The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-13
WHY DO MEs 60 HUNTING,

-
WHY DO men 60 HUyTlxCs
A topic OF interest to sportsmen.
Why Do Men Go HunttngT' Is dis
cussed a. length by the Boston Globe.
which has secured for It's readers the
opinions OF number Of citizens. The
answers cover almost every phase OF
the question. some aseribing the I'M
pulse governing huntsmen to traits in
herited from barbarian ancestors. others
to the desire 90 commune with nature
and still others to reprehens!ble desire
10 take advantage OF the weak ana
helpless
DIR. Heber Bishop, OF the Me-gantic
Club. says that while the reason ord'n-
arily depends on the individual. he be-
lieves the true sportsman is actuated
by the best OF motives. On this point
he says:
The best answer. I think. that can be
made TO the charge that hunting Is bar
ID TO point TO the average sportsman, who,
as Tar az my observation goes, has nothing
OF the barbarous or the brutal In his ma
turo In his intercourse with his fellow man
but who exhibits usually as much natural
benevolence and altruism as any Of his
critics"
Somewhat different is the reason
given by Mr.. Edward A. Samuels. Of
fh, N1h
finds the desire for the chase inherent,
having been bred in man through the
touch with nature. He says:
1T IL true the pleasures Of the hunt are
many: the tracking of the deer or moose
and the victorious shot: the intelligent
work OF the trained pointer or setter, and
the thrill that passes through the hunter
when the grouse rises with a laundering
whir and drops before the weIl-aimed gun !:
these are ali enjoyable. but they are as
nothing when compared with the delight
we feel In being once more with nature
once again Ia the grand old fores, prim-
evai, where the whispering of the foliage,
the songs OF woodland birds and the pratt
ting OF the mountain brook unite In a
substituting symphony such as every true
sportsman delights ina symphony that
can be heard nowhere else on EARTH
Mr., John Herbert, president Of the
Appalachian Club. discusses the topic
from the standpoint OF the mountain
climber rather than the hunter, and
consequently gives a rather unsatisfac-
tory answer to the inquiry. However,
he states his views thus:
but by far the larger number OF Ap-
palachians go hunting for exercise In the
open air with congeniaI compan Mons, In
order to gain or preserve health OF body,
FOR they have learned that
Mind and body are go close combined,
Where health OF body. health OF mind you
ind
They seek also to widen their circle OF
acquaintance and increase the number OF
their friends, having come TO realize that
tho poet only partially expressed a grea,
truth when he wrote:
For ,weli-chosen friendship. the most
noble
OF virtues. all our joys makes double
And into halves divides our trouble"
Relaxation Is the one word giving the
position OF Capt A. J. Hoitt. United
States pension agent He says:
Fer years IL has been my practice to
spend a few days each year In the woods
With my dog and gun. l hunt for the pleas
ure there Is in II. the recreation I obtain
from X and the rest ! always experience
after my trips.
"a man who IS naturally O! nervous
temperament can find no better cure for
his ailment than shouldering a gun and
tranping through the woods for a few
night comes on one Is glad to retire, and
and more refreshing after a hunting trip
than ar any other time"
Mr. Joseph NJ Greene deplores the
tendency OF the average man TO slaugh-
ter defenseIess animals, and proceeds to
condemn what he terms the hunting
spirit" He says:
The cause OF an action gives hint Of
spirit springs from barharism, 20 its effect
is 10 postpone that time when peace ana
Justice shat! rule. Humane education Is
the crying need OF the world today. ard a
custom which places block In i.s path
has no place in a civilized land. Moreover
we cannot escape tho laws OF habit and
association: hence the indisputabie fact
recognized by students Of morals and
ethics. that oar evil treatment OF the
weaker animal world is largely responsible
for the gross injustice OF man To his fellow
suap."