Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-28
into n square box in which there Is liter.
ally no room for them TO turn.
AT A GIVEN SIGNAL.

At n given signal. by the pulling OF
q wire, the sides OF the box fall down,
and the frightened bird surveys with
10y the open earth ana sky he stretches
his wings, ilies-bang, land he lies on
the ground with O broken back, and
for a few moments struggles for the
breath that viii not come. Sometimes
death Is instantaneous. but this Is by
no means the rule birds are fequently
only manned and manage to get away
TO some neighhoring shelter, where, II
they are not shot by the rouehs who
hang about on the outskirts OF the field.
they often linger on In agony Free
ouently before the birds are put into
the death boxes. the man who handles
them, tears a great bunch OF feathers
from their breasts. This Is done IN or
der that, maddened by pain and ex-
element, they may take n more &C.
centric flight into the afr. and increase
the chance OF the pigeon gamblers.
FEATHERS AND BLOOD.
The late Lord Randolph Churchill
made one OF his most eloquent speech
es IN the house Of commons In behalf
Of bill against tran-shooting The
sight OF a demonstrating ground
he said. Astounding with masses OF
feathers and blood. and wounded birds
surrounding the trap, contrasting so
.hideously with the green grass and the
trees all around---wth the sun per-
haps shining brilliantly on the scene
IL without exception the most horrible
and repulslve sight possible to imag-
inc" That was I'm 1883 Th. house
of commons passed the bill, but the
noble lords, regarding II as an unwar-
rantahle Interference with one Of their
favorite Sports" rejected It. Since
then, however, the lower classes have
taken up pigeon trap-shooting and
consequently II has declined In popu-
larty among the upper circles. 1t Is
probable that a majority Of the house
Of lords would now vote for its aholi-
ton since they are no longer greatly
interested IN 1t.
ONLY WEALTHY DO IT.
But they will strenuously object to
any Interference with the hunting Of
rark-reared and semi-domesticated
stays, for that Is one Of the most ex-
elusive OF so-caled sport" In
which only wealthy folk can afford to
indulge. As long as 1892, that great
est of English authorities on sporting
matters, 'rhe Field" said.
III we look at this fiction OF chase
from an unprecedented standpoint, we
must admit that II Is only prescription
and usage which enable us to retain
II In our sporting schedule. and 10 toll
crate II as legitimate Strictly speaking,
II stands on the same footing as bull or
bear-baiting. both of which have had
TO go to the wall under the influence
of what IL called the march of civil
ization." II Is more than 10 years
since Queen Victoria abolished the
Royal Buckhounds. though of course,
In accordance with precedent. the mas
ter OF the Royal Buckhounds wass stlll
retained. II Is probable that 100 years
hence that aristocratic functionary will
sill be drawing $500 year for doing
nothing.
THE QUEENS EXAMPLE.
II was hoped that the queens ex-
ample would lead to the disarmament
OF the dozen or more of private packs
of hounds that are used to harry park
deer but 1t didn't. Where sport was
concerned. Victoria the Good possess
sed no influence whatever. The hunt
ing OF the carted deer stu nour'shes
On the day of the meet, the deer Is
conveyed TO the rendezvous in a COW
cred lce. The animal Is then turn
ed loose. ''shooed" until It starts run
ming and after a brief interval. the
pack are put upon the scent. Then. OF
course, II scoots for all II Is worth,
In order to secure public liberation OF
this kind of sport, its defenders keep
well to the front the plea that they
desire and endeavor to preserve the
deer's life. OF course they do. for
tame deer Is valuable. especially II It
VIII run well from savage dogs. II Is
even declared that II really enjoys be-
Ing hunted in this fashion. II would
be no more absurd TO argue that cat
gets lot OF fun out Of being chased by
terriers. When the hounds overtake
the stag the pack Is stopped II posh-
BILE, But often the hounds get so far
ahead of the hunt that that II not pos
sible, and then the poor beast Is apt
TO get badly mangled for the dogs
have no notion that It II a make be-
lieve game they are playing.
HUNTERS soLIcITUDE.
And really the hunters display much
more solicitude for the hounds than
for the stag which they deprive of its
natural weapons OF defense by saving
of its antlers. In that condition II Is
Incapable of making fight against the
dogs and keeping them at bay. Hav-
ing. in its semi-domcsticated state lost
all fear OF human habltations, II Of
ten takes refuge In back gardens, and
II Is by no means rare for one 20 get
impaled on spiked fence when try
Ing to escape It's pursuers In this way.
Out OF 81 hunts In one season, 90 end
ed with the deer running straight into
n house or n garden. If II escapes seri-
Gus injury, II is recaptured and carted
back to the deer park. To furnish more
sport on future occasions.
Hare coursing Is another popular
form Of decadent modern British blood
sports. 1t Is q very ancient pastime.
but In the old days. 1t was conducted
with some regard to chivalrous feel
ing, as witness what one old writer.
Arrian, says about It:
For coursers. such MT least as are
true sportsmen, they do not take out
their dogs for the sake Of catching a
hare, but for the contest and sport Of
coursing. and are glad II the hare
escapes, II she fly to any thin brake
for concealment. though they may see
her trembling and In the utmost dis |
tress, they Will call off their dogs"
NO CALLING OFF.
There Is no calling of Of the dogs |
IN these days The whole develop |
mpnt of the "spOrt" has heeu I'm tho |