The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

road journey. When Mr. Churchill made
TINS trip ne occupied "A seat on the cow
catcher. and II is safe 10 say that the
Americans VIII be satisfied with no lesser
point Of vantage The magazine reader
may expect before long 10 see pictured
the members OF the Roosevelt eXpedi-
ton viewing the country perhaps from
an old-fashioned church pew fastened
above the cow-catcher OF an engine. As
the land uufolds Itself before the travel
ers. game OF endless variety VIII be
seen and deep gorges crossed. while occa-
sional plantations OF cotton. rubber, and
fiber. and trim little railway stations
VIII give a touch OF modern cOlOS 20 the
otherwise prehistoric scene.
On either side Of the train may be seen
an endless procession Of wild animals,
which seem to have learned that the for
midable looking locomotive cannot leave
the rails over which il moves through
their domain. Troops Of zebras, herds Of
antelope black wildebeestes. herds Of red
kongoni. and. IN fact. most every mag
Unable beast IS 70 be seen. with the excep-
tion % the lion. the rhinocer0s. and the
elephant.
Even an Occasional Lion.
Good fortune may even bring these
within the ken OF the railway passenger
and al Sinba. popularIy known as the
place Of lions the guides generally
promise the sight OF the regal animal But
this is exceptional. and the paucity OF this
game is due 20 the greed OF the hunter
for not so long ago Il was the practice 10
stop these trains wherever opportunity
offered 70 shoot a lion or Two The royal
vermin have prOhted by the experience
Of unfortunate relatives. and now the
stopping OF a train or wagon IS the cue
for the exit from the scene Of this WHY
animal Hunters travelling by caravan
upon sighting q lion are said now 20 drop
unobserved from their wagon while the
vehicle itself continues fl motion.
The absence Of the rhinOCerOs from this
railway review Is pOpularly credited 70
the fate Of an ill-advised member OF the
species. who tried conclusions with a
swiftly moving locomotive
Contrary 10 popular opinion. perhaps
the courage OF the Roosevelt party viii
not be tested by its encounters with lions
for this beast beats hasty retreat when
approached. and only shows its fEhtius
qualities when at bay. Rather viii yalor
be shown IN the staying OF a rhinOceros
The huge body offers an easy mark. but
the bulTs-eye IS the eye or heart Unless
you hit a vital spot he takes his turn dt
you promptly. Mr.. Churchill got a rhi-
nOceros out Of a herd OF three. He says.
Great Is the moral effect Of a foe who
advances Everybody fired. Still the
ponderous brute came on as II he were in
vulnerable-as II he were an engine or
some great steam barge impervioUs 10
bullets. insensible 70 pain or fear Thirty
seconds more and he viii close.
Big Beast Goes Down.
An impalpable curtain seems 10 ron
Itself Up inthe mind. revealing q mental
picture strangely lighted. yet very still
where objects have new values and where
a patch Of white grass In the foreground
four or FIVE yards away seems 70 possess
astonishing significance II IS there that
the last two shots that yet remain before
the resources Of civilization are exhaust
ed must be fred.
There IS time 70 reflect with some de-
tachment that. after all, We are the az
gressors; we II is who have forced the
conflict by an unprovoled assault with
mur6erous intent upon a peaceful herbiv-