Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-14

kf,,,--. A,,rrrcayA-The tendency Of the
- -. .re,:sl occupatious is illustrated by
= ;nbahit,nf Of A little village st the foot Of
one Of the Green Mountains IN bennington
Co,,rtv His soecisity is skunks. He i pro
f...ionsi skunk hunter enthusiastically devoted
- HI, calling HIS zeal has been wonderfully
.+inulatei Of late by the high price Of their
.ti,s though some motive Of higher nature
SEEMS 20 sttrsct hin to this specially. No mere
7,se-ceus-v motive can account for hl. PASSION
nte .aniuess for these srripei outesstb. Aears Of
,fulv ami experiment hsve made HIM az expert
In Al that pertsIns to Ekunks. he takes no
usins 20 concesl his knowledge OF this peculiar
branch Of Natural History. On ordinary coca
Sons be is tsciturn but when his iayorite
theme Is the subject Of conversation, his eyes
rleam with enthusiasm, and he becomes, al
ooce. communicative You soon learn what
msv te accomplished when genius throWE ali It's
force IN single direction. tie mas deep in
eight into skunk nature, and knows how T.
avoid with certainty the consequences thst befall
rash inezper;s Though be may seem reckless
he tteers clesr Of the rock on which 20 many
have foundered. he understands precisely that
point il time when the animal considers for-
besrznce no longer virtue. he handles il
with consummAte ski. ca7essinE it,like pet CA
with perfect safety.
In all the country for Eiles around, ne knoFt
the dwelling places Of ms fsvorites. he Io'es
70 70 out moonlight nights and visit theiI su'-
terrAne1n abodef On such occasions he some
times comes down % the village, early II me
morning. leading or driving skunk WIZ . eoId
tied 10 It's leg, and exhibits 70 those WHO 90 Dol
Zee. q few infAntiie specimens Of me same
species. taken from bis cost pockets- tie taxes
many in traps and removes them allve Win per-
fect immuufrv from dissCreeahle conseq uences-
Itisa gift Of nature brought 10 the acme OF
perfection by long devotion 10 the art mem
Der Of Congress IN some Of his positions might
prove Gisrraceful failure Therefore 8 word
Of c1ution seems necessary. The spirit Of Iul-
tsti7n is contagious. says Fisher Ames, 90 men
the Fnau rev from the steeple Of the North
Church fifty years ago, every uuiucky boy
thought Of nothing but tying from sign post
An scluAintEnce o. the writer, addicted % the
hatlt o. getting into deep water before he hal
Learned 20 swim, and uniuckiiy confident IN bis
r7ru powers. had The presumption o. believe b.
could perform some Of the tests @. the skunk
tanner IF Bennington County. lie hzi caught
10 & trEu fine black and white ornament Of
the reuua AMI resolved TO dispose Of il IL ar
tistic style He approached % slowly and held
on, bis land TIE ANNA. seemei pleased
they 90 know how 90 appreciate kindness Tie
novel neer5r AM sto1uiug down brought hls
hEui close o. its small sparkling eyes larres--
ing be touched he head Quick A. lightning
VANISHED all bis fai.L He staggered back
blinded sliler ami wiser msu. tie made
frantic efforts DO the direction Of the neares'
body of fresh wats-. tearing Of and throwing
1ls hat ami other articles u clothing on ms WAY.
Did says be partially recovered BIS sight in about
hva minutes. but be- VII. never sCsin presume 81
urac-.cg the arts u tle SKUNK tanner Of Ben
uiurton County u. o.H-
Fsvettevila. Wv T. HJme1c7