62 CONVERSATIONAL HINTS 



Second Sportsman. I saw in some paper the 

 other day what the late President of the United 

 States thought about English battue-shooting. 

 Seemed to think we shot pheasants perched in the 

 trees, and went on to say that wasn't the sport for 

 Mm ; he liked to go after his game, and find it for 

 himself. Who the deuce cares if he does ? If he 

 can't talk better sense than that, no wonder Cleve- 

 land beat him in the election. 



Third Sp. Pure rubbish, of course. Still I 

 must say, apart from pheasants, I like the old 

 plan of letting your dogs work. It's far more 

 sport than walking up partridges in line, or getting 

 them driven at you. 



First Sp. My dear fellow, I don't agree with 



you a bit. In the first place, as to driving 



driven birds are fifty times more difficult ; and 



what's the use of wasting time with setters or 



pointers in ordinary root-fields. It's all sentiment. 



^[A long and animated discussion ensues. This 



particular subject never fails to provoke a 



tremendous argument. 



(A few minutes later.) 



Second Sportsman (to the host). What was the 

 bag to-day, Chalmers ? 



