Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06
FARMER AND SPORTSMAN.
The Former Is Usually Ready to
Meet the Latter Half Way in
Trespass Cases.


"There is an inseparahle relation be
tween the sportsman and the farmer
that may be strained or strengthened,
according to its abuse or respect. l
look upon the farmer as the sports
mans best and indispensable friend.
for il is he who furnishes the land and
through whose courtesy the sportsman
is permitted 10 hunt upon il. l have
always found the farmer willing to
meet a man more than half way.
Rowdies he will not tolerate. Near
~ all farmers like to hunt. and they
possess 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
everyday association with his sur
roundings makes them less noticeable
20 him than to his city brother. who
comes in contact with them only when
enjoying the farmers hospitality. Just
so is the case with the city man, who
sees much less at home than does his
country friend when visiting the city.
Ny friends from the country often
point out things to me that ] have
never seen before, and which are equal
ly interesting TO me after have found
them. Most farmers are naturalists in
a general way, If not scientific. The
seasons of vegetation are Of necessity
| well learned by them, and the habits
of common animals and game are gem
| orally well understood. From boyhood
| they have associated with these things,
so that they are as able to judge OF
what is good for one and another as
average humanity. And contact with
the rapidly increasing army of sports
men adds greatly to their knowledge
of human nature"
when you spoke of the farmer meet
ing the sportsman half way was re-
minded of an incident in my own
| experience" said the ~neighbor. "Ad-
joining the farm of my host was n
| belonging TO a man who was considered
in the community as a hard man to
| deal with, in that he was severely strict
iE his business transactions with his
neighbors, even TO the minutest detail
vet obliging and charitable when occa-
sion required.
"His farm was posted, and I was eau
| toned against encroaching upon it.
| One morning while covering a field on
my friends land a bevy of quail went
over into the forbidden territory. ]
marked them down in a small brier
patch, where the shooting would be
easy, and after studying awhile deter
mined to take chances and go over. My
dogs soon pointed and | got a brace
of birds. Then l heard a shout and
saw a mar coming toward me. Re-
solved to face the situation like a man.
went to meet him. His face was
stern, but there was no sign of anger,
ard l considered that a point in my
favor.
"'Dldn't you see that notice? he
said. Yes. sir. | did; but those birds
aev over here and | couldn't resist the
temptation TO follow Them / replied:
but If you insist upon my going out
| will do so, but ] would like TO have
another chance at them
az have kept cven my neighbors
from shooting here, and you couldn't
expect me to break the rule in favor OF
a stranger he said.
"'No, sir. | don't ask you TO, and |
am sorry | intruded.'
"He scanned me closely without q
word as | started for the line fence,
but had not gone fac when he called:
'sayl' AS | stopped he came up and
continued: Amt you the nan who
visits Spiker?' | said | was. Il Thought
So he said. I've seen those dogs over
there and I've heard Of you. Spiker is
a good neighbor, and | don't want TO
offend him or his guest. You a hunt
here. but don't shoot near the house.
My daughter is sick and nervous
Il thanked him and sent the dogs
after the scattered bevy. He followed
me around and seemed delighted with
watching the dogs work, ard when /
made n double shot he was captivated.
After l had killed half a dozen birds
L engaged with him in conversation.
complimenting him on the order in
which his place was Kept, and finally
offered him the birds l 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."-Forest and Stream.