Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-05
Civilized Cruelty.

hunting are among the dominant out
door pastimes Of the average Briton
of nobility. Hunting was doubtless
one OF the earliest occupations OF
primitive men, carried on through
dire necessity, as one Of the few
means then existing for the keeping
Of soul and body together.
While engaged in the chase, in
Sharing birds or fishing, the savage Of
prehistoric times was only discharging
duty he owed to himself and those
dependent upon him for food; in
other words, he was pursuing nor
NAL calling for normal purposes. But
IN modern times the whole theory and
practice of hunting and fishing have
put on an abnormal phase. Save
among the most degraded races, such
pursuits are no longer vital necessities.
On the contrary, the we'll fed man Of
leisure now hunts and fishes merely
for the assumed pleasure there may be
in such exercises. We say assumed
pleasure, for 80 far as real, genuine
pleasure is concerned, there is none OF
it. 1t is simply the qualification of
savage cruelty under the polite guise
of that misnomer, sporting" Mod.
ern bunting and angling have been re-
duced to q rofned system. a science in
fact, involving millions of dollars ex.
penditure in the manufacture and sale
OF firearms and fishing tackle.
But recently all these articles were
included in the general makeup of a
hardware stock of goods in town and
city, but the trade has grown so enor-
mously that these lines OF goods now
constitute all that is sold in many OF
the princely Wholesale and retail es-
adjustments in large cities. So true
is this, that the business phrase "sport-
ing goods" desiguates a separate and
staple department of trade in the
great commerce OF the world. "Sport-
ing goods" indeed! And what are
sporting goods? Could we answer
this query propounded by child any
more truthfully than to say, "They
are refined and cruel appliances for
taking the lives of inofTensive quadru-
peds, birds and fishes?" The whole
matter resolves itself into exactly this
one definition and nothing less.
When we read in the dispatches
that Cleveland has gone hunting and
fishing" we are simply informed that
the President of the United States has
taken a day off to 60 forth into Gods
quieter retreats and crafty the same
iniquitous propensity that rude boys
seek to crafty when they stone
wounded duck or kill robin and rob
her nest OF Its young.
Cruelty is conspicuous for its Ion
gevity; for it is the most tenacious
and longest lived of all the sins be-
queathed to erring men by the prince
of evil.
So long as "Rod and Gun Clubs"
exist and Sporting goods" are sold,
so long will the millennium be great
way off and Gods people will pray for
it in vain.
Hunting and fishing" as carried
on among civilized and enlightened
people. should be forever abolished by
statutory enactment. But our moral
and religious teachers are not wholly
exempt from these besetting sins.
Preachers Of the gospel, who on Sun
day repeat with moistened eyes the
Lords prayer and tell the children
that not sparrow falls TO the ground
unnoticed by our Heavenly Father,
these preachers will 60 hunting and
fishing on Monday, ostensibly for
sport. but really to satisfy that fiend-
ish instinct that has never yet been
washed from their souls. Olympia
has her share of just such moral and
religious teachers, as we'll az her
Nimrods and Isaak Waltons among
her business men and official element.
What wonder, then, if we do see lit
tie boys in knickerbockers going
about the streets with toy guns in
their hands shooting singing birds
from the shade trees and housetopsl
1t is only few months ago that a
homing pigeon was cruelty shot few
miles from this city. 1t seems that
the poor bird spent with long fight,
concluded, from q logical standpoint,
that to take few moments' rest it
would be safe to alight near q human
habitation. So, like an angel from the
skies, she dropped down painting into a
shade tree standing in farmers door.
yard. But alas, for bird reasoningl
In twinkling her body was pierced
by bullet and she fell bleeding and
in the throes of death to the ground.
When the farmer, her murderer,
picked up the lifeless bird, he found a
tiny envelope deity hidden under her
wing, aud it was afterwards discovered
that she was one of brace OF carrier
pigeons doing faithful service between
Portland and Puyallup.
Another instance occurred nearer
home. A gentleman (no, not a gen.
tle-man) residing in Olympia found q
young rabbit in the outskirts of town,
few days ago. The little animal
had been wounded, presumably by q
sportsman, and so was easily cap