liver was alone recognized as the genuine Sussex. His remarks on the setter are devoid of any new information, and contain many wild guesses as to the origin of the "old" and also the English setter. Speaking of the latter, he relates an anecdote about a black-and-tan setter bitch owned by a Mr. Torry, and which came originally out of the Duke of Bedford's kennel.

The development of the several breeds of setters and spaniels must

English water spaniel. The modern field spaniel was of the Brush type, a large cocker, much higher on the leg than the present field spaniel fashion calls for. "Stonehenge's selected illustration of the cocker in 1870, Ladybird, is one of our present type in body and only slightly lighter in head than we now prefer. His Sussex spaniel George is not a good one at all, yet "Stonehenge " says he was named because of a resemblance to a dog he used in 1866 as the type of the breed. A better Sussex of that date was Champion Bachelor, a photograph of which I received from Mr. Jacobs about 188081, and this shows a low, massive dog. It was the infusion of the Bachelor blood in Mr. Jacobs' blacks that produced the great change in the New

have progressed rapidly between the times of The Staunch Sportsman," 1776, and Captain Brown, 1829, and the first of Stonehenge's" articles " Stonehenge's" articles in the London Field of 1865, which were finally published under the title of "The Dogs of the British Islands." This was the model from which all subsequent dog books have taken pattern, and in it we find the three setter divisions of the present day the English, Irish and Gordon -each of which has been only slightly altered or improved since then. 1872, we had such dogs as the English or Laverack setter Pride of the Border, the Irish setter Elcho, and one or two good Gordons, in this country, which were possibly as good as anything we have had since.

In

Spaniels had also reached, in "Stonehenge," the subdivisions of the modern field spaniel - the cocker, Sussex, Clumber, Irish water and

ton Abbot dogs, of which Newton Abbot Darkie, imported by E. M. Oldham, was a good specimen. My Benedict, by Bachelor, was good in body, but rather weak in hand. It was not until 1872 that the Sussex had a class devoted exclusively to themselves at English bench shows, they being lumped with "other than Clumber" up to that date.

The Clumber's early history, like that of the Sussex, is veiled in obscurity, and it is difficult to understand why so little was known of them until "Stonehenge's" article appeared, yet they could not have been suddenly developed. Captain A. W. Langdale, who wrote much of Vero Shaw's accounts of these breeds, and who was one of the best-informed men on spaniels twenty years ago, says: "The Clumber is believed to be one of the oldest known breeds of dogs of the genus spaniel," and

U

NTIL one is sufficiently expert on the ice to become a good figure skater, he has not acquired the true art of the sport, nor can he appreciate its fascinations. It is only by a natural balance and hard, intelligent work, that one is able to reach anything like championship form.

The building of artificial ice rinks in this country during the last two or three years has given a great impetus to the sport, and made the development of excellent figure skaters possible. At present, New York, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Washington and Chicago have rinks; and seven or eight others are projected for next year in as many different cities.

New York city has been particularly unfortunate in the past, owing to its changeable climate and a very limited number of outdoor skating days. But now that its skaters can count upon good ice under cover, irrespective of wind and weather, for a period of five consecutive months, it is fair to presume that in the next two or three years this city will more than hold its own in producing firstclass figure skaters. Records of the past show that the vicinity of New York has been the home of more than its share of the figure-skating experts of the country. But to the old Philadelphia Skating Club belongs the honor of the first figure-skating contest held in this country, which was about 1863. The first competi

tion in New York was at "Mitchell's Pond," Fifty-ninth Street and Fifth Avenue, in 1867. This site is now occupied by the Plaza Hotel.

To Robert Edwards, of the New York Skating Club, is due the credit of the first regular figure skating programme ever properly introduced, and it is now partly in use by the National Amateur Skating Asso

13.

Curved angles-threes, single, double, chain and flying, beginning on inside or outside edge.

14. Curved angles -rocking turns from outside edge to outside edge, or inside edge to inside edge, forward and backward.

15. Curved angles-crosscuts or anvils. 16. Grapevines, including Philadelphia "twist."

17. Toe and heel movements, embracing pivot circling, toe spins (pirouettes) and movements on both toes.

18. Single and double flat foot spins, crossfoot and two-foot whirls.

19. (a) Serpentines on one foot and on both feet; (b) Change of edge, single and double.

Previous to 1891, the Canadian and Boston skaters who competed in New York were seriously handicapped by their unfamiliarity with our programme. Likewise, the New York skaters were hadicapped in were hadicapped in other localities, for the same reason. All foreign competitions are skated by a programme that calls for a certain number of set figures, each having its own value, and the competitors are allowed five minutes each for specialties, the score for which ordinarily is about one-third of the total amount of possible points. Our form of scoring gives each section on the programme an equal value. This has been frequently discussed among skaters, and it seems to us on this side of the water much fairer to have a programme wherein a man's general ability is proven and his average reached.

It is only fair to admit that foreign figure skaters have improved very much in the last ten years. Their ability to skate "to place" is very marked; but when it comes to a matter of grace and ability to skate the plain rolls-the very basis of all figure skating-we find the foreigners very weak and anything but graceful. A man who is naturally awkward can never make a successful figure skater. Supple joints and a natural balance can not be acquired.

In his article on figure skating, T. Maxwell Witham claims to have known an instance of a man's practicing upon the floor of his room, before a cheval glass, and then, with very little outdoor practice, become

brilliant and graceful skater. This country has as yet failed to produce such an example. Nothing but hard work and the use of a man's brains will make a successful skater. I would call attention to Herbert S. Evans, of Boston, as an example of what hard and intelligent work will do for a figure skater. In 1891 Mr. Evans finished last in the amateur championships held in Albany; but in 1896 he not only won the cham

pionship, but he had also acquired the most absolute and complete control of his balance of any skater that I have ever seen. During the five intervening years, he had devoted a great deal of time and intelligent study to the art, and certainly deserved the championship and all the glory that went with it.

Louis Rubenstein, of Montreal, who won the championship of the United States and Canada on several occasions, and the world's championship at St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892, used to devote several hours each day to practice, and for this reason only has he been able to excel all competitors in competitors in "place" skating. His double one-foot eights are marvels of accuracy, and no one with a compass could make a more beautiful figure upon the ice. figure upon the ice. His control of the "anvils" is also remarkable.

One style of figure skating that promises to be very popular in this country is termed "hand-in-hand skating." This was instituted by the London Skating Club, and they have published numerous works and diagrams regarding it. The greatest attraction of this style of skating is the social side of it. A lady and a gentleman skating their changes of "edges," "threes," "rocking turns and "Q's," will find infinite amusement, and hard work is forgotten in the pleasure of social intercourse. This has already taken a firm hold on the skaters of New York, and promises to be quite a feature in the future.

A proper outfit for one who wants to become a good figure skater is an absolute necessity, and strong, lace shoes, with stout soles are an important part of it. In this country and in England, the majority of good skaters have their skates screwed to the soles of their shoes. In fastening the plate of the skate to the sole of the shoe, it will be found advantageous to have the runner about one-eighth of an inch on the inside of the centre, and the skate itself should have its bearing just back of the ball of the foot.