April, 1920 
FOREST AND STREAM 
179 
Champion Phil’s Speed Ben 
performance doesn’t necessarily warrant 
his assuming the role of judge. Because 
at some time some amateur has owned 
or bought for some one a house pet, 
doesn’t qualify him as a dispenser of 
Blue Ribbons in the Setter and Pointer 
Ring at a Bench Show. 
Why not let each capable judge either 
of Field Trials or Bench shows choose an 
assistant from the ranks of those inter- 
ested and bring him along both by actual 
experience in the saddle or inside the gate 
until he has imbibed some of the knowl- 
edge hecessary to qualify as an expert 
and as an authority. Field Trial judg- 
ing needs the experienced man, one who 
can weign the work of the individual, the 
conditions, and has an ideal to work up 
to. Bird work, speed, class, judgment, 
endurance, — all must be considered and 
the man who sees in the dog the 
pointing and game finding instinct with 
the end in view only a bird killing, falls 
short of the requirements. The amateur 
working with the seasoned judge gets his 
point of view and soon should qualify. 
On the Bench even in our gun dogs we 
get another point of view and this is 
often sadly and horribly strained by 
many of our judges of today. 
At an exhibition lately held, the judg- 
ment of the judge passing on the sport- 
ing breeds was grotesque to say the least 
and it is difficult to bring ourselves to be- 
lieve any club benefits by such work. A 
judge passing on dogs who picks out his 
first, second and third choice and then is 
afraid to mix them up again fearing he 
could not make the same choice a second 
time does not know dogs nor type. 
That there are many men capable of 
judging dogs on points — by elimination 
is true, but the men who can judge 
straight through classes and come out 
true to type are few. Why not give the 
good judges a chance to school a pupil 
or two. No man can give universal sat- 
isfaction but to put up judges ignorant 
of the standards is criminal. 
THE WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW 
T HE 44th annual show of the West- 
minster Kennel Club has passed into 
history. Originally the Westminster 
Kennel Club was a shooting club pure 
and simple, established in 1877; its ini- 
tial idea being the improving of the vari- 
ous breeds of sporting dogs, many of 
New York’s most prominent sportsmen 
acting as its officers. 
The exhibiting of dogs began as far 
back as in the days of Gilmore’s Garden 
when the first dog show was held, only 
three shows being held in the present 
Grand Central Palace. The favorite show 
place was in the old Madison Square 
Garden. 
For many years Mr. James Mortimer 
was show superintendent and it is due 
chiefly to his efforts that the exhibition 
is now the greatest dog show on the con- 
tinent. Mr. George W. Gall is now the 
superintendent and handles the show, 
with its enormous amount of detail, to 
perfection. The show just closed was no 
exception to Mr. Gall’s usual efficiency. 
The exhibition of sporting dogs was not 
up to the usual standard. We were sorry 
to see .so very few Field Trial dogs on the 
bench, due no doubt, to the early date of 
the show, the dogs of the circuit not hav- 
ing filled their engagements. The judg- 
ing of these classes was done by Mr. 
William Warner of Grand Rapids, Mich. 
CHAMPION PHIL’S SPEED BEN 
O UR illustration shows this fine Eng- 
lish setter — owned and trained by 
Mr. William H. Smathers of Atlantic 
City, N. J. The photo was taken in the 
fall of 1919, in North Carolina. Ben has 
been a consistent and many times winner 
in Field Trials. Mr. Smathers attributes 
the marked success of the dog to his un- 
usual brain quality. Ben is as good a 
performer in the grouse covers as over 
the southern stubble fields on quail. 
THE LOVE OF A DOG 
K IPLING says: “Buy a pup and you 
buy love everlasting, a thing that 
cannot die.” Wonder what it 
means, “love everlasting?” Have you 
ever had the heart tighten in your chest, 
felt the sag of life, and the creeping 
shadows darken the sky, just for a dear 
old pal gone wrong, one who just whistled 
you off down the wind for a new game, a 
new friend, a new whim? Didn’t it make 
you wonder if such a thing as the true 
blue thread ran through things after all? 
And then a cold nose runs along into 
your hand, a head nestles on your knee, 
and those big appealing eyes say “I’m 
here, ‘old man,, and here to stay. What 
matters it to me if some other " 'rse 
holds more, some other voice say' ~ . me, 
I promise you a better bed, a mor iwy 
collar?’ You have my heart. My Rve, 
old pal, is everlasting. I can share your 
sorrow and your play. Only let me stay 
and the world may wag on. and all may 
call, but my world holds only you.” 
Only the love of a dog, friends, but the 
man who goes through life never know- 
ing what it means to be the master of a 
dog has missed more than he has dreamed 
of. Just a big heart, a voice that’s dumb. 
but “love everlasting” that cannot die.” 
Have you such a friend? 
FIELD TRIAL NEWS 
’T’HE National Free For All and Derby 
-*■ championships were run under 
wretched weather conditions. The Free 
For All being won by Dr. T. H. Clark’s 
“J. R.’s Boy” handled by Ed. Farrior; 
The Derby by Mr. A. G. C. Sage’s Pointer 
“The Ace” handled by J. L. Holloway. 
This win puts the name of “J. R.’s Boy” 
twice on the cup offered by the National 
Field Trial Club. 
’’"THE Pinehurst Trials, run at Pine- 
hurst, N. C., were also run under 
most unfortunate weather conditions, 
making it very unpleasant for dogs, 
handlers and the gallery. 
The open sweepstakes had 22 starters 
and was won by Mr. P. H. Powel’s setter 
dog “Banrock Tippah B” handled by his 
owner. The members stake had nineteen 
starters and was won by “Ashantee 
Dominant.” 
T HE National Championship, that 
most coveted of all Trial honors, has 
again been won by Mr. William 
Zeigler Jr., with that wonderful bit of 
dog fle.sh, Mary Montrose. This is Mary’s 
third win of the National Championship 
thus giving her owner the absolute pos- 
session of the famous Edward Dexter 
Cup with its inscription of the names of 
many famous dogs of past days. Mary 
thus concludes her brilliant career and 
retires to Noroton, Conn., the home of 
her owner — “Where may she live lony 
and prosper.” Mr. Zeigler is to be con- 
gratulated as the owner of the most 
brilliant performer of recent years. 
T HE Continental Subscription Stake 
held at Calhoun Ala., was won by 
that great little setter Cobb’s Hali, 
owned by that Prince of Sportsmen and 
Good Fellows, “Tv Cobb.” This hand- 
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