The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-08
LIVE BIRD SHOOTS.

Seattle. Jan. 2 1ses
10 me Editor: L Ia with much regret
that again read in your paper the no
zee OF uve-bird shoot" ser for Janu-
arg ard I may add that a great many
cilizehs * Seattle will share my con-
Germ 1t Is doubtful compliment 20 any
man 70 suggest that he has nothing bet
ter 10 do in his spare hours than 10 tor
lure defecse3ess birds. aud vet this terri
c!S ha1it has been raised TO the dignity
OF recreation and diversion nd ia locked
upon hy some as an agreeable and gen
deinariy pastine. SUch so-calied
sport necessarily supposes either ab-
sehce or reflection or q fund Of inhumani-
~ since Il means acGts suffering To sensi-
PIE beings. and painful and lingering
oeath or which we can form no idea TIE
sportsman who seeks his amusement in
the death-panEs of other beings cannot
understand or syrnnathize with the suffer-
iAss ne causes; does not really compre-
hend the import OF what he IS doing ani
70 an extent IS 10 be pttied for his ;g-
nofance and thoughtlessress. But those
in our day. who participate IN this pecu-
lar form Of recreation, being men or in
teIHsence and Christian education. II is
clincuft 70 see wherein they are in any
way gratifieG. The real zest OF "sport'
must lie in the fact that life (some one
else nfee, Is at stake; but when one
CONSIDERS the very unequal and therefore
unmanly. conditions OF the strife, as in
the case OF trapped pigeons one cannot
elevate the sportsman 70 the dignity OF
hunter nor endow him with the qualities
OF courage, chivairy. or even concern for
the necessities of his family. Such sport
Is the deliberate massacre OF gentle
hand-reared birds, who are treated with
no more hospitality than wolf. and sim
PLY supply a target for many a bungling
y
suffering he Is inflicting That mothers
VIII supply their young boys with guns
Is depiorable, for when those boys be-
come men the passion for killing has
strengthened into confirmed habit made
inveterate by the pride of skill. Pain is
pain, whether endured by man or beast.
and the creature that suffers Il. sensible
OF the misery. suffers evil, and the suffer
ance or EVIL, unprevokedly. where no Of
Tense has been given and no good can be
gained by ii, is cruelty and injustice IN
him who occasions IL.
Who can fan in his study OF all AMI
mated nature to recognize the beauty and
tenderness and intelligence OF the varied
forms OF animal life. together with the
gratitude and affection that these bestow
upon US? We are indebted to the animals
for countless services performed for our
benefit, and their right TO necessary food
and rest and tender usage cannot be ig
nored in j community which makes any
pretense to humane civilization. II may
be said we are justified in destroying
those animals inimical to human welfare.
but we are not justified in unnecessarily
killing, still less torturing any harmless
beings whatsoever. Those practices
which infiiet unnecessary pain on sentient
beings are Incompatible with the higher
instincts OF humanity. That the creatures
below us are entitled TO protection and
sympathy Is now beginning to be appre-
hended by the humaner conscience OF man
kind. and while some animals are already
included within the pale Of protection
and human sympathy, the time must
come when humanity will extend its man
tie over everything which breathes. II
is 70 be regretted that the comprehensive
ordinance for the prevention OF cruelty
to animals recently passed by the city
council omitted some provision for these
hapless birds. for clay pigeons. used in
other parts of the country, seem to be all
that is needed for exhibiting Skill
MRS LAURENCE GRONLUND.