The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-11
FARMER AND SPORTSMAN.
The Former Is Usually Ready to
Meet the Latter Half Way.

AOil EoItSt ana CNttAm.
There is an inseparable relation be-
tween the sportsman and the farmer that
may be strained or strengthened, accord
ing to its abuse or respect. look upon
the farmer as the sportsman's best and
indispensable friend, for it is he who fur
nishes the land and through whose court
esy the sportsman is permitted 10 hunt
upon 1t. l have always found the farmer
wiling to meet man more than half
way. Rowdies he will not tolerate Nearly
all farmers like to hunt, and they posses IS
a Keen sense of its enjoyment. although
they may, to some extent, be lacking in
appreciation of some of the minor details
that go to make the city mans outing
enjoyable, because an every dav assocta-
ton with his surroundings makes them
less noticeable to him than to his city
prother, who comes in contact with them
only when enjoying the farmers hospi-
tahty. Just so is the case with the city
man who sees much less at home than
does his country friend when visiting the
city. My friends from the country often
point out things TO me that l have never
seen before, and which are equally in
terestlng TO me after l have found them.
Most farmers are naturalists in a gem
eral way, If not scientific. The seasons of
vegetation are of necessity wen learned
by them, and the habits of common ami
mails and game are generally we'll under
stood. From boyhood they have associ-
ated with these things, so that they are
as able TO judge of what is good for one
ana another as average humanity And
contact with the rapidly increasing army
OF sportsmen adds greatly to their knowl-
edge of human nature"
When you spoke of the farmer meeting
the sportsman half way / was reminded
OF an incident in my own experience, -"
said the neighbor Adjoining the farm of
my host was one belonging to a man who
was considered in the community as a
hard man TO deal with, In that he was
severely strict in his business transac-
ions with his neighbors, even to the min
uteSt detail, yet obliglng and charitable
when occasion required
His farm was posted. and I was eau
TONED against encroaching upon it. One
morning while covering a fled on my
friends land bevy of quail went over in
TO the forbidden territory. l marked them
down in small brier patch, where The
shooting would be easy, and after studying
a while l determined TO take chances and
go over. My dogs soon pointed and ! got
brace of birds Then | heard a shout and
saw man coming toward me. Resolved to
face the situation like man, | went 10
meet him. His face was stern but there
that a point in my favor
Didn't you see that notice." he said.
Yes, sir, l did; but those birds flew over
here, and l couldn't resist the temptation
to follow them I replied. but if you IN
sist upon my going out l, will do so, but
l would like TO have another chance at
them
e" have kept even my neighbors from
shooting here, and you couldn't expect me
TO break the rule in favor of a stranger,
he said
No, sir, I don't ask you 10, and j am
sorry l intruded
He scanned me closely without a word
as / started for the line fence but had
not gone far when he called, 'Say! AS l
stopped he came up and continued: Ain t
you the man who visits Spiker? l said |
was. I thought so, he said. I've seen
those dogs over there and I've heard of
you. Spiker is a good neighbor. and l don /
want to offend him or his guest. You can
hunt here, but don't shoot near the house;
my daughter is sick and nervous -.fr1 f-
Il thanked him and sent the dogs after
the scattered bevy. He followed me around
and seemed delighted with watching the
dogs work, and when ! made a double shot
he was captivated. After / had killed half
a dozen birds l engaged with him in con-
versation, compllmenting him on the or
der in which his place was kept, and final
ly offered him the birds / had shot, of
which he would accept only a couple for
his daughter, and as / left he gave me a
cordial invitation TO hunt there again.