New-York tribune., 1916-07-30
NY GRANDFATHER was a devoted
MI stamp collector. He told me once that
- n h1,,a Mouritius

NTY GRANDFATHER was a devoted
WI stamp collector. He told me once that
the sight Of blue Mauritius some
thing-or-other stamp in friends album made
him feel capable of murder. had an aunt
who spent her entire life and an annuity ac-
quiring china plates which nobody was ever
allowed to use Ny father had so much pewter
in his home that the place almost tinkled as you
crossed the threshold. My only sister has
unique assortment of samplers to show for
life of industry and vigilance. Is it any won
der that inherited the collecting habit?
My acquisitive instinct, however, has taken
an entirely different turn. l am collector OF
tastes Not tastes in art, mind you Nothing
to do with old masters, prints, books and that
sort of thing When say l collect tastes,
mean tastes-favors, savors, and so on. From
early childhood the gustatory novelty has pos
sessed an inordinate charm for me. have
seemingly inexhaustible curiosity where un-
heard-of edibles are concerned. Oddly enough,
| am neither a gourmand nor gourmet.
have not even a normal sized appetite. With
me the novelty's the thing. Needless to say,
this rather unusual form Of the collecting
mania from which I suffer has led me into
many queer gastronomic adventures, some OF
which have proved most amusing as well as
highly instructive. The first diversion in diges-
7 obora rlyipU m took placa
when was lad of twelve, and had to do with
that ornithological malefactor known as a
butcher-bird.
Gentle reader, let me warn you in advance.
If any one should place before you well ap-
pearing platter in which alluringly nestles a
broied member of the butcher-bird family, re
fuse it, beg. 1t is not a nice dish Really.
truly, it is not
AS boy l lived in Australia, and it was
there tnat handled my first gun. 1t was pre-
sented to me on my twelfth birthday, and with
it was also given most explicit instructions
about its use and abuse. Among the ten com
mandments there was one special warning
against ruthless destruction / was given to
understand that killing for the sheer lust Of
killing was not considered good form. had
to promise to shoot only for educational pur-
poses or to obtain food. At the age of twelve
ones knowledge of ornithology and zoology is
likely to be somewhat restricted, and it was
this ignorance, coupled to my youthful VOW to
eat what / shot if it did not possess educational
value, that led me into the untoothsome regions
of the Lanats BoreaIis.
Fifteen miles away from the city Of Mel
bourne is delightful hily district known as
Diamond Creek, and for some inexplicable rea-
son which have never been able TO fathom l
decided that Diamond Creek should be the
scene of my first attack on the brute creation.
There in its wattle-scented bush trudged, my
neS-t beating with excitement and my brand
new single-barrel breech-loader horribly ready
for Heaven knows what. / do not know TO this
day if any animal more ferocious than a COW
has ever disturbed the peaceful serenity of Dia-
mond Greek.
In and out Of the gum tree cloisters
scraped and snOOped and dodged, aping the
heroes of all the hunting stories | had ever
read. frightful impatence to kill something
spurred my efforts. simply had to use my new
gun. On and on painted till at last saw
strange looking bird alight on top of a blue
gum. A joyful tremor went through me. Nv
sporting ethics had not advanced far enough
at that time to spurn Sitting" target.