Morning journal and courier., 1883-03-27
Pigeon Shooting. From the Snacfatorl

The cruelty of shooting pigeon is of it. self not greater than the cruelty of shooting pheasant or partridge. Death is very commonly instantaneous in both cases, and if the pigeon geis away wounded the nobler bird may do the same. It is the mental atti- tude of the sportsman in the two cases that makes the difference. There is something cold blooded in the notion of catching and keeping live animal in order that you may use it to test the accuracy of your aim when glass ball would serve the purpose equally well. Sport, again, is traditionally associa- ted with some endurance on the part of the sportsman, and the physical and mental wig or which he gains in this way is the best of all reasons for the continuance of the prac- tice. A community in which young, wealthy and idle men were cut of from this way of spending their time would certainly suffer by the other methods to which they would re- sort in order to get rid of their superhuous animal vigor. Pigeon shooting cannot be defended on this ground. man has neither to ride after hounds nor to walk in pursuit of the birds. It is true, no doubt, that the present tendency is to reduce some other forms of shooting to the same uninteresting level, and the slaughter of pheasants some times comes too near in it's incidents to the slaughter of barndoor fowls. But though this tendency is to be regretted, it remains only tendency, whereas in pigeon shooting, all pretense of endurance is laid aside, and the birds are brought to the sportsman in stead of the sportsman going after the birds. It is further and very serious objection to this bastard form of sport that it is becom- ing more and more associated with money. That is not in itself point which the law can touch. A man might back himself to kill so many partridges in so many hours, just as well as to kill so many pigeons. But 1t is undoubtedly mark of lower klnd or sport when it lends itself to be used habltu- ally in this way and as regards pigeon shoot ing this is strictly true. But for this 1t wouId not have made the tour of Europe as 1t has now done. It ministers more than ai- most any other form of sport to the fashion able taste for gambling, and when 1t hap pens to be objectionable on other grounds as well. it is permissible to feel 8 certain satis- faction that it's prohibition will have the in cidental effect of checking, however slightly, 8 passion which cannot be too much discour- aged on those rare occasions when it comes sufficiently in view to make Encouragement possible.
 The Hon. L. w. Coe and family of Tor rington have gone to Charleston, s. O., for short pleasure trip.
 Sunday night three men acting suspicious ly and carrying an iron box boarded train at NorWaIk Later it was learned that the Catholic church there had been broken into and the contribution box and it's contents stolen.
 Mr. Newman W. James, who has been senior member of the firm of James Broth CTS, grocers, of Danielsonville, during the past fifteen years. has retired from the firm and bought the grocery store and goods .of Mir. Guy in Putnam.
 Mir. Charles Somerville, machinist em- ployed in the lock works ct Stamford, is so expert in his business that he can cut an or- dinary sewing needle in two, lengthwise drill g hole through each half, then fasten them together so accurately that the place where it was separated cannot be seen.