New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A sPORTSMAN'S CHRONICLE.

SPORT IN THE ALPS In the Past and Present E, II
AcGen5 81 ne Roe Deer s and
Blackjack, with Personal Adventures and HIS
Sa Notes and ss Iom e SEe S
Gotha. BY W A. Bailc-Grohman; with
iyfe Pp' XIV. sss Imported by Charles scrib-
ner's Sons.
This book Is from the hand. Of an author who has
been a sportsman from his boyhood At the age OF
nine he had gun that would shoot real leaden Dull
let's and he missed hare and peppered game
keeper.s legs long before he ten. He grew up
In the region which he now describes where almost
all his surroundings human and otherwis. kept
him In mind OF shooting in forest and on mountain
side Thus the reader will find him expert not only
In drives and stalking. but also In the matter OF
preserves and in the perpetuat.on OF game. One OF
the most interesting features OF the book Is its
glance back over the history OF each kind OF sport
with which II deals To one who has thought MOTH
Ing about the subject, IT comes with sort OF shock
10 learn that the Alps, where man Is really
baffed by Nature the wild animals are only dimin-
ptve representatives Of their ancestors Such meas
uremenis as are accessible for comparison show
that the red deer the channels, the hex or bououetn
and the wild boar not the creatures that they
were In the times OF that mighty archer and hunts
man the Emperor Macmillan who died in 1873. II
is not 10 be believed that man in that region has
shared the came fate. and yet the archers OF the
present day who could drive wooden arrow with
out an iron point through plank Of seasoned larch-
wood three inches thick must be few In number.
Yet Macmillan speaks Of performing this feat. He
was of the rare men on the Continent who sur
passed the old English yeomen and foresters in the
use OF the ongbow. He seems. however. not 10
have used this weapon except for shooting on the
wing his main reliance being the crossbow OF STEEL
which was capable OF throwing either bolts or bull
let's In winter when steel was brittle. Macmillan
had a bow OF horn. These bows had to be bent with
a windlass and IN order 10 prevent their going or
unawares Macmillan invented an ingenious trigger
catch which held the string fast except when the
bow was in a horizontal position Doubtless such a
weapon was only used FOR big game. 1t could not
have been handled quickly enough for one achieve
ment OF which the Emperor boosted. He shot lW
ducks with lo4 shots The birds were hit as they rose
from the water showing that a crossbow in the
hands Of a skilful man was quite equal to the mod
shotgun.
After reading OF Maxi1nilian's exploits and Of
other sportsmen from his time 10 the present. ono
ceases to wonder at the decadence of modern game
All these cent1Ises there has been a rivalry among
the good shots Kill the largest and finest animals
This process was bound TO defeat anything ike
natural selection the survival Of the fttest
small stag Of the red deer. with few points and no
attractions would be scorned by good shot, while
the master Of the forest would be watched Tor at
dawn and dusk day after day, until laid low IL SIM
ply did pay the deer and the channels 10 De dig
and strong. But the slaughter still goes on. Whetner
II could end II prolonged in a breed of chamos the
size of rabbits be left 10 naturasts 10 decide
Long before that is possible the creature may be
extinct The Alpine hex would even now be un-
known II II had not awakened the sympathy Of KinS
Victor Emmanuel OF Italy. That royal sportsman
made sanctuary for these creatures on the south
efn side Of the Alps. and their numbers began to
increase.
But neglect among the royal and noble sportsmen
who hold most Of the game OF the mountains and
forests their preserves would result in destruc-
big game In the United States. AS Mr.. Ba!llie-
Crohman has been in the Rocky Mountains and
indeed. has written book about sport there ne
speaks from experience. His only allusion TO poll
tics is an assertion that democratic institutions are
unfavor able to the preservation OF game But his
wrath is greatest when he thinks OF the change
which has Scotland since the class OF
sportsmen which he praises has been crowded out
by the rich men, who can not only lease the good
Shooting grounds. but stock them at few months
notice with game from the worlds end. To these
the destruction OF the game In given region Is. he
says matter OF indifference.
His words have curious bearing on natural MS
tory The process OF adverse selection that
has spoiled the game Is now spelling the game
seeker The od-fashioned sportsman appears to be
are helping 10 destroy him An old-time muzzle-
loading rife. he says required care and deberation.
4 tried what he meant 10 nit when he
sighted along the barrel Of such frearm. But with
the boundless supply Of cartridges and the speed OF
FIRE at the present day. ne thinks that accuracy IS
thought OF by few He tells almost with pride how
slow he was 10 give up his old muzzle-loader. His
book records the experiences OF quarter or
kind He does not conceal his III luck any more than
his good luck Perhaps he does not mention all his
only an occasional total for his hits but ne gives
emusing details in the case which he does mention
particularly OF the Duke of saxe-Coburg. have
special charm.