Year: 1870

things were not respectable enough before,
but they have disreputable flavor now un-
less CLOSED by religious varnish The p. r.
itself has been defended on this ground. Not
that Tom Savers was actually presumed to be
filter TO WELD the sword of the Lord and of
Gideon after his sixth round. but we are
gravely assured that the physical training of
which he was the examplar and champion is
making of British youth more able pioneers
in civilization and more fervent defenders of
the faith.


The most curious application Of this theory
occurs in recent comments of the London
press on the noble sport of pigeon-shooting.
As this latest development of civilization is as
vet comparatively unknown among us, it is
worth while to state that it consists in allow
ing pigeons to escape one by one from trap,
in order that the noble British youth may
shoot them at whatever distance their skill as
marksmen will warrant while ther sisters and
sweethearts sit by delighted with the iDnO-
"cent recreation" to watch the dying spasms
of the birds; or sometimes, as we learn from
the Prince of Wales's familiar letters. to
catch their mangled bodies in their laps. The
Times, q week or two ago, declaimed vigor-
ously against the cruelty and brutality
of this national game; whereupon
howl of wrath and recrimination has
arisen among the more aristocratic per-
ton of the press which is at this distance ex-
ceedingly ludicrous. We are told that the
pastime belongs exclusively to the nobility
and gentry. Is there to be no limit to pie
beian encroachment "What," cries Ihe
Morning Post, in dismay, care Members OF
" Parliament to do on Saturday afternoons u
The Field, another spokesman for the more
refined classes, is still more pronounced in its
disgust and anger against the "mawkish hui
manitaranism of the day." discusses crit
ically the propriety of shooting breeding birds,
and the inexpediency of first binding the
pigeons and pulling out their tails before let
ting them loose, "as the bird would then flut-
% ter stupidity around the trap and not give
/" the difficult mark desired" The argument
is urged that the pigeons can afterward be
used for food, which ought to authorize, we
think, the condensation of the system into
treatise, entitled Every Nobleman his own
Butcher"


But The Field, after marshaling these lower
reasons, brings up the grand cheral de bdtd'He
of religion and pleads pathetically with all
who remember the benefit which the love Of
sport has conferred on the physique and morale
of Englishmen to sustain this refined pursuit
in this its dire extremity and invOkes the
ladies to enliven with their smiles the walnut
shades of Huringame, and gladden. the brave
Britons there at their labors.


Now to Americans, who never forget that
the primitive and true idea of the chase is q
direct conflict between man and certain savage
elements in the world which must be over
come and disappear before civilization, bear,
deer, or buffalO-shooting seem not unmanly
work, nor unsuited to a certain degree of culture
and enlightenment. There is at least fatigue
to be endured, and danger to be incurred.
The idea, however, Of unlimited members of
Parliament, hated and gloved d la mode, driv-
ing out to the inclosure at Hurlingame to
butcher half dozen Gagged, frightened pigeons,
while their lady friends look on exultant, is
to us indescribably absurd. But when we con-
slider that out of this occupation this remark
able people hopefully assert their expectation
of deriving strength for their legislative duties
and religious enlightenment, our wonder can
find no words We can only look on in silence
and perplexity.