Popular Sports and Exercises, 185 



derived from long custom and authority must 

 fall to the ground. There is a sympathy im- 

 planted in our natures, which renders us feel- 

 ingly alive to the pains and pleasures of our 

 fellow-creatures, and is even extended to every 

 part of the animal creation. Upon the du? 

 exercise of this principle depends great part 



of our social and individual happiness. 



Whatever then has a tendency to "diminish 

 the influence of this principle, ought carefully 

 Ito be avoided. Now every single act of cruelty 

 contributes its share towards the weakening or 

 extinguishing the principle of sympathy ; and 

 by the repetition of such acts, according to 

 the general laws of habit, * a diposition to 

 cruelty is likely to be generated. If a child 

 be early indulged in sportively tormenting 

 animaby and this vicious propensity be suffered 

 to grow up into a habit, his sensibility to 

 human suffering will be proportionably dimi- 

 nished y — insensibility will harden into bruta- 

 lity ; and at length he will not be restrained 



* ** The habitude which the people of this country (viz. 

 Cape of Good Hope) necessarily acquire in witnessing 

 instances of cruelly on human as well as brute creatures, 

 cannot fail to produce a tendency to hardness of heart, 

 and to stifle feelings of tenderness and benevolence^ 

 In fact, the rigour of justice is seldom softened with the 



balm of mercy." Sec Barrow's Travels in Africa, 



Vol. 2. p. 41. 



A a 



