Pigeons. 107 



which they use as a means of gain 

 (or loss!). Betting money upon the 

 comparative speed of pairs of wings 

 is a degradation. One can see 

 traces of the degradation in the 

 men's faces. They begin the "sport" 

 as mere boys, and it gains so tight 

 a hold on them that they can no 

 more get clear of it than can the 

 poor birds they have brought to 

 town get clear of the station's arch 

 of dusky glass. 



It is not pleasant to think of them. 



And there are so many delight- 

 some things connected with Pigeons 

 to talk of, that we will step out- 

 side St Pancras after flinging the 

 crumbs from our luncheon-baskets 

 on the ground, on the chance that 

 they may comfort some of the poor 

 victims of men's thoughtless selfish- 

 ness and betake ourselves to places 

 where the town-bred birds are tame 

 enough to allow us to come within 

 friendly distance. 



