Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-02

Had the compilers Of the last census given the
same attention to collecting the statistics and
data of the sportsmen as they did to all branches
Of trade the result would have furnished soma
startling information, bordering on the in
credible. 1t is safe to say that there is more
wealth among the fraternity, more capital in
vested, more money spent annually. by the
sportsmen Of America than by any guild, society,
order or whatsoever incorporated body in the
United States.
During the last ten years the increase and de-
velopment Of the sportsman have been Ahe-
nomenaL A decade ago only the large cities
had gun club. Today it is Q small town in
deed that does not boast Of its ''fine team" In
fact, the modern gun club seems to have
taken the place Of the old-fashioned debating
society, and the crack OF the double barrel has
drowned the last echo Of sky-scraping slo-
quence.
The makers Of fine guns in this country
could be counted on the fingers of one hand
ten years ago; now they are numbered by the
score. The guns turned out by these factories.
in which millions Of dollars are invested, are Of
the very best, with all the latest improvements.
and It is needless to add that the American
manufacturer keeps pace with the world.
OF late the manufacture of fixed ammuni-
ton has increased Formerly most sportsmen
preferred to load their own shells, but 1t became
apparent that the trade which made q speciality
Of that business could. by buying the ammuni
II
loaded cheaper than the retail buyer could OBJ
tain the material to fill them, to say nothing Of
the time and labor expended. 1t is exceptional
now to see any one who lives within reach of a
railroad attempt to charge his shells. and even
the small country stores offer loaded ones for
sale where once only Powder and shot could
be obtained. The amount of ammunition used
annually by the gun clubs would supply the
armies Of all Europe.
All this has awakened an enthusiastic love of
real sport among the people. The time when
the city youth fond of sport had to steal through
the dark streets on his way to or from the coun-
try has passed away. The young man who con-
fesses to love of hunting is no longer pointed
out a me er-do-well.'
America is fast becoming nation of marks
men, and if there should ever be war with
foreign powers the spectacle often witnessed
one-thir3 Of the muskets borne were over
loaded, underloaded or in some way wrongly
loaded. would not be repeated
member of gun club is only content for a
short time to shoot at inarimate objects, and
the very moment this becomes monotonous he
develops into sportsman. the grub turns
into butterfly. His attention and interest
are no longer attracted by the scores Of the
shooting matches or the high record of the
champions. but he reads with avidity the letters
of correspondents giving accounts of actual
experiences in the field.
The true sportsman will take to the rod as
naturally as to the gun. Not that huntsman
is necessarily fsherman-for the pursuit OF
the former requires incessant motion, skill and
endurance, while in most sections of the coun-
try fishing, according to Izaak Walton. is a
"meditative. peaceful avocatIon," the greatest
qualification for which is patience. l have read
the quaint observations of old Izaak over and
over again anG am compelled to believe that the
gentle fisherman never hooked anything stronger
than perch. or at the most delicate brook
trout. But the angler who goes fishing in the
streams Of Maine or the lakes of Canada will
have his sporting instincts keenly alive as
the most inveterate gunner Of large game. He
must undergo as great physical exertion and
exhibit the most perfect endurance, while the
excitement Of playing a lively salmon which
bites like steel trap and pulls like horse. or
OF fighting great lake ten-pounder which
never yields until dead is as intense as the
most thoroughbred sportsman could desire. ,
have never known a huntsman who, after
trying rod on the game fish which haunt the
Canadian waters, did not become at once an
be was ready to echo bluff DR.. Johnson's words:
IAN angler consists OF pole with line at one
end and fool at the other
Thrice happy and blest is he who has sport
ing blood in his veins. 1t is magic and potent
fluid. Mother nature is royal-a lavish, indul-
gent and beneticent lover of sucn of her chill
dren as obey her mandates, but as relentless as
the fates to those who break her memorable
laws. She requires 'value received" for all
she gives For robust health. hardened sinews.
good digestion and steady nerves she demands
their equivalent in regular physical exercise.
10 enjoy perfect health one must work for it.
A sportsman when in pursuit of game calls
| into play the same muscles the bod carrier
| and the railroad track walker. and such is the
enthusiasm born and bred in him that the work
| is pleasure. the labor delight, and at the same
| time he is laying up a reserve fund of strength
I av,Ir Co.. Late 80. A.l.
| fact that sportsman is a rare patient of the
doctor. His tonic is the open air, his ''nerve
| restorative" drawn from the spicy odors of the
| wood and field and his general "tone" and TEN
| permanent seem to be in accordance with the
| sunny, patient forces of nature. His philoso
| ply is trained to higher grade and he iearni
to take, in hunter parlance. the "fat with tn.
| lean,' which soon becomes haDitual and stands
/ him in great stead when encountering tn,
sterner details of everyday life.
| This growing taste in America for outdoo,
sport will have its effect on the coming race il
| their superb physical development. Above al
athletics are hunting ard fishing. With thes,
there is no violent exertion followed by long in
| action. On the contrary, the exercise is con
tinued and well sustained. A tramp through
the heather all day with gun and dog or
scramble down the rocky cliff of granite
| walled mountain stream with rod and reel, i
more beneficial than the frenzied rush Of foo
| ball game or the arduOus pull of q boat race
Then, in addition to this, love Of sporting in
culcates love for the dog. Gun clubs an,
kennels keep even pace. For every gun turne,
out of the factory there will be a dog raised a
| the kennel, and it is satisfactory to reflect tina
even as science improves firearms SO the do:
| breeds up. pair OF well-trained English O.
| Irish settlers OF today are far superior in in
telligence, beauty and go to the dogs our grand
fathers hunted with the modern shotgun i
over the ancient fintlock or Joe Manton per
|