The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-07
Field sports.


We employ this general phrase to cover
all manly outdoor exercises, whether pur-
sued on land or water, aud if it smacks Of
bull, the sporting nomenclature must
be held responsible for it. In comment
ing upon the famous yacht race which has
just been brought to successful coaclu-
sion, the London Times makes the follow
ing observations
"Fhat irresistible spirit which t.ansie-
ures our whole metropolitan population on
the Derby day Is rapidly develepips itself
on the other side of the Atlantic and we
may expect before long to see all such
sports as popular in America as they are
here. We rejoice at the sign, as il Is our
belief that national character is substan.
tally improved by such pastimes. We
are sincerely glad to find the Americans
moving In that direction. They have got
all the qualities of sportsmen They are
adventurous, fearless, fond of excitement,
persevering and acute"
The fne, vigorous health oe the English
gentry Is largely owing to their generous
cultivation of field sports ana out door
games. Riding, hunting, angling, cricE-
those broad chests aud that Tuddy color
which distinguish Englishmen Their
women, too. owe to out door exercises ths
BLOOM which is so rarely found in :hfs
country. The Indian could hardly, with.
out a .misnomer, call them "pale face.'
English ladies without shoes on, walk dis
tances that our countrymea would shrink
from the thought of attempting. 10 coz
sequence, they are not invaiids at thirty,
and sturdy and vigorous stc-k is pre-
served
No nation in which field sports are
neglected can compete with people who
heartily pursue them. The Italians
learned that lesson the other day when
they came in conflict with the Austrian
sharp-shooters. Civilization is nobly H.
lustrated by the fine arts, aud music,
painting, sou pture and literature embel-
lish life, bur if they were altogether to
supersede the hardy outdoor pastimes,
which keep up the animal vigor of the
race, they would be dearly purchased /.
tineGeuts. A frSs rate morality and Il il
/ national courage cannot flourish in re-
gion where feh sports are. not pursued.
A people who are physically healthy will
steadily improve in all wholesome attri
butes. Dilletanreism, cowsrdiee and
treachery cahnot breathe in such an atmos-
phere. 1t takes the sound BODY to sus
tain the sound mind Let US encourage
outdoor sports for their healthful infu-
ence upon the national character.
As source ef genuine and enduring
pleasure TO the Individuals who cultivate
these pastimes, we may ne permitted to
| make few observations. The man who
truly enjoys the gentle craft of the angle,
or knows what it is to oeat the October
stabble or briUg down the ruffled grouse
on the mountain side, knows a pleasure
that never stales, anG In which no poison
Gus ingredient ever enters. Books fre-
quently weary or corrupt The charm of
society pals with the departure of youth.
Solitary speculation begets morbid fanta-
sizes. Shows and spectacle cease to excite
any emotion. Dissipation always leaves q
| legacy of III health and remorse. But the
woods and sky aud waters, the freshness
of .he spring, the sober beauty OF summer,
the splendor of autumn, and the kind.y y
| rigors of winter, minister TO the braiD aud
| heart OF the sportsman and keep them
fresh and expanded His blood flows in
quick, healthful current His nerves
are braced. His vision is unimpaired.
He gets to measuring worldly things at
their proper value, detests avarice, smiles
at selfish ambition, sympath:zes with hu-
manity and worships in his heart the
glorious Creator of the rock ribbed hills,
the sweet valleys and the chanting waters.
Whose would contrive for himself a
sphere of enjoyment which has no spectre
of regret within its realms, and which
affords scope for generous exercise up to
the very last period of active existence,
let him enroll himself in the guild o!
l-sportsmen, NOT Is the business Of has life,
but as the most invigorating, healthful
aud enjoy able recreation of his leisure
| hours.