New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-21
This brushwood n

clipped regularly so that it does not eEceed q
height of about a yard. to serve as shelter fR
the game. It is traversed at intervals OF about
twenty yards by parallel footpaths rather ulnrs
than yard in width and known technically a
'Iayons." Each shooter is stationed in lay
on" the President in the centre. Behind each
shooter stands a loader with cartridges and a
second gun. In the spaces between the 'faSS-
ons." and a little distance behind the line Of
shooters are placed the heaters. It is their bUs<
ness to work a way through the brushwood and
start up the birds and rabbits the shooters Ia
the mean time advancing slowly at the saIns
rate of progress along their respective "Iayona-
bringing down the game that crosses tLrIr path
or takes wing before them.
Shooting continues until about 4 o'clock h
the afternoon. Then an open air luncheon -
eaten and the total of the days bag is count
ed. Each head of game as it falls in the shoot
is marked on cards or metal markers by he as
sistant Of the shooter who brings it down. Dur
ing the regime of the late President Fadre n
was considered a breach of etiquette for any
guest to have better record for the dry than
his host 1t is even said that the Presidents
marker was careful to see that the PresidentB
contribution to the bag was not surpassed
at least on paper-by any one Of less rank than
a Russian grand duke. This story. however. b
probably an invention.
President Loubet shoots Ieft-handed All ths
Presidents of the French Republic have not
been equally sure with the gun. NJ. Theirs was
famous for the terror that he inspired III his
neghbors. Marshal MacMahon, too vas more
impetuous than trustworthy, a his companions
in a shooting sometimes discovered to their cost
President Grevy was rather bored by cererno-
NOUS shootings. He preferred to roam over The
wild Jura country. potting at anything hat his
dog might start up. stopping ~ some convenient
farmhouse to lunch, IS simply as President
Roosevelt, with a little bread and cheese, or
bacon, and a glass Of native wine. President
CaTnot was a poor shot. He u1justly cred-
tied with having lodged a charge OF shot in Cen
eral Brugere's hip The legend has been con-
troverted more than once, but it dies hard. rcr
it was again put forward in the press . few
weeks ago by political opponents of General
Brugere. who said TO owe preferment TO this
lucky accident The late Jules Ferry's fame
a sportsman is based chiefly on the mastery
manner in which ne once missed rabbit and
filled an unfortunate beater with shot.
In fact the only risk that exists in these festfV-
tiles arises from the inexperience Of the shoot
ers. For the game includes nothing more fierce
than pheasants cartridges, rabbits and hareA
An attempt was made to Introduce wild duck
shooting at Marley-Ie-Roi. but without much
and Matched at Marty by the ordinary farm yard
species The little ducklirgs were turned loose
on the ponds, but. being fed regularly by thu
keepers. grew up as tame as pets. Finally when
the shooting season began, it was decided to
try the new sport The ducks were captured
overnight. put in baskets securely tied and
placed ready TO hand for the following day. The
shooters were stationed in line near the ponds
where the ducks had been reared. The beaters
with the baskets were placed at a distance Of
some three or four hundred yards further away.
Thus the shooters were between the heaters
and the ponds. When the signal was given. the
strings of the baskets were cut and the ducks
liberated. The instant they caught sight OF ths
water they turned in that direction and wers
brought down they passed over the shooterS
heads.
The experiment was voted such a success that
a repetition was attempted. This time Il was
dismal failure For, in the night, poachera 0r
more likely some misChevous ways, opened thu
baskets. took out the ducks and carefully tied
up the baskets again. No one detected TIA
trick One may imagine the blank look OF Dis
gust and amazement that greeted the opening