The Springfield herald., 1909-06-25

There was ne use trying to rescue
Marmion. He wns torn to pieces be.
fore | could make myself heard. But
why should it afford such satisfaction
to the men, and why four such lusty
examples of manhood should be SO de-
void of magnanimity, / could not for the
life of me understand then, nor have |
understood since, what it is impels In
telligent immortal souls to this pur-
poseless and cruel frenzy. Yet beyond
doubt there is an innate savagery
implanted deep in the human breast
that is apt to flash forth suddenly from
the most unexpected sources. Accord
ing to their lights the human slayers
of poor Marmion had acted; and would
have been not little surprised and
offended had somebody accused them
of wilful and unnecessary cruelty. Nor
were they to be set down as unusual
specimens of the race From time i'm
memorial the love of the chase, the
hunting to death of some helpless wild
creature has proved popular pastime
with the sons of men. Where the
quarry is of dangerous class,
equipped by nature with weapons OF
defense such as to place the hunted
on a fair level of chance with the
hunter, there is perhaps some excuse
for those who revel in this form of
sport. 1t is throwing of dice honest
ly weighted. with equal hazard for the
participators in the risky game.
But for one dauntless Nimrod who
nTth rt-N-in fa In, Il;
hand to wage war against the savage
creatures of the wild, there are in evil
dence countless numbers of less cour-
ageous individuals who glory in the
mere lust of Staying without any risk
to their own precious persons. Sports
men of the latter type deserve to be
listed as feeble barbarians, retaining
the desire to kill but destitute of the
hardihood that characterized their
iron-sinewed forbears. The savage at
least, while giving free rein to his I'M
tutored instincts, commands respect
by the unilinching courage with which
he faces the hunted beast that has
turned at bay. But where the ele-
ment of risk is lacking, l cannot find
it in my soul to express admiration
for the dexterity of the hunter. The
sportive gentleman who boasts of the
number of pheasants that have fallen
victims to his gun may be an excellent
shot. but | must confess that his per-
fections in this respect fail to move
me to any great transports of delight.
One is inclined to remember the caus-
tic comment of the old French duelist
on the feat of the novice who in
formed him that he had succeeded in
snufling the wick of candle with a
pistol bullet at 20 PAGES:
DO you suppose that your hand
would have been as steady il the
candle had been able to shoot back?"
inquired the veteran.
My mind was chaos of tumultuous
thoughts as | walked slowly back to
the hut. Slight as the incident had
been it was sufficient to cast shadow
over the quiet beauty of that Sunday
morning. The serpent had intruded,
If only for an instant, into paradise
and the grisly form of Death held
ghastly carnival in the rustic wood
land. 1t is well for us that we have
scant time in the rush and whirl of
everyday life to ponder overmuch on
the little griefs that beset our paths,
and the inconsistent ironies of Fate.
Were it otherwise ordained this old
world would become a veritable char
mel house of mourning and life for
ever "sicklied Ger with the pale cast of
thought" The rude philosopher who
said that man never meant to take
his joys without strong swallow of
sorrows. voiced an undeniable If
roughly expressed fact. There is al
ways something placed in the scales
to hold the balance true, and one can
only bow to the inevitable and be
thankful If the good outweighs the i'll
on the final day of reckoning.
There was no one at the hut when
returned and for while the DESC
late air of the place weighed heavily
on my spirits. l wished with all my
heart that | had not been present at
that mimic scene of slaughter in the
wood, but felt thankful that the boy, at
least, had been spared the unpleas-
antness of the sight. Here again
destiny had proved merciful. 1t was
the usual thought of good cheer that
comes to illuminate the "cussedness OF
things" the golden glimpse of sun.
light peeping from behind the gloomy
cloud.
When at last Charlie arrived and
saw the two apples lying on the grass,
he asked me if Marmion had not come
that morning. l only said: mo, he
did not come"
There are some things you do not
tell child. l suppose it is because
you do not want him to be ashamed
of his species too early in life.
Playing to the Gallery.
Adjoining the golf links of the
Cha,.,. l,haSe C,lilL NNas II oLt1a