The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-31
SHOOTING IN ENGLAND,

Next to the horse in England is the
gun. Accustomed as we are to see Eng
lishmen who have crossed the Atlantic to
visit America, and whose idea of that
tour of observation seems to be to go two
thousand miles further to the Western
plains to shoot, We yet have no adequate
appreciation of the Importance which
shooting as one of the occupations of life
has in the minds of tens of thousands of
Englishmen. Hunting and shooting in
England are not mere recreations, forms
of casual pleasure, to be enjoyed now and
then, leisure and weather serving. In
the hunting season hunting men are not
content, as found on talking with some
of them, to go out with the hounds once
or twice week.
They hunt three or four times week,
and even every day, except Sunday, if
possible. l wonder that they except
Sunday. For if n man in the country
may work in his garden, and Il woman in
London may cry water-cresses on Sunday
out of church hours, l can see no reason
why these gentlemen should refrain on
that day from laboring in their vocation.
Their vocation and calling it surely is. 1t
is the business of their lives, and to hear
them talk about it one would imagine
that it had the Importance of an affair of
state. Shooting is hardly less thought
of is1
costly. The pheasant, the partridge,
and the woodcock are scarce birds pro-
vided for solemn sacrifice. "Does he
preserve?' is Il question that l have
heard asked by one country gentleman
about another with as much interest and
seriousness as if the inquiry were whether
he had seat in Parliament. An engage
ment to shoot is paramount to all others;
an invitation to shoot, like an invitation
from the President at Washington, sets
aside all others. Englishmen will go from
one end of the country to another for a
few days shooting; and shooting means,
nowadays at least, not mornings walk
with dog and gun in fine country and
the bringing home of a few well-earned
birds and rabbits, but mere gun practice
in park at birds as flying marks. 1t
has lost its connection with the enjoyment
of nature and invigorating exercise. The
"sportsmen - take their stands, and the
birds are reused from the gorse by the
gamekeepers' helpers, and are shot down
OF missed, as they come within range.
AS was in England during the shoot
ing season, had some invitations to take
my chance at the pheasants. But ac-
cepted none | could use the little time
| had.to spend there in other ways, more
to my advantage, and also to my pleasure.
AS to shooting birds in that business-lihe
fashion, | would as soon take trout out
of tub. And that, | suppose. will be
the way soon provided for the practice
of the contcmplative mans recreation.
The next thing to it seems to be the
going to a fishing hotel and angling from
boat in mill-pond. Why not fish and
shoot by telegraph as well as i'll this way?
The charm of field sport Is the held-thc
early start, the sharp, clear morning air,
the sunrise, the walk over hill and
through meadows, the country through
which the game leads, the seeker, the
midday rest and luncheon with COM
pauion or two by clear sheltered spring
whose cool water is tempered by the con-
tents of TASKS which counteract the un-
mitigated effects of that dangerous fluid,
the renewal of the search for game by
wood-side or brook-side, and the pensive
walk home to a hearty dinuer, pleasant
evenings languid chat and well-earned
dreamless sleep. Compared with this
what are preserve shooting and pond
fishing?