[This department ofOUTINGis devoted to answers to correspondents seeking information on subjects appertaining to all sports.]
[This department ofOUTINGis devoted to answers to correspondents seeking information on subjects appertaining to all sports.]
A. L. M., Boston, Mass.—We think that you are wrong in your ideas. Dr. L. Wolff, of Philadelphia, after speaking of the complete freedom from ordinary adulteration which he had found in wines and brandy supplied by the California Vintage Co., of 21 Park Place, N. Y. City, goes on to say: “I have also determined their alcoholic strength, and found them to correspond strictly in this respect with the standard of pure and natural wines. As a native of a wine-producing country, I consider myself somewhat of a judge of wines, and regard your products as comparing more than favorably with the wines from abroad.”
E. M. H., Harrisburg, Pa.—Yes. We have seen some specimens of absolute novelties in calendars. They are of celluloid, decorated in artistic designs, and, besides being useful as calendars, will serve admirably as bric-à-brac ornaments, and are original, pretty, and inexpensive. They are made by Messrs. Weeks & Campbell, 149 Church Street, N. Y. City.
Professor, St. Charles, Mo.—To gain such a knowledge of football as you desire, your best plan is to obtain copies of the “Book of Rules” and “Football; How to Coach a Team.” Should you desire to do so, you can obtain copies through OUTING.
John S., Wilkesbarre, Pa.—The owner of the canoe is the only man who can furnish you with the required information.
E. W. C., East Hampton, Mass.—In the opinion of experts, fencing cannot be learnt without a master; but it would be easier to dispense with a master after some progress had been made, than before acquiring the rudiments of the art. It is almost impossible to learn the parries and attacks without some one showing you how to execute them. There are no books of any value on fencing in the English language. The best articles ever published in America on the subject were in OUTING(October, 1887, and February, 1888). All reference to books in French can be found in the former number. The best “theory” ever published is that used by the French army, and published by the Minister of War. It can be obtained on application. But this is a professor’s book, and would be of little value to a pupil ignorant of the first rudiments of the art. Professor Rondelle, whose fencing academy is at No. 106 West 42d Street, and who is themaître d’armesof the Knickerbocker Fencing Club and of the Manhattan Athletic Club, is now at work on a book on fencing, which, when finished, will be the most complete, thorough, and interesting book of the kind ever published.
A. M. R., Newark, N. J.—For the purpose you mention you can hardly do better than buy some of Rogers’ groups of statuary. They are excellent, both in design and treatment.
J. H. D., Philadelphia.—You say nothing of the present state of the lawn. We should think that in case you want to refresh an already well-laid lawn, a slight sprinkling of wood ashes would be better than soot.
Doggy, Milwaukee, Wis.—A whippet is now considered a distinct variety. Originally, it came from a cross between the terrier and greyhound, possibly the Italian greyhound.
Choke-Bore, 23d Street, City.—We believe the largest bag ever made in one day was that on Mr. Lloyd Price’s estate in North Wales in 1885, viz., 5,086 rabbits, 1 grouse, 1 snipe, and 1 woodpigeon. Lord Walsingham’s big bag of grouse, of which you will find an account in the Outing Club, is, however, much more remarkable.
Fox-hunter, Baltimore, Md.—You will find that you can obtain first-rate riding-boots from R. M. Sheridan, 30 Broad Street, New York City.
Medicus, Pittsburgh.—Dogs of large breeds grow until they are about two years old. You need not, therefore, be perturbed about your puppy, for he will probably be as large as you can desire.
Joseph M. R. City.—If you want a dog “as fast as a greyhound” he must be of that breed, for no other dog is as fast. But for the purpose you mention, we should think such cross as between a Scotch deerhound and a Great Dane would suit you.
Sportsman, Quebec, Can.—The best receipt for making ordinary cloth goods water-proof is the following, which was used by old Jack Russell, the noted Devonshire sporting parson. Take alum 6 ozs., sugar of lead 3 ozs.; dissolve this in 12 quarts of boiling water, and let the mixture stand 6 hours, with an occasional stir. Then strain off the liquid, and soak the cloth for 48 hours, and dry it in the shade. It is scarcely necessary to say that the cloth is best treated thusbeforebeing made up into a suit.
Gymnast, Pittsburgh, Pa.—For a gymnast’s outfit, as well as for all kinds of gymnastic apparatus, you will do well to apply to Messrs. A. J. Reach & Co., 1,022 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Farmer, Westchester Co., N. Y.—The wonderful amount of butter made from the milk of one cow, as to which you inquire, is the record of “Shadeland Maud,” one of the Holstein-Friesian herd belonging to Messrs. Powell Bros., Springboro, Crawford County, Pa. This extraordinary record has, however, since been eclipsed by their “Shadeland Boon.”
Cruiser, Lake George.—You cannot do better than write to the Western Arms and Cartridge Company, 47 and 49 State Street, Chicago, Ill., for a catalogue of Douglass’s boats, for which they are agents. You can purchase from them such a craft as you desire for a very reasonable sum.