Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-07
some COSTLY DOGS.


Interest 10 exhibition dogs may b
dated in this country from tho fret
show OF the Westminster Kennel Club,
25 years ago. OF course prior to that
time srortsmen had interested them
selves in settlers. pointers and, earlier,
In fox hounds. et NFs1
These last, a product Of England,
were brought here by the younger sons
of families who migrate to the Southern
States Cbronologically it 10 the breed
that ranks first in America; but vt hAs
not been nurtured rs ii might have
been. The A merican hounds have driftedl
lar away from the original type, and
endurance has been lost sight OF In the
developing of speed. igi
Turning, however. to other breeds,
American pluck and energy have done
their best for Mt least 20 years to get
the pick Of the better known English
breeds and, al no msttsr what coat,
have imported some OF the best Hpeci-
mems ever bred In Great Britain. In
spita Of this American lovers OF any
variety Of dog are still more or less
dependent upon the different Kennels in
England. tI.sgf,
In going through the history Of the
advancement OF the canine world 10
America IL Is a regrettable fact that
most Of the enthusiasts who have started
with great intentions have, within q.
year or two, become disguised with the
results they secured. Many OF those
who have retired from the field have,
unfortunately, neglected ito'sstudy tho
experience Of the Engllshs breeders.
They do not seem to consider that the
men from whom they have'tought dogs
have been studying their business for
years. until they finally have produced
something worthy Of American con
sidesationo " fI
One OF the serious obstacles TO the
development Of dogs In this country Is,
the great distance between the chief
cities. which makes the expense OF sx-i
hibiting dogs a serious item. Many
who would have been as good fanoiers
as those In England have been so dis.
hearened by the outlay necessary TO
show their dogs that they have given
up all hope OF breeding them for ex-
! hibition purposcs Np
Few 10 America have stood the test
for more than five or six years. Com
spicuous amoug the exceptions are
Lewis and Winthrop Rutherford. These
brothers became infatuated with fox
terriers some 20 years ago. In spite Of
severe disappointments, frequently due
to incompetent judging, they are still
amung the prominent exhibitors OF the
big shows. o'g
At the present time Richard Croker,
DR., is one of the most prominent
figures in the dog world, owing to the
fact that his fancy turns toward bull:
dogs, one of the most expensive breeds
to be found in England last Dece,n-
Der he offered %, $50 and subsequently,
| "a, 900 for deg called Rodney Stone.
Although the owner was q comparn-
lively poor man, he refused hut event.
ually Mr.. Croker extended his offer to
$5, 900, This, unfortunately for Eng
land, proved too tempting an offer, and
Rodney Stone, proclaimed by all Brit
ish Judges the hest bulldog that ever
had been seen, came to this country.
Mr.. Croker also purchased the second
best bulldog ID, England, named Brom
| ley Crib, for which he gave $4,000.
| ~. Pierpont Morgan has expended
enormous sums for foreign. bred dogs.
His taste runs to- collies. He is reputed
TO have gi.en 1880 for Seton Hero,
and az mitch for Ormskirk, while the
price Of Ormond was placed ut IS, 600.
Mr.. Morgan has carried all before him
In the principal shows; yet, notwith-
! standing the many thousands he Inns
spent on his kennels, the great New
York tinauoier has succeeded In pre-
senting to the public only one great
dog of his own breeding Ornament.
| No doubt that one animal has repaid
his owner for the big outlay.
More money has probably been ex-
| pended In st. Bernardo than any other
variety, as Ia instanced by thu sums
| paid for Plinlimmon, Sir Bedivere,
| Princess Florence, Marvel, Watch,
Keeper and other animals imported to
| this country while the craze was In
full bloom. Possibly the results OF these
| large expenditures are shown to better
| advantage In the st. Bernard dogs than
IN any other breed, although q recent
visit to England disclosed the fact that
In the smooth variety exhibitors here
| were very much behind the times In
the rough variety, however, taking the
| general collection as represented at
New York and at the Crystal Palace,
there can be no comparison. The uols
lection here was far in advance OF those
benohed Mt the premier English show.
One has only to mention the mar
velous kennel owned by Thomas Sheu-
brooks, of Baltimore, whose team, is
represented practically by home bred
dogs These include Sir Waldorf, Lady
Bryn Mawr, Princess A lice and Prince
Napoleon. With the possible exception
Of tho team belonging to Mr. Inman,
the English breeder, the American
| quartet could hold its own against the
world This, in great measure, Ia
due to the fact that Mr.. Sheubrooks
let's nothing stop his admiration. for the
breed. He fortunately does not expect
| to make any princely income from the
sale Of his outossts. He is satisfied to
own the best and discard the bad ones,
no matter what the cost. n y
The system followed by most Apieri.
can breeders, who sell their culis at
my price, has undoubtediy proved a
great handicap to the production OF
really typical specimens Of any variety.
The success OF Mr.. Sheubrooks, to say
nothing Of his patience. should 20 a
long way toward encouraging thoee
enth usiasts who lose heart when they
fail to breed a champion at the very
first attempt. a..
An equal need OF praise may hs
claimed for the brothers Rutherford,
who when occasion required, have in
vested good American dollars In ex
change for sterling English fox terriers
As result their kennels have been
we'll to the front for at least 10 years,
and they have hnd the satisfaction OF
breeding probably one Of the best
representatives Of the smooth variety
/ ever exhibited. / refer to WArrent
Sentence, who. in her prime had no
/ equal on this side Of the OCEAN. and