The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-05
THE DAY I PLAYED OG."
Mr.. Polk Miller wants an Animal Thai
works for Himself and His Master.

Mr.. Polk Miller Wants an Animal 1hAi
Works for Himself and His Master.
The following article, written by Mr. Polk
Miller, president Of the Virginia sports
mans Association, is SO racy and enter
tanning tina. il is reproduced from the Turf,
Field and Farm.
"A gentleman of prominence in one OF our
western cities visited the White sulphur
Springs i'm the summer OF 1887. and being
great lover Of line dogs be brought TWO With
him. "A pointer and setter. Being man
of line Conversational powers and "a thorough
gentleman. he soon became very popular
with the Richmond visitors. andlparticularly
with those who had a fOndness for icid
sports.
Ills fine dogs attracted a great deal of
attention. and as the boys would come INTO
my place OF business they would tell me OBJ
the dogs they saw at the White sulphur.
Nv anxiety 10 get a look at them was soon
gratifed. for the gentleman IN question
soon came 10 Richmond and called on me.
lie had heard Oh me, and after telling me OBJ
the wonderful nose, speed, ana endurance
M his dogs. very kindly offered 10 telegraph
for them When the sporting fraternity
learned Of their arrival IN the city the great
est curiosity was manifested 90 see them.
Every sportsman in town had heard OF
them. and as one OF them had cost ms
owner 5000. 10 was considered great pilfl-
lege 10 see them gratis. The livery stable
al which they were quartered WAS as at
tractiye TO the sp0rtmen as is Barnum' p
menagerie 10 the "small boys W ell,
when seen and thoroughly Inspected, me
usual criticisms. such as are passed
uDOn things about which great
deal has been said. was not
INDUCED IN on this occasion. Everybody
said that 10 was the handsomest pointer
they had ever seen. What musclef What
"A hcadi What broad chest such legs.
No one seemed surprised that such a dog
should cost 5000. This Outburst ~ praise
fairly c9ptyated his owner, and In order 90
further set wild the admiring throng be told
Of those other qualities which, AFTER all'
make dog valuable, VIZ, his nose, speed
endurance, and the way he quariefed his
ground / was crazy 10 see the dogs IN the
field. and told the gentleman III he would
stay an October ID Git WAS then about the
sth) would give his dogs an opportunity Oi
showing what they could do. lie thanked
me and said that he was compelled 20 re-
turn on account OF business engagements.
but promised o. come later In the season.
| had told him that could show him twenty
cOyey8 of quail in day, and he was no les
anxious % STAY than / was ~ have him. II
so happened that his wife was taken
sick, aud was too unwell 30 travel before the
morning of our 'Opening day. dawned upon
us. When Informed Of this. and learning
that his Wife's condition did not ncccssltafe
his remaining at home that day, / hau alb
the plans arranged for days shooting. /
never before left home for the hunting
grounds without taking my own dogs with
me, but after hearing SO much about drop
ping 10 shot, dropping 10 fur lOld iy-
arsl. and other fancy tricks in which these
dogs had been drilled j concluded my ma
tive stock would not only disgust the "Dlue
blOOds," but give my Western companion
poor opinion Of me as a sportsman. /
had four very fine hunting dogs.
but they were after the gO-as-yOu-
please order, and my friends had
told him that was all sorts Of a spOriman,
and | was afraid 10 iujure my reputation
with the stranger. Ny dogs do drop 20 shot.
but not after the regulation style. They
would drop Oh the gable end Of the house b.
they heard a gun shoot, and as for dropping
at the sight OF an old hare, nothing short 0i
q brick wall would stop them. 80 we went
with his thoroughly trained pointer and his
Gladstone puppy, ten months Old, which
had no other knowledge Of hunting than
that which he acquired By being allowed 20
run at will through the fields when his
owner was ont for walk. This dog WAS not
merely 10 let him see his dudish' compau-
ion perform, and catch the art OF hunting
quail.
PARrRrDGEs As THICK As HOPS.
Starting at o'clock, We reached the
house OF a friend twenty-one miles from the
city. just Is breakfast was carried IN. The
old farmer told US that il our dogs We're
"anv count we would have the biggest
DAYS shooting we had ever heard OF, for the
"partridges were as thick as hOps.' Ay
country friend had accompanied me on
many a tramp. and told my friend that IL
he followed me all day be would need "a
horse. This was declined with thanks, and
the country man INDUCED IN such strong ex-
pressiOns in Dragging on my ability 10 climb
hills. Jump gullIes and wade through creeks,
never stopping for anything, that had To
''call him down for fear he would create
the impression that was one Of that class
II spOrtsmen who went In for "a heap o
shooting and heap o meat without car
ing how | got IL. Our nr>t cOvey
was flushed within a hundred yaId, OF the
house by both dogs running al ull speed
right through them. scattering them in
every direction. The main bulk Of them
came toward Us, and alighted within TWEEN
Is steps by US. We had not loaded our guns,
not being ten feet outside Of the yard fence.
The perfect indifference displayed by the
dogs on flushing, and their aimessly run
ming 10 and fro across the field. az once
satisfied me that the dogs did not know a
partridge from a buzzard On calling them
In. and putting them Immediately on the
birds, they flushed them, and took no more
notice Of them than il they had been grass
hoppers. Seeing that the dogs showed no