Topi Tl^e V--^^-^' l^pisode ai^d ottier "A steadier rider never threw her limb o'er leather, She was g-ame to pound through any kind of weather, L«ass of promise, she." Reicinj, Hui7t!i7s(> Steeplecb^isiosif Club Life, etc. BY m ILLUSTRATED. iillllliiliiiillllliillililililiilli 3 9090 013 420 837 •n Webster Family Ubrary of ^^^^}^ Cummings Scho6! ot Veterinary ^AedlClne at Tufts University/ 200VfcstbQfO:Roao Th^ Toi^R^ANCn-Clyl^NDnNNm ^PI^OD^ Thb i^ni5vii.i.n i5nTTnR3> RACING, HUNTING, STKEPLIiCHASING, CIvUBS, AND CLUB LIFE, ETC. Pastime for princes! prime sport of our nation Strength in their sinew, and bloom on their cheek ; Health to the old, to the young- recreation ; All for enjoj-ment the hunting field seek. Eager and emulous only, not spiteful, Grudging no friend, though ourselves he may beat Just enough danger to make sport delightful Toil just suiEcient to make slumber sweet." CLARENCE D. LEVEY. (MBI.VII.I.K.) Copyright, 1892, C. D. Levey. mmmm\m 1441 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. To Jamks Gordon Be;nnett, to whom all lovers of manly sports on land and water owe a debt of g-ratitude. The g-enerosity of his nature and the encouragement he has given to manly athletic out door life in every quarter of the world, are too well known to require more than mere mention. This encouragement to healthy out door life has left its favorable mark wherever James Gordon Bknnktt has made his home, and it is with this in mind that this dedication is made with the highest esteem of the author. PR^PACC. ^ I ^HE pages of this book contain records of events ■*- which actually took place just as they are de- scribed. The author hopes that these stories will appeal to that increasing- class of Americans who enjoy club life and have both the inclination and the leisure to make the noblest of the brute creation, the horse and the dog-, their companions in sport and field. The bonds of sympathetic aifection which link hu- manity with these, its most devoted friends among- the animals, have never been more profoundly felt than at this time. The author will feel amply repaid if these "o'er true tales," shall give the reader as much pleas- ure in perusing as he has found in their writing. Some of these sketches have appeared in print before in different American and Ejnglish journals, and the author begs to thank his former publishers for their courtesy in allowing this reproduction. INDEX. FAGB The Torrance-Clendennin Episode 5 Diana on Horseback 29 With the Foxhounds 38 The Objects of Racing 43 American and English Horses 51 Anecdotes of the Turf 56 Hints for Drivers 61 Experts on Horseback 64 Horse Dealers' Tricks 69 Pranks of English Bloods 74 English Turf Stories 77 Clubs and Club lyife 83 They Ride to Hounds 88 Falconry in England 92 Across Hill and Dale 95 Riders of Good Stock 100 The Thoroughbreds' Decline 106 Jockej's and Racers 110 Racing as it Was and Is 115 Retrospect. With Fox and Hounds, Here and There. .121 Canines' Fine Points 125 Whips of High Degree 129 Our Social Skeletons 133 Stories from the Stables 138 Dining at the Clubs 143 Farming for Pleasure 148 The Decline of the Thoroughbred, (Second I^ seconds. Creditable enough ; but with weight taken into account, one-third of a second per furlong slower than the English horses of the best record were doing at the same time. It is likely that we are not up^ to English performances yet, but it is fair to consider the loose assertions and unsupported evidence of many of the alleged records of single mile performances in the last century absurd. Such, for instance, as a mile a minute. Stoutness was undoubtedly more common in the olden time than now, but our present racer is in every way a more elegant specimen of the perfect beast, standing as he does at least a hand higher, and more symmetrically curved in fascinating outline. At the same time it is to be regretted that we are attaining this early speed at the cost of permanent general improvement of the breed, the original pur- 48 The Objects of Racing. pose of racing, and when that purpose is ignored the days of racing prosperty are numbered. The present puroose of breeding for the two-year-old stakes, and finding purchasers for that market, undoubtedly does more than anything else to destroy the great de- sideratum for which racing should exist — which is the production of the best type of useful horse and s-ood, sound roadsters. Nor does it appear probable that, while the great monetary inducements abound, breeders or buyers are going to desist from catering to this market. However, unless this is corrected, what is going to restore the former condition of hardy constitution and legs of steel, lamentably deficient at present. If, years ago, our government had a suitable breeding establishment, and a requisite number of trained horses at the commencement of the civil war, it is not an exaggeration to say that the whole cost of maintenance for a period of almost fifty years would have been met with the saving of a year or so, by the ability of the government to rapidly move large bodies of men from point to point. Some of our best regular of&cers and admittedly the most intelligent cavalry men, such as Lieutenant-General Philip Sheridan and General A. H. Davis, have repeatedly shown the utility, economy and urgent necessity of such a breed- ing establishment such as for many years past I have been urging. It is sad to relate they have not been successful in having Congress make the law and appropriation therefor. In a country like ours of im- mense distances, not everywhere provided with rail- road facilities, the necessity for the use of extensive The Objects of Racing. 49 quantities of cavalry horses is frequently more appar- ent than occasion calls for in foreign territory already provided with such establishments. The sales of surplus stock and fees for stal- lion service, with the g-overnmental prestig-e of such an institution, if it were conducted with the ordinary reg-ard for economy, would speedily pay its own way almost if not quite entirely. From such a one a very superior class of horses would be produced and the very best type of animal for useful purposes would speedily follow. Again, referring to the two- year-old stakes, when breeders and makers of stakes realize that to encourage two-year-old form races is to the great disadvantage of the perfect horse and against the true interests for which racing was and is intended, it is not to be doubted that such will either be entirely abandoned or discouraged by small purses. The injury that our yearlings receive from such races is readily apparent, from the lack of stamina observed later in life — partly a direct inheri- tance of the evil result of early overwork at too tender an age of sire and dam. The legislature of the State of New York having recognized racing as an institu- tion of the State, by virtue of receiving into the State Treasurer's office a portion of the public receipts, I should like to see all public races under the control of a board to be designated by the Senate and Assembl3^ The members of our jockey clubs are too much con- cerned with racing themselves, too closely identified in some cases with pool-selling interests, to expect anything akin to perfect protection of the public 50 The Objects of Racing. interests or to reform themselves. But if obliged to submit their prog-rammes to a responsible board, and if certain rules were drawn up for their guidance and they were compelled to abide by official decisions, a far better state of affairs would exist. Betting against your own horse with the intention of robbing the public, running horses to lose, should be made a penal offence. Until something of the kind is done, the turf will not be restored to a condition of genuine utility. At the same time, some regulations as to odds laid by bookmakers could be effected in the public interest. In this country, where for instance odds of ten to one are laid, it can be confidently asserted, odds of forty to one would be the current foreign race course quota- tions. Five to one here, twenty to one there, and so on in the same ratio. I will be glad to see the time come when the bookmakers will not be able to plead the extortionate charges they allege are imposed npou them by the associations as an excuse for the milking process the patient public are now receiving from them. SI American vs. Epglisb Horses, aT the end of the last century and the beg-inning- of this, half-bred horses constantly appeared on the turf, but since the establishment of the racing- calendar, the thoroughbred has, with very few exceptions, alone fig-ured at Eng-lish race meeting-s. As long- ag-o as 1750, in Eng-land, a race horse had been produced that it was discovered to^ be detrimental to continue crossing- with Oriental strains. There has been much more intelligence shown in America than in England, up to a comparatively recent period, in breeding only from stallions which could stay a distance, but unfortunately we are mak- ing the same error the English have in permitting short races and early profits to control us. Inevitably this will lead to the propagation of stallions deficient in stamina and no improvement of the breed. In long distance races the stoutly built, matured animal will inevitably race down the light one, and in short races the reverse will be the case. The love of money and lust for early gain alone induces owners to run animals before their bones are set and the tissue of their bodies fully developed. Of every 1,000 men attending race meetings 950 are indifferent to everything but profit. The magnetic influence of the bookmaker enslaves them, and the horse is only an object to make money. There are so many instances of the evil results of the debasing influence of betting that it is superfluous to enumerate them; a horse win- ning one day and losing the next, with the ^ same weight, distance, in the pink of condition, and in the 52 American vs. Engi^ish Horses. same reltively valuable company. It is perfectly true that a horse may be fit one day and unfit the next, but in many particular cases it would appear probable that the influence of the Mephistopheles of the g-ambling- ring" had him accommodated to the dice box. It is not really apparent that the race course of to-day is any advantag-e in the production of utility hor- ses, as it propag-ates only the racing- class, illy adapted for g-eneral utility purposes, seldom good at any pace but galloping-, and useless for draft traffic. If Admiral Rous, the famous authority of his day, was correct in his surmise of the reason for the great superiority the English race horses attained, that it was the damp, foggy climate of England making pasture which gave him size, vigor and appetite, Newport, R. I., and its vicinity, which closely re- sembles England for many months in the year, should be a good place for breeding purposes. Nothing would encourage the breed of horses and elevate the race course correspondingly so much as a grand na- tional prize of say $25,000 for the four-year-olds and upwards, three miles, which would induce owners to show more mercy to young stock. The institution of larger stakes for longer distances would, in a great measure, preserve from accidents common to youth, and conserve their powers for greater performances than the American public has yet seen on the race course. A singular illustration of the fact that his- tory repeats itself, is that the love of racing smouldered in the hearts of Americans during our civil war just as it did in England during their civil wars, and broke out into full flame after the restoration, when it fell to the lot of Charles II. to become one of the most dis- tinguished patrons of the turf it had ever known. Charles II. established the course at Newmarket, built a palace and stables there, organized race meetings, and during his reign, was the largest American vs. Encwsh Horses. S3 sing-le-handed importer of Oriental horses. The power of Charles II. was enlisted to introduce Oriental horses throug-h the medium of the Duke of Newcastle. In 1667 Newcastle published his work on horse- manship, which he dedicated to Charles II. and it was throug-h the strong- impression made upon his mind and his courtiers that ag-ents were sent to distant countries to procure Oriental horses. The duke was an exile during- the commonwealth, visited various countries, and in so doing- was enabled to note the peculiarities of equine stock in individual countries, and from among- them he selected the Barb as his ideal of what a horse should be. The duke, than whom none was at the period more competent to judg-e in selection of crosses, preferred a Barbary horse, and g-ave decided preference after to a Spanish stallion. Soon the royal stables were filled with the cream of Barbary, Turkey, Persia and Arabia, and Charles had the finest breeding- establishment in the world, and it was he who first put in motion the animal machinery which has ever since retained its impression on the Eng-lish, and consequently the American blood horse. It must be assumed without fear of contradiction that those animals were mated with the Oriental importa- tions whose offspring's were renowned turf winners. One of the evil results of early training- not be- fore mentioned, is the impossibility of conditioning- an animal at an early ag-e, say of a three-year-old even, as compared to a four-year one, every such young-ster is sent out to race and work upon imperfect and un- finished machinery. Take, for instance Stockwell, v/ho had not eaten for two days before running- for the Derby, caused by the soreness of his g-ums consequent upon early dentition, and who, it will be remembered, althoug-h a great favorite, failed to win. And there are numerous other young- horses that would have raced to the front had not slig-ht maladies 54 American vs. Engi5 ^P^n their mounts and start a train- ing- stable. As it is only in a few cases of more than ordinary successful wins that they receive larg-e sums, they are not overpaid. And, taking- everything* into con- sideration, jeopardy to life and limb and the hazards of their calling-, their compulsory dietary restrictions to keep down weight, a jockey's life is not a particu- larly enviable one. The leng-th of years a jockey is employed is not a very great one ; with increasing years the nerve departs, and fashion is fickle. A few men are fashionable this season and discarded the next. As steeplechases permit by the heavy weight imposed, the employment of jockeys whose increasing weight has rendered them unfit for flat racing, and is about the only means of giving them legitimate employment, it is a sport which should be encouraged and not discarded. Sheepshead Bay, for instance, no longer gives steeplechases, but has supplanted them with hurdle races, a far more dangerous sport, which allows a lot of needy half broken down and untrained jumpers to compete to the risk of life and limb, to a far greater extent than carefully ridden •and well-trained cross-country racers would. As a rule jockeys are superior in morals to their masters. Jockeys and Racers. 113 And seldom are they known to take the bribe that is theirs if acceptable. It is true that a jockey has to take orders to ride behind, but there are even a few who would decline such a mount. In important races, such, for instance, as the last Suburban, the jockeys have generally had several gallops before the race. But there are some who never have crossed their legs over the particular horse they were engaged to ride until the bell was rung. So it is very astonishing what extraordinary capabilities some of them show, considering it is their first mount upon this particular horse, all infor- mation as to peculiarities being received from the trainer, who has never himself mounted the animal, and his information is, at best, second hand. How- ever, if an artist, the jockey will almost ride his horse to perfection. Still, the previous riding of a horse is a great advantage to a jockey, and nothing but the desire to keep up an uncertainty should ever prevent it in important events. It is a pity that so many own and run horses who never have crossed a limb over a thoroughbred horse to extend him in their lives, and consequently are in absolute igno- rance of the countless peculiarities almost of the blooded youngsters. For each one in itself has its own erratic ways. The jockeys know, but frequently are in such awe of their masters that they are de- prived of the power of expression. Such jockeys frequently ride contrary to command because they feel they are in possession of better information than received instructions. It is for this reason that they often win where they otherwise would fail. It is to be regretted that sometimes the master is wiser than the jockey fancies. For the horse intended by the owner to lose, wins — the master is out of pocket and seeks for some trivial excuse later on to discharge him. Lucky for the jockey if he has the prestige of at 114 Jockeys and Racers. least a "win "to his credit, to seek an eng-agement elsewhere. Upon the eng-ag-ement of a jockey he is told at what weig-ht he must ride at, and down to that he is expected to come. Usually the jockey finds his own saddle, not the bridle. If there is any overweight, the jockey must declare it at the scales. Much complaint is frequently heard against the tardy starting of jockeys. If the flag- was abolished and a loud bell substituted — one which could be heard all over the course— it would enable jockeys to pay better attention to their mounts. When a horse's head is pointing in another direction it is almost im- possible for a jockey to keep his eye on the flag-. Nor is this all. The ear, being quicker than the eye, the quick-witted thoroug-hbred, becoming accustomed to the bell like the car horses, would be off at once and better time would be made. It has often been remarked that our starters should be well-bred g-entlemen of unquestionable integ-rity, whose com- panions were as far removed as possible from those of professional horsemen of sporting- characters. There is entirely too much scandal, whether true or not, floating- around this official place. And also, it is to be reg-retted that singular and inexplicable coincidences have recently not tended to the discour- ag-ement of these rumors. Unless speedy recov- ery from such an impression ensues, racing- attend- ance will surely diminish. The truest racing interests demand argus-eyed vigilance, combined with press publicity of anything- scandalous, for speedy cor- rection. If real gentlemen held starters' places, they might not at first be quite as keen as the profes- sional ones, but they would speedily learn, and the betting public would feel that if their money was lost they at least had a fair race for their money. Then, again, the financial and moral interests of the racing- Jockeys and Racers. 115 associations would be better subserved. While writ- ing- in this connection I think it would be well if it were made a penal offense for any one to surreptiti- ously obtain information or steal a trial^ of horses. The general public show vastly more intellig-ence than appears upon the surface with race committees, or than such committees think they may possess, and the day is not far distant when the public judgment of pace will get down to such a fine point that through a good field glass they will be able to discern what jockeys are overriding, underworking or monkeying with their mounts. ^fe KZiCiT)% ^5 it Wais ^Y)^ Is WITHIN the memory of man such immense crowds have not, in the United States, at least, continuously visited race courses as do to-day. The Irish contingent are pas- sionately fond of racing between the flags, and steeple- chasing nestles closer to their hearts than the flat (witness the Milesian enthusiasm at Jerome this fall). The remembrance of Brunette and Abd El Kader will be green when Faugh-a-Ballagh, the Baron and Knight of St. George are forgotten. When Dugald Bannatyne, in 1872-3, produced Milesian, Duffy and Mitchell upon the race course at Monmouth Park, there was not a Celt within 100 miles that did not wish he were there to see. But other nat- ionalities, en masse, cared as little as if they were grif&ns for the cross country champions. 116 Racing as it Was and Is. In the early years of racing- m Eng-land a blood horse was the idol of the Briton, and before railways were readily accessible it was a common occurrence year after year to see Yorkshiremen walking- throug-h the nig-ht eighteen or twenty miles, taking- up a g-ood pos- ition next the rail and walking- home ag-ain from Don- caster. In the north and east riding-s of Yorkshire there was scarely a farm of note that did not have its little oval country courses, dotted with white posts and ap- proached by wide rustic gates, through which gener- ation after generation of county families vied with each other in importing the best blood. Twenty years ago the Yorkshire country and surroundings would show on their country roads a sheeted regiment of racers with their saddle-bags on their backs and their tiny grooms heading them, Indian file, on their w^ay to race meetings. The attendance at American meetings is as large, and the spirit of enjoyment is as great as in England, but we have not the roadside houses where the inn- keepers are posted on the racing events, nor have we the jolly landlords to discourse without any bidding to favored groops by the hour. No private mail coach passes by our roadside taverns to races, nor do^ guard or coachman look in with longing regret, that views on racing probabilities cannot be exchanged for hot drinks. Boniface cares for trotting yet, and will not "catch on" to running racing. In the days of old, you could not visit an inn on the Bloomingdale road that the genial proprietor would not give you points on that occult science, training, in which his word was law, and any deviation from it dis- aster, and the sons and daughters could tell how the jockeys could bring their too solid flesh to melt ten or fifteen pounds, and how to bring a horse to the post as fit as any trainer's. Racing as it Was and Is. 117 It was in these piping- time of peace, in the old days "afore the war," when trotting- was under saddle and to sulky that g-enial Boniface held sway over admiringy multitudes, and the stable boy went his way whistling- and sing-ing-: *' I'll bet my money on a bobtail nag-, doo-da, doo-da, day." Training in our g-randfathers' day, if memory has not failed, was much heavier than in this rapid era. Heavy-clothed sweats have g-one out of fashion, except a horse is fearfully g-ross. We are much more consid- erate now than we were then. The over preparation of the famous Voltigeur in his match preparation, so that his form wholly left him and he could not be coax- ed to feed, was a brilliant example that left a valuable lesson behind. In the olden days there were some curious super- stitions among- jockeys, one of Vv'hich was the last out of the paddock was to be the first home in the race, and each jockey was tenacious on this point for luck. In this era of lightweight riding-, where intelli- g-ence and strength are called for, I cannot help think- ing that Tom Thumb, if alive, would have been in de- mand, and, with his keen love of sport, our Dwj^ers and company would surely have had him schooled for the racing voyage. Jockeyship as an art has not gone back, and it would be strange if it had, seeing the immense practice boys get in handicaps all over the country. Many bright young jocks will have ridden as many races at twenty as their less lucky grandfathers had done at forty. Strong lads are soon qualified to ride anything if it is the size of a camel or has the mouth of a zebra, and finish with precision. The jockey of to-day is superior to his father, and some years ago it was twenty to one on the man finishing alongside a young- ster, now the former finds it impossible to come it over 118 Racing as it Was and Is. the youth, and the old trick of gammoning young artful has passed. For when the lad sees the old man taking it easy he catches him at the post, and boj^s are not held as cheaply now as they were in the past in consequence. No profession is more trying than the jocks in every way. Strong walks, dietary privations and the years to retrieve even a false suspicion or a false step. Many morbid minds of racing men do not believe any race is run square, and the merest novice who has lost his money considers himself competent to criticise and pronounce sweeping judgment. Jockeys survive this criticism, but owners and trainers are fretful, and are ever ready to punish the jockeys as an excuse for their horses being beaten. There are more than enough instances of owners physicking their horses before a great race because they dare not trust their jockey with pulling instruct- ions, and after his losing the race, consequent upon his mount's unfortunate condition, they discharge the jocke}^ to shield themselves, and make the rider the scapegoat. Another very unfortunate position a professional has is this: An owner can retain a jockey's services and 3'et refuse to let him have mounts from his stable, and by not riding for his stable the fact becomes noticed to his detriment; they are hindered from making en- gagements for other stables, who can never feel sure they will be able to get them, seeing that this dormant prior claim is pretty certain to be interposed for a sin- gle race or so, just when they most want them. There is a reverse side to the argument, of course, that the race horse owner presents which is correct in principle, and which is, that without binding laws, jockeys would give up masters perpetually to rival stables, for big ' 'keeps" as the boys say. The only large bettors we have had on this side of the pond were Pierre Lorillard, "Plunger" Walton and the Dwyers, though Racing as it Was and Is. 119 it has not generally been thought that either Pierre Lorillard or the Dwyers ever stood to win over $50,000 on any event. Theodore Walton, the "Plunger" has, however, when he was in his betting prime at New- market, stood to win upon a single race $200,000. These sums though enormous, are not uncommon in Great Britain. A club house for betting was built in 1827 (as long ago as that), the decorations of which cost $470,000 alone. It was owned by Crockford, who was the turf Rothschild of his day. Among the great bettors of the olden time might be mentioned one Gully, who won $175,000 on Margrade for the St. Leger, and $250,000 on St. Giles for the Derby. Gully and one Risdale were partners, and they had some sort of a dispute over the spoils. Their joint books showed a balance on settling up of over $400,000, a pretty respectable sum. Next to Plunger Walton, w^hose American and Eng- lish career was so meteoric, perhaps Lord George Bent- wick was the nearest approach; but Bentwick, like Walton, gained his experience in one year — the cruci- ble of which was the loss of $135,000 in twelve months. With all the craze racing is in America it has never developed the oddities of its patron saint old England. For instance, the betting on the Derby, which is enor- mous, is five times greater than on the St. Leger; and the Cambridgeshire induces men to play double or quits. The extensive and peculiar system of giving large credits on English courses show frequently ludicrous examples. For instance, at Doncaster there are strange chases between debtors and creditors. Runaway debt- ors will drive off madly to the station sometimes, to catch the first train either way, and the creditor who has sought in vain for the much wished for face in the racing enclosure, will follow in hot haste. Sometimes the debtor will take for the nearest woods and secrete himself until nightfall. However, it can scarcely be 120 Racing as it Was and Is. said with truth that suicides in consequence of turf losses are ever heard of. As long- ag-o as 1856 there were in Eng-land about two hundred well known bookmakers. There was one Harry Hill (could he have been our Harry?) who was very prominent as a bookmaker on foals. This Harry Hill had a $50,000 yearling, and laid his one hundred, seventy-five or fifty to one odd, according-ly as he fancied the pedig-ree of the yearling he laid against. It is impossible to speak with any degree of accur- acy as to what bookmakers win, as there are alwa3's so many canards floating about as to books and win- nings, and it is not possible to draw a correct conclu- sion as to what portion of a bookmaker's winnings are for his own account, and what portion are on commis- sion. Of course such prominent firms as Kelly & Bliss, Cridge & Co. , and other large sporting men of New York could give a great deal of valuable information if they chose to, but it would not be to their interest, and the public would not be likely to be correctly informed if inquiry were made by the press or for public infor- mation. 121 Retrospect. Witb Fox zvnd Houpd^, Here Zii7^ feet from take off to landing. This was at Dalby. 125 CApipc^' Fit)e Points- ANNUAL exhibitions in this country have taken as complete a hold of the public mind as they have in Great Britain, and quite as completely as the old time favorite attrac- tions. At the recent dog- exhibitions many a novice in entering- for competition felt that his entry should have been successful. ' ' The choice of points is a purely arbitrary one, to otherwise reg-ard it (says a standard authority), would be useless, for instance in toy dogs a small eye is a g-reat merit in one breed (fox terrier), and is con- sidered a defect in another (King- Charles' spaniel).'' To avoid the arbitrary ruling-s mentioned a series of articles was published by judg-es, connoisseurs, breeders and fanciers describing- each breed and allot- ting- to each a scale of points. Subsequently the matter was taken up by the National Dog- Club, tak- ing- series as a ground work, which is now accepted, as competent and well defined dog law. The plan adopted under these points are almost universally accepted in Great Britain. Of that noble member of the canine family, the St. Bernard so highly esteemed by all Switzerland tourists, the highest representative of the family up to a recent period, was Tell, described by one of the leading authorities as follows: Tell was sired by Hero, dam Diana. Hero was a descendant of the famous Barry. Tell measured 30>^ inches high at shoulders : length from nose to tip of tail, 7.0; girth of chest, 0.36; girth of arm, 0.13; weight, 147 pounds. The highest authorities accord to pugs the fol- lowing description as indicative of prize merit: A 126 Canines' Fine Points. pug" prize winner should have puckered forehead, be of fawn or putty color, devoid of smut or blackness; head round, forehead hig-h, short nose, level teeth, full black eye, small, silky black ears, close to the head and a black mole with three hairs in it on each. The neck should be strong- and thick, devoid of all loose or puckered skin. As all to3^s are beautiful by comparison, no one can accurately form a correct idea of a dog"s' relative value, unless he is pretty well informed upon the subject. A black trace running- from the head to the tail down the backbone is too important to be omitted in closing the important points of this favorite of ladies. It might be remarked, while on the subject of household pets, probably the most intelligent are the Scotch terrier class, and when not bred too fine, or confined too much within doors, are useful to an unusual degree as destroyers of vermin, and an unex- celled drawing room adornment. The Skye, or Scotch, should not have too silky hair, as that would indicate too close an alliance with the poodle blood. A good Skye from the nose to the tip of its tail should be at least three times its height or more. In a well coated species its eyes should be concealed and the nose may be obscured, although visible on close in- spection. Kyes should be small, color dark, thick hair on ears about two and a half to three inches long. There has developed among admirers of these dogs a penchant for prick ears, as indicative of their being harder and quicker at running; they should have a level mouth, with large black nose. Fouleys may be more or less bandy, feet not very strong, with a tendency to flatness; tail carried horizontally with a tendency to sweep, so that the tip is a little below the level of the back. In weight they may be found 10 to 18 pounds. Steel, with black tips, are the most Canines' Fine Points. 127 fancied; then fawn, dark brown tips to the head or tail; then dark, slatey blue, slig-htly g-rizzled, without white; then black and pure fawn in order mentioned. The hair should be straig-ht, silkiness or wooliness or curl avoided. Excepting- on the top of the head, it may have a slight tendency to the first named condition. Fox terriers are enormously in fashion, althoug-h the use which called them into being-, hunting- the cubs of foxes out of their burrows in the g-round and to scatter them as a preliminary to the pursuit of fox hunting-, does not now exist here. The fox terrier's head should be flat and narrow, growing- wider as nearing the ears, jaw strong, clothed well with muscle^ mouth also level, well clothed with teeth, small eyes, keen and full of expression, long strong back with light neck, oblique powerful shoulders, quarters and thighs also muscular, legs and feet strong and straight, closely resembling the foxhound, preponderance of white in color. Regarding the superb animal, the pointer — which is strictly a field dog, and to confine him to a city mansion is the refinement of cruelty— the head should be large, not heavy; wide across the ears, head long and broad; teeth even with square front outline; thin ears, long and soft ; medium eyes, soft, large and in- telligent. A peculiarly rounded outline on the upper side of the neck marks the pointer being well bred from others ; broad, deep loin, with great propelling power, oblique shoulders, with broad, full muscle; full chest. The feet and legs must be good. A dog with a great deal of white is most preferred, as easily dis- tinguishable in stubble field. The setter's points are : The head should be somewhat lighter than the pointer, nose long, with slight tendency to fall in between the eyes; the corners about 3}i inches from its tip to 4 inches; 128 Canines' Fine Points. larg"e open nostrils of a dark color, level teeth, ears about 6 inches, low set and well forward; eyes larg-e and melting-, full of affection; neck long- and thin; the feet and leg-s should resemble the pointer; coat fine and silky. The hair should be soft and silky, the neck should be strong- and muscular, shoulders broad and prominent, chest medium depth, broad, well devel- oped and muscular; body and loins strong- and power- ful, loins slightly drooping toward root of tail. Fore leg-s strong-, muscular, straig-ht; hind leg-s strong, and bent and very short from hock to foot; feet strong- and round, not too small, and well feathered between the toes; tail thin and straight, the coat wavy and silky, colors black, brown, liver, black and white, liver and white and lemon and white, in order of preference as named. The clumber spaniel until comparatively recent years has been unknown in England, excepting in the family of the Duke of Newcastle. This is a dog of about 45 lbs. weight, says a high authority, passion- ately fond of the gun. He will devotedly follow his master with the gun, but scarcely cares to endure fatigue without it. They are extremely intelligent, and will do everything but talk. The head should be large and long, eyes large and thoughtful, nose and lips liver color, back long and straight, chest wide and deep, shoulders thick and wide, loins straight and strong, legs straight, very stout and strong, stern set low, generally docked, but if so should be left eleven inches long; color pale true lemon, coat soft, shin}^, silky, nearly straight. The cocker spaniel is much smaller than the clumber, and should not exceed 18 lbs. in weight for female and 29 lbs. for dogs. They may be of any color, more or less marked with white. The head should be round and of medium length, muzzle wide Canines' Fink Points. 129 and well developed and taper slig^htly close to the end; the eye should be medium, not too full; the ears should measure 22 to 24 across the head. Those who love their household pets should endeavor to give them as much outdoor air, exercise and life as possible. Better underfeed than overfeed them. Fanciers should know that large, wooly dogs suffer intensely from enforced indoor life in summer. Owners should endeavor to give their dogs as much of the life proper that their nature and Creator intended they should have, and hot city streets and confined, carpeted rooms are in many ways a great source of their ill health and positive suffering. Wbip^ of Higb Degree. THERE exists in these days quite a mania for coaching, as can be readily observed by stroll- ers along Central Park and nearby country roads. Not by any means are the only drivers of spanking, four-in-hand teams written about, or their names read in the public press, although many, inclu- ding Colonel Kane's name have gTown historic. To Captain Kane, wrongfully called Colonel, is truthfully ascribed the honor of reintroducing coaching to this vicinity. To Delancey Kane's influence we owe the presence of many aspirants of the whip and gaudy, high-stepping teams that call back the memory of the days when coaching was in its glory. Excepting Captain Kane, there are few here who ever really worked a coach, by night and by day, through mud and rain, frost and snow, and who have really done 130 Whips of High Degree. the thing" rough and smooth. Besides the Captain's team, a tour through the Park on almost any of these lovely autumn afternoons will show four handsome bays, the wheelers standing about sixteen hands and leaders fifteen and a half, neatly handled by Theodore A. Havemeyer, with Mrs. Turnbull one day, or Mrs. Helyar another, or upon another occasion Miss Susanne Bancroft, and accompanying the party, one can fre- quently find Mr. Woodbury Kane, Elliot Gregory and Mr. Tom Howard there. In the present mode of travelling", comfortable and expeditious as it is, there is little of the amuse- ment there formerly was on the road. The tea kettle with its steam has taken the place of the four bright bays, the grimy engine driver and stoker the place of the coachman. When the old time masterly hands of Mr. Frederick Bronson are seen curving a circle in the Park one knows that an artist's hand is there. Mr. Bronson always tools some good egg-stepping, high- actioned cattle of good form, and can be seen fre- quently with such lovers of open air pleasures as Mrs. Bronson, W. B. Cutting and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Mr. Frederick Bronson knows how notes should be sounded on the horn, and with the tune of the *' Old Mail Horn " he is familiar.^ Mr. Bronson's favorite team is one of bay wheel- ers and bay leaders, with white feet. Mr. E. M. Padelford is an enthusiastic whip, and, like Mr. Bronson, drives all bays. He frequently has with him Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Ladenburg, Mr. T. Howard, Mrs. Burke-Roche and Miss Jeanne Turnure. Colonel Jay, with bay wheelers and gray off leader and chestnut near leader, presents a very pleas- ing appearance. The Colonel frequently takes with him Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Waterbury, Miss Post and E. L. Winthrop, Jr. , who share with Colonel Jay his enthusiasm for the road. "Whips of High Degree. 131 Few coachmen of the present day have any idea of what a coach load of former days was, and unless there to see, would have no idea of what a load there was to carry. There were tv/elve outside and four inside, exclusive of the coachman and g-uard, the fore boot and the hind ones were packed with parcels, and the top was piled as high as bridges would allow with boxes, bundles, gun cases, hampers and every de- scription of luggage for the sixteen people who were inside and out. All the freight was covered, with tar- paulin and tied down with straps ; it was wonderful to behold and hard to imagine how it could all be stowed away. Game baskets and game would be hung to the very lamps themselves. Kven under the very coach there would be swung a "cradle," into which various things which could not go elsewhere would be put. There are many old fashioned sayings in coach- ing which are always found useful even to this day, and under our modern progressive four-in-hand driv- ing. Enumerated they are : First — Never get into a mess if you can keep out of one, but if you do get into one get out of it well. Second — Discretion is the better part of valor. Third — Should you come to grief with one of your horses be prepared to drive a unicorn team; carry a small bar with you, with the eye or ring set con- trary way, it will then hang properly. Fourth — Always carry a spare chain trace in the boot. And it is among the old unwritten coaching laws to refrain from using a larger whip than 5 feet lyi inches, and for the thong 12 feet 6 inches. Any- thing beyond that is in the way. To learn to catch your whip — if too awkward to be taught otherwise— put a chair on a table, harness four chairs together, plait some whip cord to a fish- ing rod, and make a thong as long as your stick, and 132 Whips of High Degre:e. then learn to hit your horses all around. Catch your thong- and hit your wheelers, then untwist and hit your leaders, first on the off side and then on the near. Never divide your reins; if you do you will have to get another hand to hold your whip, and another if you are required to use your break. In g-oing down a steep hill if you do not have a brake on your coach, or if you have one and it does not operate well, seek out a bit of gravel at the side. Many a piece of g-ravel has prevented a coach heap- ing- on top of the wheelers, and mixing up things at the bottom of the hill; or "mixing- biscuits," as the saying- is. And the last but not least hint is, always g-o round your horses and see for yourself that everything- is all rig-ht. Never depend upon any coachman you may have, no matter how good a fellow he may be. You may not have him always with you, and it should be part of a gentleman whip's business to be able to teach any man he may have in his employ how to do or how not to do anything in his line. Always have an apron on your box and a petticoat. It is better to hide those pretty feet, much admired in a ball room, but not pretty on the outside of a coach. Sit straight on your box, your hands well down, your shoulders well back, your head erect and your eyes well in front of you. There are many of my readers, old coach- ing men, who will recall the lines : " Thoug-h the coachmen of old are dead, Though the guards are turned to clay, Who will still remember the 3^ard of tin, And the mail of the olden day," and to them as well as to our modern coachers these lines are committed, with the hope that they may be interesting. 133 Our SociSil SHeletor)^- PROBABLY no one is entirely satisfied with his lot. Discontent is human. What one man possesses, with discontent, becomes a source of env}' to another. One man is a great statesman and wishes he were an author with world- wide repute. The brave soldier with valiantly won decorations is indifferent to the laurels his sword has won for him and is solicitous for the rank of a g-reat musician. The g-reat lawyer holds his briefs con- temptuously and deplores the fact of his not being- successful at the shrine of Cupid, like Richelieu, who was far prouder of his boudoir accomplishments than he was of his abilities as a statesman. The literary man prefers to be of the world _ of fashion, and to be the g-lass of form, rather than receive the compliments his manuscripts evoke and the literary set's applause. The millionaire, with his wealth of railroads and the mass of toilers at his beck or com- m.and, holds them in lig-lit estimation, and would gfladly bestow a part of them on some unfortunate blue blood of unquestionable lineag-e if an exchang-e could be effected. Thus we see eminent clerg-ymen who would like to be g-reat statesmen; eminent lawyers who would like to be anything- but what they are, and so on. Few men are content with their condition, but envy every other man whom luck has g-iven a different state and different pursuits. In this brig:ht world no one is completely happy, and none are thoroughly contented with their lot. No matter how happy any one may appear to be, that person is not completely happy with his fate. And as a g-eneral rule all those who would have the world 134 Our Sociai. Skei