The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-15
old ENGLISH GAMES
HAVE MANY VIRTUES
Beauty and Utility Value Are
Coupled With Ability
To Fight.
~ EDWIN MEGARGEE.

Famed in song and story, It's lineage
tracing back to the very dawn OF c!v!lIzs-
ton, by turns a hero and an outcast, the
Old English Game is truly picturesque
and romantic figure and occupies a unique
position In the annals OF puultrydom.
The earliest mention OF the game cock
appears In Chinese records. In the codes
OF Manu-, issued more than thousand
years before the Christian era, cock light
ing is mentioned as one Of the commend
able amusements
Tracing down through history We note
continual reference 10 these fowls. We
ind their images on Greek and other
coins and references to them in the lltera-
ture OF Greece and Rome. Tne Romans
are said 10 have held game cocks in such
high esteem that they almost deitied them
and they not intrequently buried them
with high honors
1t is probable that the first landing OF
the game fowl on English shores was at
Cornwall, where they were called the
Persian birds. This 10 some eXter; SOi
rphorates the claim that they were nrs
uiough; there by the phnriciaus. win,
came % barter for tin and other metals.
M through English history and leits.s
We Ind reference To these fcath,r,t w.
riors About 1850 laws were passed IN
England forhiddng cock fighting. and As
> consequence the game fowl languish,d
spr time and even threatened To die oID
However. It's mold upon the far v!rrs at
fections was too strong and they wealth
cred this storm as they have weathered
AL storms
Speaking OF this, Mr.. Weir says: The
Old English Game Cock has held It's own
against al! corners. Bright and heautifu
he stands To-day, as he stood with eager
bold. dilated eye. a monarch bird. clad ~
!ustrous feathcry garments Of the hr!snt-
est sheen, when. un1nching and ur-
daunted he faced his foe. while old Ro-
man warriors made the ring In which he
fought on English soil. Though they he
held with wonderment his high proves
and daring deeds. not even then was n
more cherished and better cared FOR than
new
While the writer holds no brief for cock
fghti\ the fact remains that cock tight-
ing brought forth this beautiful race Of
fowls. which deserve our admiration for
their utility qualities as well a. for their
launtless courage and beauty OF form
and plumage
Regarding their utility value Mr. Weir
is very eloquent. Speaking of certain
strain he says: Fine In form graceful
Ia carriage, beautiful In color. small in
bone. with white shanks, feet and toe
nails, plenty OF white flesh Of unsurpass-
able quality, skin thin and white, fat
white with an absence OF onal 10 a re-
marksble degree, good layers OF delicately
colofed delicious eggs while both the
young and old birds seek their living far
and wide.
The very fact of their training and be-
ing fought demonstrates without doubt the
survival of the strongest the most hardy
healthy. best formed. In short. 10 use
parwin's words. the survival of the fittest
What other breed has tho stately walk
the symmetrical form. the bold alertness
the daring, naughty look. tho graceful
pose and carriage Where is there one
so agile? Where another so rich In colors
or of more befltting texture OF plume
Erect, bold as chief from battle with
glory crowned, a natural ruler. a bird
without a peer And this because frofn
generation to generation and century to
century the best. strongest heslth'est
truest and Of the purest breed have been
kept while the weak and III formed or III
conditioned were set aside.
The accompanying illustration gives a
good idea Of the ideal type for this brees
As to color. they are not bred strictly n
this respect. although In the drawing y
pair Of Black Breasted or Derby Reds are
shown.
The American Poultry Association sees
III to ignore this noble breed and to refuse
Il admission TO the Standard. the excuse
being the fear that by 50 doing II might
be thought to countenance cock hghting
Notwithstanding this the old English
rame :. most popular and daily wins new
friends by its sterling merits,
Copyrtght, 1918, bU Geo. a, McDertr Co,