The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-08-26

poultry yard in open daylight. Foxes
are plentiful in only a few sections
and the average hunter has to ride
some distance for chase. There are
only a few hunters like Prof. Draugh-
on who are able to afford an automo-
bile to which trailer is attached to
carry dogs, who can hunt regardless
of the distance to the fox territory.
Distance lends enchantment to him.
This successful business man says
that some of his brightest thoughts
have come to him going to and re-
turning from the chase, and that
sportsman, George F. Birdsong, whose
name will never die, says he started
life with shattered constitution, a
consumptive, and the healthful sport
OF fox hunting gave him a 20 years
lease on life, yet we find men every
where who condemn fox hunting or
any other kind of sport. Man needs
recreation of some sort, but the man
who keeps dog only to have some
thing to kick around when he gets
mad cannot see why the sportsmen
should have any consideration when
the laws are made. Fox hunting Is a
legitimate sport and the poor man has
as much right to indulge in it as a
king who is able to own game re-
serve.
The houndmen have done more to
protect poultry in this county than
any other hunters and the hound can
be used for more purposes than any
other dog, yet when a law is made to
benefit fox hunters who bear the bur-
den OF the dog tax, some people kick.
I think there are six fox hunters in
this county who pay dog tax to the
amount of $500 in ten years. Have
any six men lost that amount on poul-
try by foxes in the same length OF
time? If 80, how much would they
have lost if there had been no hounds
and hunters? There are twice as
many fox hunters as there were ten
years ago, and as soon as the season
opens the foxes will be caught. II
the closed season had been passed for
several years then the people who
suffer loss by foxes would be justified
in rising up in righteous indignation
and ask repeal of the law. There
never was law that pleased every
body, but often law grows into favor
when prejudice has been laid aside.
The fence law for instance.
There are some men who are chron-
ic grumblers and they find fault with
our representatives for passing laws
and for not passing laws.
The representatives should always
be mindful of the taxpayers whom
they represent-even the dog tax pay
ers. I am amused at some Of our
would-be representatives who hope to
ride into Office by their opposition to
the laws passed by our last legisla-
ture. I like to see man stand on
his merits-if be has any-and not
try to down an honest, conscientious
man, who tried to do his duty, hoping
to use his PROSTATE form for a step
ping stone to Office.
AS sportsman, speaking in behalf
of the many fox hunters Of this coun-
ty, ask our coming legislators to
think before they consider repeal of
the closed season on fox. This is the
first time that the fox hunters have
ever received any consideration when
the laws were made, and they are at
big expense to keep and maintain a
pack that can kill the red fox when
they are sent for in time Of need.
The bird hunter has his game pro-
tected, which bird, though beautiful,
| is not without fault.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you are no fox
hunter, but you love sport, and the
law protects the fish from the deadly
dynamite in the waters where you 60
for recreation when your brain needs
rest. Only a few months ago that
great statesman, whose memory will
ever be cherished by the American
people, passed to the vast unknown.
The sport that he loved was the same
that you love, and when the sum-
mons comes for you to lay aside your
quill and rod and 60 up to the gates
guarded BY St. Peter, my wish is that
he will lst you in because you we're
his fellow fisherman on earth.
Heber r. Dreher.
Selwood, Aug. 20.