The Washington herald., 1913-11-25
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.


1t was the open season for deer in Mas
sachusetts. and ''sportsmeu,n some from
cultured Boston itself. were Aocking to
the haunts OF the wildiings. SO eager for
the killing fray that the rifles were busy
almost at the peep OF Sundays dawn.
although the law said walt until sunrise
on Monday. But their hunting blood was
astir and they chafed at delay.
Protected during the closed season and
saved from the killing guns by the might
of law. some of the deer had grown quite
fearless, drinking from the same troughs
with the farmers cattle. even once IN q
while consenting to be petted by sthe
children.
But, unconsciously, they invited their
doom. For how were these beautiful
specimens of Gods handiwork to know
when the hours of protection were num-
bered and when the "sportsmen" were
let loose? Nature does much for its wild
creatures when IL gives them instincts to
scent danger from afar. but II has not yet
whispered to them mans secret OF the
open season. when slaughter Is licensed.
And so on Sunday morning and the days
thereafter when deer-shooting was
counted a legitimate pastime, the grace
full animals fiocked and sported about as
usudf-dL lcdSls Nncg 5tdilc0 ". Dub II
was not long before the work OF the brave
hunters began to tell, and when the nrst
twenty-four hours had ended. some sorry
tales were related. For the code Of the
sportsrnen did not urge them to spare
even the smallest, the weakest and least
offensive Of all. The young and the de-
fenseless fell with the rest.
The reports tell of bold hunter who
dubbed to its death deer that was rash
enough TO run toward him; and some one
suggests that probably the gentle crea-
ture expected to eat out of his hand
Nimrod! They describe how shot after
shot rang out for one deer that was do
ing its valiant best to escape the fusillade
Its best, with one riddled leg dangling
at its side.
And is It mot pitiable. pitiabIe for the
deep-but what for the sportsmen? But
perhaps the worst pity Is for them. that
they have not yet taken to themselves
the teachings OF the years
In the push for food, the animals
sometimes roam pretty close to houses.
and during the season for shooting. one
was venturesome enough to enter the
back lot where a woman stood guard
with a gun. Perhaps he was driven
there-who knows? But the woman did
not question whether he came for food
OF for safety: she simply raised her rifle.
and when the deer dropped down, she
was proud OF her craftsmanship and
pleased with her gain. The season was
open-why not enjoy the sport with the
rest?
There was a time in the history Of
man when the individual was forced to
kill for food. or go hungry, time when
skins furnished much Of the clothing
that was used; and the early chase had
some excuse, for back of II stood the
virtue of need
And many times they were brave men
that Jared forth with their primitive
weapons for 4 conflict with the beasts Of
the forest-but they did not go for the
joy OF killing. And they went where
thing more than pleasure dependent upon
the result OF the conflict. something more
formidable than deer to fight
But, exceot in scattered instances.
that necessity exists no longer.
And the suspicion is very strong that
IL IL existed today, II there were call
fer brave-hearted men and trne to scour
the fields and the forests where genuine
danger was lurking, IL would be'a diner
ent set Of men who would respond TO the
call, take their courage in their hands
and 60 out to win or die
THE sportsman" who pursues deer
with an up-to-date gun, who follows one
poor little fox with scarcely the SEM
blance of a chance for its life, who shoots
down pigeons flying out from trap with
out the suspicion of danger. who slaught-
ers birds list for his pleasure-wouid he
be the first to run away when the real
test came?
One believes It, because he makes a
very paltry showing. And the reaIiS
brave are tender, under cover OF their
lion-hearts.
There is this much to be said for many
of the 'sportsmen'-
Quite likely they belong In the same
class with women who persist In wearing
the plumage of birds that bird-lovers
are trying to protect And quite likely
they might follow the march OF civiliza-
ton II they could be shocked wtde-awake
to the fact that Though their ignorance.
indifference, cruelty, or what-not' some
of the sports" and some Of the woman
adornments still bear the tag OF prim-
itive days
Perhaps they do not think; but civ
ilized, educated folk ought to think And
the strange, contradictory part Of 1t Is
that the majority of the 'sportsmen
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