Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20
A QUEENS DILEMMA.
Victoria Called On to Prove the Sin
cerity of Her Principles.
TWO SPORTS FOB RICH AND POOR,
Both of Which Are Roundly Denounced as
Cruel to Animals
DEER MUCH TOO TAME TO BE HUNTED
raycABLE TO THE pIsPArcH.1

| rBY CABLE TO THE DIsPATcH.1
LONDON, Dec 19.-[Copyright ]-Atten
ton was recently called in The DIsPATcE
to the abominable cruelties to animals il
connection with the hunting of the tam'
deer in Windsor royal forest. Consider
able public interest has since been mani
| tested in the subject in this country, ane
this week Rev. John Stretton, on behalf O.
| the Humanitarian League, has published
book entitled, ''Royal Sport; Some Fact!
Concerning the Queens Buckhounds"
Mr. Stretton confirms all that THE DIS
PATCH stated and gives additional inforna'
tion calculated to rouse public indignation
and to make the royal cheeks blush fo'
shame. He points out that both in Wind
sor Park, where the deer are reared, and in
Swinley paddocks, where they are kept
preparatory to the hunt, they are accus'
toned to the sight of people moving about.
Deer as Tame as Sheep.
They are so tame that they sometimes re-
fuse to start, and have to be started on their
reluctant way by the vigorous use of hunts
mems whips Occasionally they will trot
for miles along the highway, and when
pressed by their pursuers will seek shelter
in shed, house or yard.
Twice last February hunted deer ran
into the populous town of Reading, seek
ing refuge on the first occasion in brewery
yard, and the second time in summer
house in private garden. In October last
wear deer entered the house of the Governor
of Sandhurst Military College.
1t cannot be denied, therefore, that these
deer are tame animals, and the cruel and
unsportsmanlike character of their chase is
made more apparent by the fact that before
being hunted they are deprived o. their
natural weapons Of defense, the antlers
simultaneously with the publication of
MI. Stretton's book, prominence was given
in the newspapers to a letter from Colonel
Coulson, giving narrowing details Of cruel
ties perpetrated by workingmen in Ian.
cashire and other countries in pursuit OF
the sport of rabbit coursing
Cruelty Not All on One Side.
Colonel Coulson, who seems to be an hon
est, simple-hearted man, attended one of
these coursing meetings, and appealed to
the meu as Englishmen to stop the cruel
sport. They asked him whether this sport
was more cruel than hunting tame deer in
the royal parks, and he was compelled to
admit that it was not.
Now comes the sequel to this story. All
the newspapers this morning give the posi-
tion of honor and loaded type to this para
graph received last night from the official
court newsman:
Sir Henry Ponsonby has by command Of
the Queen written to Colonel Couson, ex-
pressing sympathy with his efforts to put
an end TO the cruel sport Of rabbit coursing,
to which he is calling attention. Her
Mayesty asks to be further informed on the
subject
The workingmen will need no more ap-
posite illustration of the assertion which
has become proverbial among them that
there is one law for the rich and another
for poor in this country. The cruelties
connected with the operations of the royal
buckhounds have been repeatedly de-
nounced. They have formed the subject of
questions and even of debates in Parlia-
ment which cannot have escaped the royal
notice.
Rabbit Coursing Frowned Upon.
But the Queen has been dumb, and the
House of Commons has been compelled
every year to vote money for the salary of
the master of the buckhounds, the wages of
the royal huntsmen and the expenses of the
royal pack. Rabbit coursing, however, is
pre-eminently the sport of the working
man, and the denunciation of it evokes
speedy and unusual expression of royal
sympathy.
A copy of Mr.. Stretton's book has been
sent to Queen Victoria, apparently without
effect. 1t is now proposed to emphasize
the hint by sending her petition praying
her to discontinue the hunting Of tame
deer. The petition, which will doubtless be
signed by thousands Of the contumacious
rabbit coursers. as well as their denouucers,
will ask the Queen ''to prohibit those in
high position from seeking pleasure at the
cost OF defenseless animals, and thereby to
give an immense impetus to the cause of
mercy among all classes, tending greatly to
the moral elevation of the life OF the peo-
ple."