St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-10-22
The Irish Setter.


Mr.. Dalziel, in the book he edits
called British Dogs writes a capital
article on this invaluable breed of sport
much can be said in praise of the bOnny
Irishman. 1t is quite true that "no day
is too hot, too cold or too long" for him,
and his good sound sense is not sur
passed, il equaled by any breed Of dog l
know, save the old Scotch terrier, or
maybe the colley. Mr.. Dalziel says he
prefers the "whole red" This is pure
mdtter of taste or fancy. For my own
part like little white, say blaze
down face, little white on chest and
feet it seems to relieve the all red, and
add more beauty to the appearance of
the animal. There was dog very
much thought of at one time as show
dog, viz, Palmerston, and as | had a
good opportunity Of seeing him when
owned by Caractus, | entirely differed
from many judges who had given him
honors. | never could see any great
point about the old dog, bar his head
and do not think he was anything of
performer in the field, nor am aware
that any of his stock are; certain it is
tween him and Fletcher's Grouse, either
OH HUH vi bCu(us huu OuIS iCttuS LILO w
remark what / have often done before,
that wonld not breed from any dog
| were his services given gratis, and he
had been honored by all the best judges
| in Europe, unless in addition he pos
sessed field qualities of high order.
This seems to be a great and growing
! evil, The running after prize dogs for
stud purposes without knowing wheth
er the said dog may be anything better
than lunatic. Hence with all our
shows and field trials-trials too often
| one-sided-1 am bound to confess that
for staunchness, nose, !. e., scent and
sense our fathers owned dogs as yet
unequaled in the field. Having made
this depression, must now return to
the point. I wished to say something
more, particularly one, namely, the
geat endurance of the Irish Setter. Last
season hunted an Irish setter bitch |
had from Derry Castle, and she would
60 the whole day, and day after day,
without showing any fatigue, while a
Laverack, two GOrdons, and brace of
Lemon and white English settlers were
hors de combat after few hours, and
required rest. The bitch speak OF is
beyond all praise at work-no false
pointing, running in, ranging too far, or
any other misdeed, and if required to
be spoken to, which was very seldom,
one call and a wave of the hand was all
she ever required she also had the
knack Of doing what few dogs know
how or try to do, and what believe no
one can teach them. If Ruby, when on
point, found her birds running she
would make circle, get before them,
and then stand, and all had to do was
to walk straight up to the bitch, when
the birds would rise betwixt us, giving
always shot. l do not find Mr.. Dali
ziel mentions the Norbury breed Of Irish
settlers, and pity it is he made no in
quiry respecting this famous strain. In
the west of Ireland they are considered
the best, and as had the pleasure OF
seeing two brace of young dogs and
their mother at work on moor adjoin
ing here, l considered that nothing l
had heard in their favor, was overstated.
Their owner, a gentleman residing in
Dublin, kindly offered me the service
of one of his dogs, and think it have
good luck, 'twixt one of these and Ruby,
I shall be, as the Yankees say, cable to
thrash creation" at least as regards
field purposes but the show bench
shatl never again be graced by a setter
belonging to-Strathbogie, in the Stock
Keeper.