Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-11-05

sheer mercy OF the cowardly vagabonds who
pursue them under such circumstances. If ef-
ficient means were taken to protect them
our forests might in few years be made to
TEEN with deer, as in the olden time, when
our bills were the paradise of our ancient
sportsmen.
The partridge, which is perhaps our most
valuable bird, ye. exists, and in tolerable
quantities in some parts of the State. The
chief cause of their diminution is the
practice 50 common of destroying them
with snares and shooting them as
they drum in their breeding season.
They are wantonly killed while breeding
in the winter and spring seasons, when!t their
Aesh IS almost inedible by reason of resins.
and sometimes by poisonous substances
which. without prejudice to the health OF
the bird, render its flesh occasionally fatal
To human life. Poisoning by this cause is
mncn more frequent than is commonly sup
posed to be the case. Medical records Con-
tain many cases of the sort. Many more
pass unnoticed and unrecognized By both
patient and doctor.
All our game is so mercilessly hunted
on season ant out of 1t, by boys and men,
chiefly upon the Sabbath. that most kinds
soon retreat to iastnesses of swamp or
brush, which. If penetrable, are so thick
that no lair. Wholesome craftsmanship can
be exercised 81 it has come to
pass that the landlord has no game
or fish from his land Ind be who
wouli have - days b. thful sport
must seek il, il no would fill is bag in some
other State. 10 general teri . it Is unques-
tlonable that game and gam ish are cheap
tr in New York and Boston than in the
villages of Vermont. IL is also true that
the NermOnter who seeks successful sport
with the rod or gun goes elsewhere to get it.
This should not he 81 The soil Of Yer
mont Is such shat it will bear as large a
head OF the kinds OF fish and game native to
it a. any other STATE in the Union. Can
this be remediei2 | think it can think
80 because i. has been done in other cOun-
tries. IL has been done. to a certain extent
in limited portions Of this country.
The chief causes operating 10 this result
have been a spirit OF genuine manly gentle
manly craftsmanship and a sense of the
rights OF property.
The proper spirit OF sportsmanship Is
that which leads to the pursuit OF game as
pastime not "a Il trade, though enliS hten-
ed craftsmanship leads to the same results
Genuine spOrtsmen never kill game wdnton
ly, Ia the savage lust of killing-a killing
which Is cowardly and cruel too. They never
over kill. The game Is 50 husbanded that
there Is enough left u perpetuate the races
hunted IL i not killed except when the
flesh Of ii Is in it. prime for table Use. Ii
( IS killed not 50 much for food as tor pastime
and generous cheer. The genuine sports
man does not forget that his recreation
must BE- had with dae reference and respect
/ to has brother ~pJrtmGn's rights and pleas
ure. lie Is not only not hog. as he pot
/ hunter commonly Is, but Is a gentleman,
/ killing nj most only what be needs or can
/ well dispose Of AID with that courteous re-
/ gard % other peoples welfare which al
ways distinguishes the gentleman from the
/ blackguari lie holds within him that
love OF fair play with men and game, which
seems - Inbred IN AaglJ-SI19n minho0d.
Who would ring the ucck of wO0dcOck
or quail driven hy stress of hawk or storm
70 seek the shelter OF Il roof Not \ sports
man. He, eager a. ne mag be u kill his
bird or fish Yet gives his quarry some
chance of lie. Sp,rtsmanship implies skill
10 killing game. It, disciple matches his
crait wIti the quarry S cunning his quick
reckoning OF sp,e l and distance with the
Wild flight OF the frightened game. lie pits
the eye Of i.ith and the finger Of instinct"
against the rapid whir Of the startled
partridge zigzIsgiug through the tangled
overgrelns lie j. seli-relialt because self
contained lie is coil because be has
learned u trust himself lie is patient. for
he knows the worth OF waiting. He keeps
his bend cool because he needs steady
hand lie Is hardy. for his Is the very
school OF haliihoo1 lie is keen-eyed,
quisk and CS-eryant. Tor these are his con-
slant and essential equipments lie Is brave
but cautious for this l. his daily training.
tie IS gentle. for he Kills, not mains. lie
kills. MT lJr The sake VI killing but Tor the |
warm and generous glow ot manly aud sue
cs--'ll en4eiytr. What glorious SJltiery /
IN time Of way grew olt OF this manly |
training n time Of peace. the annals of our |
Riply's snasp-sh1oterS on the Potomac, tell |
better than you or | can tell il. What |
chlvA.ric blood j, begets, l. seen n the >tur-
dy, resi%t.css caarse- OF giittering stecl led |
On by the sCl- % English hunting >4uires
The law Of p.t-huute;l IN Is the law Of
grab The sportsman : law j. the law of
1--we AMI Jet live. Long may he 1--we 50
say We all
u foster. to sesp ai.ve, 20 spread this
sr1rt~mll.hip among our people, J., T. re-
Seem the calling from p3--A1uteriJm to
-t5w our pe pie. am usst whom there
fingers something " thIt asc.tlc spirit of
pGriilni-m which box as1anCeat all : : ings
not neney-miking 1r church going, that
The use % the rJi aai gun !, becoming re-
creation wt!ch al! ui7n may gracefully par
sue and be hettore1 bg tae pursuing.
ihis, gentlemen, i-l part Vt oar mission.
| utsr what ausp'cilI- augurie- Jhgt mis-
-iJn i- begun is best s,ea 90 the mon who
here are dedicated T. IT,
In regard - that other fic.l- of
the plentc1usnes- ot game sense
Of the ishts Of property-we have 10 Yer
mont. IN reference 70 public opinion, al
most all to do. The number OF our citizens
who fell that be who without leave takes
game on their land Is not only a trespasser
Ip0n the land but l. also trespasss n upon
ialuable franchise transmutAble into money,
or, IN other words, the number of land
'wner- who know that the right Of shooting
,ame belongs to the laadho!der while it i
N his land, and 10 him exclusively that
he shooting OF game upon l.. OF to fish IN
he streams which run through 1t. Is 4 right
y use OF the land which nobody can right
uily use. even II he l. lawfully on the land,
ave by the owners consent can almost be
ounted On ones fingers. The idea that
r You have not the legal and equitable
light while on our neighbours premises. to
boot the game We tad, is one that seldom
aims loIgment in Vermont head, or
indeed in any other head. We all know
DC proprietor common law right to
rder US of his premises, AMI to put US off :
We don't 60 when ordered, that is if be
stout enough but We don't seem to IN !
orstand that even if he doesn't order Us off, q
&c have no more right to shoot the par !
ridges we tnd there, than We have 10 shoot d
be chickens or ducks We fad there Yet L
ich Is the tact, as the law now stands. I
he landlord right stands however. in the :
condition Of a legal right. the 4
MY enforcement Jl which = hy personal d
rtsft "a
hich, IN 50 many ct-.>, ami - wisely, in -
rdict- the personal enforcement OF midi 9
dual right. Is here inverted. and makes. q
IT the preservation OF the lanIlori's ri ghts. .
ersonal violence necessary and this i a G.
aturc OF the law which does NOT particular v
udo:n the law. To bring about the need !,
legislation. ID remit 10 courts, in prac- a
cal effect, the enforcement OF the law and IL
educe the statutory enactments to give o.
)lns and protection to an already existing y
'mmon law right. it i only necessary to r,
the farmers and other laui-holders know II
hat these rights are, their and their money o.
llue, and the market Tor them. As the d,
after now stands, anybody is practically b
&c to wander over anybody's farm As he n
eases. to scare the farmers cattle, Brighten 4.
: sheep, leave down the bars, break down &C
: lences, and invade the priVaey of his W
|
n only order the iH:rGler Of. or try 20 put AZ
IN OF and perhaps get the worst of it in bc
c endeavcr ur Il b. appeals to the law, W
can but recover tor tHe grass trOddsn n
wa or pay Tor pati.ng up the bars. with m
wyers tee IN tir utlrr ssa!e, and with the or
putstlon OF b,lug an Old curmu1 seon TO ~
ot while young America stands chuck la
X over the lauest, gentleman : discomti,- is
Z. plgMins M own eiiiea;hers with the 1,
aNidrritlon that. in the contest from in
lch he has just emerged. he chlmpionei ch
e rights Of ths free aud Independent tn
nerican citizen a aa
Oenilenen, spprtsmen w are to the 30
re, keen a are our instinct. in the stirring ~.
ase. We must side with the farmer l.. this tia
lil'ct aud that iOrtyo Of the best Of rea sons BIZ
= because it Is RICH; second. because it sI
oar tFue 'r'ofe-, that "a il We want to at
a. our name i"".ie-, preserve and pro- PEE
t h7h ani gan l. the farmer in the va
hit OF it? The -imPle statement of the d n'
&c, as that OF one of US Individually, is the