New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-16
FEW WORDS ABOUT DOGS.

The recent field trials of beagles on Long
Island did not stir much enthusiasm except
among q comparatively small coterie. Beagles
are odd creatures whose chief object In life
seems to be to scare rabbits into seven fits
Beagle fanciers say that it is not cruel TO chase
the timid game with these rather diatory dogs
because the rabbits as rule can cover ground
more nimbIy than their pursuers. and usually
escape with nothing worse than bad scare
If those statements are true. perhaps the beagle
owners do not invite violent Reproduction from
tender hearted people; but 1t should not be
forgotten that excessive fright may doom the
rabbits to a painful and lingering death from
heart disease. The striking success of the
fashionable dog shows which are held every
year in New-York, Boston and other conspicuous
cities, not excluding even Chicago, proves that
Americans are exceedingly fond of the finest
types of the canine family. So prominent and
influential New-Yorker as Mr.. J. Pierpont
Morgan owns one Of the choicest collections of
collies and other dogs that the world contains,
and his kennels at his country seat at Cragston
are models for the admirers Of champions.
Many Of rich are ready to compete
with the wealthy amateurs Of other nations in
paying the highest prices. not only for the old
masters of the antique studio and gallery. but
also for the young master of the modern ken
mel. In the United States in these days may he
found st. Bernards, mastiffs, hounds OF all
kinds, pointers, settlers, spaniels, bulldogs. and
so on and so on which any country would he
put to Its trlimps to excel or even to match.
1t is creditable TO our people that the cruel
sport OF coursng hares with greyhounds has
never taken hold on the liking and zeal either
Of classes or masses. The cruelty in that form
of sport is revolving, and in England coursng
is the cause Of gambling scale that cannot
be considered innocuous Rabbits may leave
beagles behind them, but when the Waterloo
Cup and other coursing contests are decided in
Great Britain the pitiful. agonzed hares never
get away to safety After a chase which fills
every nerve tendon and muscle of the little
brute with pain to the bursting crunch from
the sharp teeth Of the greyhound ends it's
harmless but tormented existence 1t is far
more mercful to shoot hares outright than TO
use them mere instruments for gambling on
the relative speed and agility of greyhounds
and on the capacity of the hounds for the
quickest of turnings and doublings Coursing
hares with greyhounds is incarnate unkindness
and ought not to be allowed in any civilized
country.
In glancing at the preferences OF fanciers and
experts many observers are puzzled by the
passionate devotion to bulldogs which is fire.
quenuy exhibited by men and women Of gentle
minds. The costliest of bulldogs, those of the
purest strains and the most aristocratic an
cestry, are as hdeous of aspect as the most
horrible Of the dragons which the fantastic
Oriental mind ever put in bronze. Connosseurs
who are fond of bulldogs declare that no mat
ter how ferocious and repusive the bow-legged
beasts may look they are faithful loyal and
affectionate to their friends, while they are the
sublimated quintessence of Tophet to their enc
mics 1t may be so. Mr.. Croker loves bull
dogs. He has leaning toward tigers, too The
Tammany tiger. like the British bulldog is often
faithful to friends and dangerous to foes: and
therein lies food for thought.