244 ON THE WING. 



CLOSING REMARKS. 



IT is my desire that American sportsmen should 

 take a high position in the science and art, of 

 shooting, a position becoming educated gentlemen ; 

 and that the imputations often cast upon sportsman- 

 ship, such as its being necessarily connected with bad 

 habits and associations, be shown to be entirely unwar- 

 ranted. 



There is in this country a strong prejudice against 

 the sporting fraternity ; and this feeling has been car- 

 ried so far that even to be seen with a gun is some- 

 times considered beneath the dignity of a gentleman. 

 But, as before stated, very different ideas are enter- 

 tained on the other side of the Atlantic. No English 

 gentleman considers himself fully educated unless he 

 possesses a knowledge of the manly art of shooting 

 on the wing ; and to be a crack shot is, with an 

 Englishman, an honor not to be despised. 



It is true we are in some respects differently situa- 

 ted from the English. We have not a nobility able to 

 indulge in sporting and give character to it by so- 

 cial and legal prescription. But we have, neverthe- 

 less, among our better classes, sufficient taste and dis- 

 cretion, as well as sufficient leisure, to make hunting 

 a pleasant and honorable recreation. 



What is essential, in order to bring about this 



