The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-30
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER go 1905


The Hon John s Wise contributes t.
the current issue of Dr. FraukIin's news
paper, the esteemed Saturday Evening
Post, an entertaining talk on The open
Season: after Small Game with Biz Men. '
The names Of many big men, Ameri
cans and Englishmrn, arr irlicitously in
troducrd, not "A few ol which have beer
carved Tor many u year on the tomb.
We de- not suppose that it WAS the aim
Of Mr.. " ~e to add to thenumherOfgOod
American men and women who hold the
memory Of Thomas Is. Reed in Affection
ate regard, or To augment the affection
OF his old friends. Indeed, it it evident
that he had no such intent. although
there was nothing like uniriendship be-
tween them Bat II Mr. Wise had seriously
and earnestly drsiird to inScribe the
name OF Thomas b. Reed on the list OF
those whom all Members oi humane
societies desire tObOnOr hecOuld scarcely
have achieved greater success in that
direction than lr has done in this little
story:
Il remember an occasion in the cloak
room Ul the hous, Oi Representatives,,
when u party Of NJ were planning trip
down the Potomac To thecoast aftercur-
lew aud bay-birds Judge Weeks. OF
Michigan was ardent. Speaker Reed
lOunged in-'Tum' Reed. as everybody
called him lie listened To our talk "A
while, and then sardOnically said:
why, gentlemen The same enthusi-
asm for thr public business which ! see
displayed here 10 murder little birds
would cnnble Congress 10 adjourn at
least "A month earlier than seems prob
able
"Go with Us, Reed shouted several.
1t will do you good. You need the rest.
Think OF being swept by ocean breezes,
and the grand sport well have.
Reed stood there, colossus as be- was.
looking down upon us with his hands
uader his coat-tails.
"Why, Judge, he drawlcd with his in
imitable Yankee twang. ] heyershot but
one bird in my whole life. spent a
whole day doing that. 1t was little
peet, OF sand-piper ! chased him Tor
hours up and down Il mill stream.
When at last potted him and held him
up by one OF his poor little legs, | never
felt more ashamed OF myself in all my life.
| hid him in ms cOat-tall pocket Tor lear
somebody would SOC how biz | was and
how small my victim, and never will
be guilty again OF the cowardice Of such
an unequal battle. Tom Reed was then
and there voted out n a sportsman, and
went loling off, a. il on his sea legs. to
find more cOngenial company
There il no need OF comment tOempha-
size the simple eloquence OF big Toms
words. They are worthy OF reprOduc-
tion in the literature Of the humane so
cieties. along with COleridge's and Cow
per's impassioned pleas for humanity to-
ward all creatures to which God has
given life. Nor is there any occasion to
contrast Reeds attitude with that Ol
those who deem it legitimate and who
find it exhlarating sport to kill just for
the sake of killing, to destroy life the ex-
istence OF which is no menace 70 any hui
man interest, the destruction Of which
does not contribute to any OF mans ne
cessitles.
Would not Reeds story his slaughter
of the little peet" and the shame that
oppressed him as he reflected on 1.-THE
cowardice of such an unequal battle. be
fittingly utilized il printed in a school
reader?-WashingtOn Post.