The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-12
presidentinl snortrmen.
From the washington Star

From the Washington Star.
President Cleveland is scarcely less OF
an enigma to sportsmen than he is to
some politicians. Many of his peculiari-
ties are entirely irreconcilable with that
disposition which makes man fond of
outdoor sports, especially shooting and
fishing. Very different personal qualities
from those he displays are looked for
generally in a man who is fond of his
rod and gun. This leads many who have
never accompanied him on one of his
trips to believe that he really does not
care a great deal for the sport when he
gets out, and that the ducks or the fish
merely furnish a convenient excuse for
getting away. Those who have seen him
with gun or rod do not share in this inn
preston. 1t is evident TO them that he
truly enjoys killing game. Moreover,
he is quick to avail himself of an oppor-
tunity to partake of the homely fare of
the country people, and he shows a lik-
ing for 'roughing."
Mr. Harrison, when he was in the white
house, was quite as fond as is Mr.. Cleve-
land of shooting and fishing, but he did
not devote as much time to that sort of
enjoyment. There is a great difference
between the habits of the two men when
in the field the boat or the blind. There
difference in temperament is very con-
spicuously shown in their manner of
handling a gun and taking a shot. Har-
rison has more of the recognized traits
of a sportsman
He is ready to risk an almost impossible
shot rather than let il go without the
trial, and. often gets his game on just
such a slim chance He does not wait
for a sure thing. Consequently when he
has been duck shooting he has made more
misses, but al the same time bagged more
game than has Cleveland.
Cleveland seems TO be more anxious not
to miss than he is to get the shot. He
will permit any number Of chances to
pass without pulling the trigger, which
hif mis- 10
will wait for hours, possibly half the day,
for sure thing, and let fair opportu-
mites go by.
He shows neither impatience nor ia
Just the shot he wants, he brings his
gun firmly to his shoulder, gets a de-
liberate sight along the barrel. and when
he is perfectly sure of his aim, he pulls
the trigger IL he fails to get the duck
covered Just to his liking, he will lower
his gun without firing and wait for other
ducks TO come. He wants an absolute
assurance with each shot and often allows
the birds to go by when most any other
man on earth would take the shot. The
result is that very seldom he wastes
charge of shot, but he does not get
large number of birds. To miss once is
10 spoil his sport He does not mind the
game getting away without being shot at.
Harrison would take quick shot with
out waiting to get the gun to his Shout
der and would get the game if there
was any sort of a show for him. But if
he failed he was ready for the next, and
thought no more about it. At the end
of the day he would regret few shots lost
through hesitation.
Cleveland's gun is sure death to what
gets in its way. Harrison's gun is liza
bic to reach that which seems to be at
safe distance Cleveland wants slow and
unsuspecting game. Harrison takes his
chance with the wary.
Those who have hunted ducks with the
two Presidents have been greatly i'm
pressed with the difference between them.