syrians, and Babylonians indulged in this pastime,
does not make it any more suitable an occupation for us to-day. The
good qualities of temper and patience which hunting demands are equally
well developed by athletic sports. I understand that a good hunting
establishment will cost as much as $10,000 (2000 Pounds) a year.
Surely those who can afford so much on luxuries could find a more
refined amusement in yachting and similar recreations. To sail a yacht
successfully in half a gale of wind, is, I should imagine, more
venturesome, more exciting, and a pastime requiring a manifestation of
more of the qualities of daring, than shooting a frightened animal from
the safe retreat of the saddle of a trusty horse; and not even the hunt
of the wild beast can equal in true sportsmanship a contest with the
wind and the waves, for it is only occasionally that a beast shows
fight because he is wounded, and even then man is well protected by his
gun; but whether yachting or swimming the sportsman's attitude of
watchfulness is uninterrupted. I fancy it is convention and custom,
rather than conviction of the superiority of the sport, that has given
hunting its pre-eminence. It is on record that four thousand years ago
the ancient emperors of China started periodically on hunting
expeditions. They thus sought relief from the monotony of life in
those days; in the days of the Stuarts, in England, royalty found
pleasure in shows which were childish and even immoral. Of course in
barbarous countries all savages used to hunt for food. For them
hunting was an economic necessity, and it is no slander to say that the
modern hunt is a relic of barbarism. It is, indeed, a matter of
surprise to me that this cruel practice has not ceased, but still
exists in this twentieth century. It goes without saying that hunting
means killing the defenseless, inflicting misery and death on the
helpless; even if it be admitted that there is some justification for
killing a ferocious and dangerous animal, why should we take pleasure
in hunting and killing the fox, the deer, the hare, the otter, and
similar creatures? People who hunt boast of their bravery and
fearlessness, and to show their intrepidity and excellent shooting they
go to the wilderness and other countries to carry on their "sport". I
admire their fearless courage but I am compelled to express my opinion
that such actions are not consistent with those of a good-hearted
humane gentlema