284 MODERN TRAINING. 



behoof ; who thinks that the pleasure of the sport is 

 measured alone by the size of the bag, is a good man to 

 encourage to go hunting with someone else. 



In everyday society, there are certain little related cir- 

 cumstances which it may be proper to mention. There is 

 no harm in " talking dog," provided that a man chooses 

 and knows his proper time, place, and company ; then it 

 undoubtedly is edifying, aesthetically elevating and positively 

 improving ; but it is inexpressibly wearisome to have it per- 

 petually obtruded into every conversation in every com- 

 pany, in season and out of season. If, by any chance, the 

 company drifts away into the conversation from the dog 

 topic, the enthusiast is unhappy and bides his time 

 uneasily to again divert the conversation to his favorite 

 theme, not always with the happiest tact in doing so or the 

 approbation of the company when it is done. 



The principles, particularly the first principles, embodied 

 in these rules will be self-evident to those who read. The 

 author has seen them practiced with great nicety of precision 

 and grace of manner in all kinds of bird shooting, they 

 being adjusted to the delicate comprehensiveness which 

 should co-exist with first principles. No man can be at a 

 loss as to the correct caper in etiquette who has a copy of 

 these rules, whether in respect to his deportment as a guest, 

 a companion or a tutor ; all this from a sportsman's point of 

 view. 



Having thus explained at some length the necessities and 

 benefits of them, and knowing the advantages to sportsman- 

 ship that will accrue from their general observance, they are 

 herewith given : 



As an essential principle, one which forms a broad ground- 

 work for many other admirable qualities, you should begin 

 and conduct your career on the assumption that you know 

 everything appertaining to the dog and gun, a sportsman's 



