions were a very small per cent. If there were 
two or three dogs making the rounds of the shows some 
judge would prefer one dog, some another. The exhibi- 
tor would hold aloof from the class when the judge was 
not favorable to his dog, and be present with the greatest 
air of assurance when he knew he had a sure thing. The 
preferences of judges at the shows where they would 
meet the weakest competition or none at all, and the ad- 
vantage to be now and then gained by bargaining in the 
way of permitting some friend to win in other classes 
for the like favor as desired, made the championship very 
much of a farce so far as competition -and representing 
any sterling merit are concerned. 
Its Advantages to Inferior Dogs. 
It was not such a difficult matter to steer even the 
third or fourth rate dog into a championship. The num- 
ber and quality of certain breeds vary greatly, one section 
compared with another, and indeed some breeds are 
almost entirely provincial. By way of illustrating this 
point, let us take the Boston terrier into consideration. 
At the Boston and New York shows these dogs are out 
in force. In the classes there present a vhc. dog might 
compete throughout his life without winning a cham- 
pionship. By sending him out on the circuit the class of 
competition might be such that the vhc. dog at Nev/ 
York and Boston might be a first prize winner on -the 
circuit, inasmuch as he might meet little or no compe- 
tition, or at all events because excellence is a relative 
quality. Once in the challenge class, the walkover act 
was easy. To bring out the point more clearly by a prac- 
tical example, let us consider three large shows of 1897 — 
Boston, New York and Chicago— and the Boston ter- 
rier competition at them. Let it be understood that this 
breed is ment>ioned only by way of illustration, as would 
be any other breed if mentioned in this connection. The 
classes at Boston and New York were well filled. At 
Chicago there were ten classes and twelve dogs. In five 
classes there were walkovers, one dog to a class. 
The regulars, knowing all the circumstances of each 
show, knew to a nicety the lines of least resistance in the- 
pursuit of a championship, and governed themselves ac- 
cordingly. 
The inadequacy of the classification was recognized 
long since, and efforts were made to correct it by requir- 
ing that one win of the three constituting a championship 
should be at a show offering not less than $1,000 in cash 
prizes, Prior to that one of the wins mu.st have been at 
a show which had not less than 500 entries. In theory 
either requirement would bring out a stronger compe- 
tition; in practice the challenge classes remained about 
the same, whatever the size of the show. At the New 
York show walkovers were almost as common as they 
were at the smaller shows. The effort to indirectly make 
a more difficidt competition by cash qualifications or 
number of entries was almost a complete failure. 
The challenge class, the walkover route from the open 
classes to a championship, was the end of the old classi- 
fication. Beyond it there was nothing more to conquer. 
In theory the three-time winner had vanquished all com- 
ers. In practice he might not have vanquished a dozen 
dogs, and his victories might be largely local. 
The new classification attaches no significance to the 
challenge class. For this alone it should receive the 
warm commendation of all who admire the sterling ar- 
ticle and detest th'e sham. 
The Free-for-all Class. 
The free-for-all class is the next one of the new classi- 
fication, as follows: "The free-for-all class shall be for all 
dogs of any age over six months. No prize winner shall 
be debarred from competing." Here is a class which 
permits of direct competition between all dogs which de- 
sire to try conclusions. What is a bench show for.'' Com- 
petition. There you have it. How are genuine cham- 
pionships made? Competition again. The new classifi- 
cation provides for it at every turn. 
The Winners' Class. 
We now come to the winners' class, from which cham- 
pions emerge. I will quote its rule in full: "All shows 
offeriftg cash prizes for three of the above classes, for 
any one breed, one of which must be the free-for-all 
class, shall be empowered to provide for that breed a 
winners' class for the dogs which have won the first 
prizes in said classes, and the winner of three first prizes 
in such winners' classes will thereby become a champion 
of record, and be so registered by the American Kennel 
Club. No class winner can be withdrawn from compe- 
tition in the winners' class. No entry shall be charged 
for exhibits in the winners' class." The immunity of the 
walkover champion is gone, Competition is now manda- 
tory. Instead of being absurdly guarded from all the 
dogs in the show, as he was in the old challenge class, 
the would-be champion must now face all the best dogs 
of his breed, and instead of sneaking through without 
competition he must compete. That is the essence of the 
championship. There may now be fewer champions and 
fewer fourth-rate dogs in the championship, but the 
whole interest will be just so much further from a sham. 
The Miscellaneous Class. 
This class has the same significance as in the old classi- 
fication. 
Amendments. 
One amendment to the rules to be passed upon at the 
next meeting of the A. K. C. is in a way a return to a re- 
stricted competition, an eftort to make a championship 
easy to retain. To "No class winner can be withdrawn 
from competition in the winners" class" the new contem- 
plated amendment adds, "except those dogs which have 
already won their championships." In other words, the 
champion asks permission, if you please, sir, to compete 
in the senior class as long as he pleases without any 
danger of losing his laurels to some better dog in the 
winners' class. VVhat then does the champion go to the 
show for? For something easy. It would seem to be 
the better way for him to meet all there was coming, or 
if he cannot hold his laurels to stay out of the competi- 
tion. The day of fitting rules to the circumstances ot the 
dog instead of to the circumstances of the championship 
should be of the past. If a dog is a real champion, he 
should not be afraid to meet anything on earth within 
the championship requirements, if he is not a real cham- 
pion, then there is a reason for him to hunt for cover. 
A competition necessarily implies that some lose, some 
win; but the champion, the dog which should represent 
the highest and broadest competition, asks for rules 
which will make a championship a sanctuary instead of 
tlie high merit which the world at large understands it 
to be. 
The Universality of Princijsle, 
The new classification, being based on competition 
alone, is applicable to all sections alike. The principles 
of a championship are the same on the Atlantic or Pa- 
cific Coast or anywhere else. It is shorn now of the old 
arbitrary and artificial qualifications which sought to 
accomplish by indirection what can only be accom- 
plished by actual competition. It is moreover so ar- 
ranged as to be adjustable to the needs or means of the 
smallest shows or the greatest. New York can select 
a satisfactory classification from the new, and a pro- 
vincial town can modify it to suit its circumstances. It 
is universal in its application because it is founded on 
a universal principle. 
The Framers of It. 
The gentlemen who framed the new classification were 
thoroughly informed in the theory and practice of bench 
show competition. They thoroughly understood the 
workings and imperfections of the old classification. 
They thoroughly comprehended what constitutes genuine 
competition and genuine honors. The delegates of the 
