The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-08-12
BarhsrOiss Pastime:

Ever since boys were nrSG IEaua bhero
have been cruel and mischievous fellows
who delighted to torment animals.
These boys were filled with supreme de-
light when they could tie tin can to
dogs tail, or pelt 8 captive cat with
CLAM shells, or impale beetle on wire
or needle ana spin il rapidly around for
the fun of seeing It stlfBf That these
boys had any feelings of gentlene5s OF
refinement it would be difficult to prove.
They would rob birds nest when oppor-
tunity offered, Or chase pigs, or worry
goats, or pull the feathers from their
sisters pet canary birds. The old song
says that boys will be boys, but this is
subject to amendment, for in process of
time boys cease to be boys and are men.
The cruel boy, When he grows to mans
estate, is apt to retain the original CRIT
city of his disposition and to find new
outlets for it. If he is seeking pleasure
among the Adirondacks ne slaughters
such deer and other animals as he may
be able to hit, and leaves their carcasses
to decay. If he crosses the plains on a
Pacific Railroad train he is happy in
firing from the car window at such va
grant bdffalos as may come within
range, and of whose mangled remains
he is powerless to make any use. When
he aims at the utmost refinement of de-
liberate cruelty he joins gun club and
shoots at harmless pigeons.
The pigeon is one of the most peace
able and least injurious of birds. It
possesses a fair degree Of intelligence,
and may be trained as pet. In its
plumage it is beautiful. In its fight it
is graceful. In its domestic relations it
is quiet and affectionate. It is not given
to mean tricks, like the magpie, or to
treacherous assaults, like the parrot.
AS an article Of diet pigeon meat is in
high esteem on account of its tender
ness and the delicacy of its flavor. IN
der proper circumstances there cen be
no no reasonable objection to killing
pigeon for the sake of eating his flesh.
To kill such bird for the sake of wan
tonly slaughtering him is as cruel and
brutal q proceeding as stoning cat,
throwing sticks at pig, or tying ket.
tie to dogs tail. 1t is said that the
sport of pigeon-killing requires skill.
Admit it; the same is true in regard to
the "sport" of fixing cat, pig or dog,
especially if these animals be ferocious
in disposition, large in size and given to
making resistance. To tease mule re-
quires skill, and it also requires strength
and determination. The teasing Of
mules is quite as noble as the killing of
pigeons, and yet sportsmen do not prac-
tice it as means of qualification.
The bringing of twenty thousand un-
happy pigeons from the prairies of the
West to be shot by persons who call
themselves sportsmen is barbarous
business and blot on our civilization.
The so-called sport is no more enobling
than that witnessed in the most de-
PRAYED rat-pit or dog-fght. It is case
of the strong against the weak, to the
great disadvantage of the latter. Let
the sportive gentleman who are pegging
away at the pigeons, test their skill on
some less helpless game. Let them try
a few vultures, or bald eagles, or South
American condors, or owls, or hawks, or
even bats The larger Of these birds
would turn IL destructive vengeance on
their tormentors, while the smaller ones
would cause them grievous annoyance.
The bats would scare the sportsmen by
the insertion of sharp claws among their
hair. Why need they confine them
selves to those creatures which navigate
the air? Let them try rats. It is quite
as noble to shoot a rat as pigeon. Rats
are vermin and pigeons are not The
rat is an unlovely being, whose flesh is
not highly priced for food. Much skill
is involved in shooting rat which has
few seconds start Of the shooter. Yet the
murder even of rats for the sake of MUIR
der is cruel. In the State Of New York,
where the butchery of the pigeons is 60
ing Oh, the ''sport" happens to be le-
galized by special enactment. Even
if Legislatures will legalize such wanton
cruelty, public opinion should frown it
out of existence. -PhitadeLphja Times.