The Glenwood post., 1910-03-05

" ships and discomforts brings
us nearer to our original
composition, and SO to an ap-
probation of the simpler and less
elaborate facts of existence. Deer
stalking. as whole. is not in these
days the arduous pursuit that 1t was
when Charles St John pursued the
muckle hart with such fervor Now,
one reaches the far beat in a motor
car. and bridlepaths facilitate the as
cent of steep hill. There is no par
ticular reason that l can see why
these facts should be SO hardly COM
mented on by certain critics. Such
methods of transportation are in
weighed against. and those who make
use of them are covered with abuse.
Look" say these gentlemen, how
all our sportsmen are deteriorating."
Then they playfully allude to tame
deer. gorged pheasants, etc. Such
a one was probably he who penned
the famous line. The crack of the
rifle was early heard on the stubble!"
do not suppose that one of them. for
instance. would rise at five o'clock in
the morning with the prospect of
hard days stalking in front of him.
merely for the pleasure of saying that
he had walked to the far beat, when
by getting up couple of hours later
he would reach the ground at the
same time and start fresh
Many comment adversely on deer.
stalking. for" they say. at gives me
no pleasure to be preceded by
trained stalker who tells me what and
what not to do. points out which
stag to shoot, and whose comments
are of necessity circumscribed by my
attitude and the accuracy Of my shot"
This is the chief argument against
stalking, and there is much truth in 1t,
though there are compensations. When
the stalk is done for you the lack Of
responsibility sets one free to appre-
ciate to the full the beauties by which
one is surrounded. This may be a very
minor consideration to many; but the
fact remains that when ones whole
attention Is concentrated on the cir
convention Of a particular stag, not
much time is left for anything else. II
your stag escapes. there is not the
same sense OF blank despair as when
1t is entirely ones own fault and the
stalk conducted in person throughout
One perhaps agrees when the stag of
the season has departed over the
march in undisturbed possession of his
kinds and head. in lofty scorn of your
craftsmanship, with the man who
wrote to his friend after some such
occurrence: You may depend upon
1t that roach-fishing from punt is the
thing after ALL" That at all events
was my feeling one day at the begin
ming of October. We had passed up
one of the most beautiful glens in
Scotland. The river lay far beneath
us, hurrying between gray lichen.cov-
cred rocks over which the gnarled and
storm-tossed frs stood guardian. Lit
tie babbling burns made unequal music
about US, and covered with their
spray the clustered fern clumbs which
peered shyly from about their banks.
1t was day on which thanked Prov
idence and kind host that l was
alive. And this. even though the
stalker was confirmed pessimist. 1
had admiringly watched him perform
a conjuring trick. by which in one
swift movement he had transferred his
glass from its case to his eye. and
wondered.
"see anything?" inquired. cheer
fully.
There's ma a guide beest on the
ground" was the dfscouraging rejoin-
der. We walked to q neighboring hill
top. The conjuring trick was re-
peated. Then felt q tug at my sleeve
and found an eager gillie pointing to
q distant ridge. On the ridge was a
stag Such . stag. too! There's =
grand stag!" I exclaimed.
The pessimist took q long look.
Aye" said he. after pause Il
wouldna say 1t was guide stag; but
its no ba-ad stag"
"Can we get at him3" I inquired.
Hes Just o. the mairch," said the
pasaimist.
III we meve him he'll probably
oo4s into tAis grehnd." sugDastsd,
Aelsesiiy.