The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-26
SPORT ~ ALBANY.
The Horn u the Hunter b Heard On ~
Hiu Of the Capitol 81 Virtue.


To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: Al
bany 10 worth visiting these days. 1nvis-
Grating are It's wintry winds that now
and then grow whive with snowhakes
The blood tinRies ~ you Journey up
Capitol Hin toward that massive pile OF
gray stone that commentaries the most
expensive "hier" In architecture recorded
In the history OF State sovereignty As
you near the summit Of the hill there 10
q sort Of pathos In the Winds. They
sweep from unexpected places they whir'
IN eddies around the various structures dedi.
Gated to the public service wherein are
housed departm, nts, commissions, boards
and bureaus, al, busily engaged In pre-
pairing to be Investigated.
But soon you note q change. you reel
q sort Of atmosphere that aulckens the
blood In your veins, and then--the old
memories Of boyhOod return. You know
what II means now. and for an instant
you live again those half forgotten days
when with rife or shotgun In hand. you
flushed a covey OF quail or partridges
or popped q woodchuck even n his door
sill or waited breathIessiy for the old
red FOX to cross the clearing at the foot
OF the hill You are only a spectator
now, and the sport IL q bit different. but
it's "the call OF the Wild and your heart
ans ~ers II. For. verify. the hunt IL on .
the quarry Is plentiful and trails lead
everywhere.
Morning, noon and night you hear the
horn OF the hunter. the deep baying or
the hounds, the cries OF the bush heaters.
the splitting Of small arms and the occa-
eional reverberation of an elephant bore.
And. as the evening shadows lengthen,
YOU read OF the days exploits or. seated
at table In cafe or restaurant listen
to tales told by those who took part In
the sport And the longer you listen the
tanner seems lion hunting.
The LEGISLATURE II clearing the deck
for action. Horse pistols. hand grenades,
cutlasses, blunderbusses. skyrockets, pin
wheels and an occasional SIX inch gun
are being made ready for another attack
upon the wicked tendencies OF the time
Tn. air rceks with saltpetre, sulphur and
ammonia
The mail Is Hooded with screeds and
| pamphlets published by civic and reform
leagues Many OF these leagues recall
to memory that illustrious example OF
| human versatility known as Rufus. the
one Man Band Usually the president
secretary, treasurer and board OF direc.
/ tors Is a pious gentleman. with q sad and
pensive eye, a smooth touch and a robust
hankering for those worldly things which
| are peculiarly susceptible to moth and
rust The mission OF Rufus the Righteous
! Is to exploit the evils of Sunday recrea'
| ton. the liquor trsfic. blasphemy. ora
| betting and French novels. for he feels
| that Of all the iniquities he can think
OF these are the ones that Will longest
withstand the assaults he hopes to direc'
| against them In well financed campai gns
This form OF moral panhandlins AFFORDS
very decent living.
Tn. main thoroughfares OF the city arr
populous and lively. Clerks. messengers
secretaries and orderlies troop TO and
| from the Capitol; Senators and Assem-
| blymen mingle with the throng; investi
gators. detectives and subpoena servers
/ lend an air OF mystery; occasionally th'
| trim, active figure Of the Governor 1.
seen, and now and then comes stalkins
/ down the hill solemn OF visage and VIII
slow and measured tread. the gaunt re-
/ su~,itated victim OF the Sulzerlsn opera
/ ton
Yes, Albany IL well worth visiting these
DAYS. SIMON csyrL'
/ Albany, February rs.