THE STAG 189 



spirit of fair play between man and beast ; so long 

 as the creatures are really wild, and share the fun, 

 and the sportsman is an enthusiast, and not simply 

 a shot; so long as it is attractive just in pro- 

 portion to the hardships endured ; not all the 

 puritanic talk in the world will have the slightest 

 effect. Frederick William Robertson used to say 

 that war, with all its horrors, was better than the 

 spiritlessness and meanness which often accompany 

 peace ; and sport may be a more innocent analogue 

 of war. If a millionaire will spend his thousands 

 on a forest, so long as he is honestly bent on sport, 

 better that than letting it rot in securities, and 

 rubbing his hands on increasing dividends. A 

 man is worth more than a million. 



But waiting shooters, and driven deer, and firing 

 that insults the silent majesty of the hills, and 

 has no background in the spirit; and boastful 

 reports; offend the better instincts, alienate the 

 sympathy of the onlookers, and are disgusting 

 and driving elsewhere all true sportsmen. If it 

 is to be done in any way, the sooner it is undone 

 the better. 



It is not the crofter who will take possession of 

 the forest, nor sheep that will banish the deer. It 

 is the greed of proprietors ; the omnipotence of the 



