The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-06-13

MEANS ADOPTED BY aUAoRUPEos
TO OVERTHROW THEIR ENEMIES.

Awkwardnesa Of the Camei-Fierco Bat
Ties Of Trained stations Among the
Mortimer - The old Greeks Loved a
Quail Fight - BATTLES Among Pigeons.
There are no wild beasts In Europe
suitable for the combats which Orien-
tails love. or they would certainly have
been utilized. Wolves look very prom.
Using and It might be thought that
such an illtempered animal as the
Russian bear could easily be reused to
fight a comrade; but we may be sure
that the experiment was tried often
enough to prove that In neither case
was It worth while to make a match.
So our forefathers had to be content
with the hideous sport of batting 49,
which it not our theme. Had they
possessed more ingenuity, however,
some diversions might have been OBJ
tanned from stays. Even antelopes are
used in India, though they need train
ing. Il Is their nature to fight only at
the rutting season; to make them Gag
er for the fray at any time they must
receive special treatment. and above
all they must be kept in practice. But
that means q great consumption" Of
antelopes, for they battle to the death.
and this variety Of entertainment.
Is not common. Elephants and tigers
are the favorite victims, OF course; but
nothing profitable can be said about
their duels and certainly nothing
amusing.
A camel fight is rather curious. The
brutes have a pair of teeth far back
in the jaw, which rival those of
tiger, and an old male is extremely
ferocious Knowing, however, that
these, their most terrible weapons,
are useless in a front attack-for.
vast as the camels cape is, it cannot
be stretched wide enough to bring
them into action-they never try to
grip the head or neck or any vital part
of an antagonist. All their strategy
is directed to the object of seizing one
of his legs below the knee, and thus
overthrowing him by pressure; then
the huge teeth can be brought to bear
upon his throat and he is no better
than a corpse. There are those who
deny that the camel has any sense at
all, and they appeal to everybody who
knows the beast by experience The
cameIs way of fighting is mean and
awkward-the coup de Jarnac of quad
rupeds. But it is the one best suited
to its anatomy A very strong stom-
ach, however and nose which has
lost the sense of smell are required
to enjoy this spectacle.
OF all combats between beasts. per.
haps that between a horse and tiger
is the most thrilling. We have read
several descriptions, and always. if we
remember right, the horse was the vic
tor. But it must be stallion as Gun.
ming as brave. To avoid the tigers
spring, in a walled area of limited
extent, is impossible. The horse does
not try, it is only careful to face the
enemy, turning on the same spot as
he circles round. At length the spring
is made; it sinks it's forequarters till
the knees almost touch the ground.
and the tiger lights, unsteadily, upon
it's launches. Instantly the hind legs
last out, with such force that the brute
is thrown headlong, and if it does not
recover it's feet in a second the battle
is over, so rapid and so heavy are the
kicks bestowed In general, however,
there is another round" exactly sim
liar, and the tiger confesses itself beat
en-.
Such match like fight of cameis,
has some interest; but the hammer
and tongs" struggle between two ele-
plants, or an elephant and rhinocer-
os. must be almost as dull in reality as
in description. Lions and tigers are
not much more scientific in their
methods. Oriental ingenuity, however.
has devised some eccentricities in this
line. The old Greeks loved a quail
fight, and the sport is to be witnessed
occasionally in southern Europe. Par
tridges are used in India That curl
Gus book. "Tbe Private Life of an
Eastern King" which made a stir in
our grandfather's time, gives a lively
account of the diversion as practised
at the Court of Dude. When the tabl5
was cleared every evening after din
ner two cock partridges were intro
duced. They trotted about, comfort
ably and friendly, being familiar witt
man, until hen dropped between
them.
There is a fable of Lafontaine's
loved by French children, which be
gins, "Deux coqs vivaient en- paix-ad
vint une poule," etc It's truth to ma
ture was demonstrated by the conduc