ENGLISH LOVE OF FIELD-SPORTS. T 



them tlms to brave liardsliip and risk life ; — it is but a 

 minor development of that spirit of conquest ^vhich has 

 made England mistress of a quarter of tlie world. 



If any one doubts whether the love of sporting is pecu- 

 liar to certain races, let him look at the diflerence between 

 the Frencli and the English in this respect, separated as 

 they are by some twenty miles only. Nature has not 

 been bountiful to our vivacious neighbours in sporting 

 genius. With us the word " sporting'' well represents the 

 thing meant : it is a diversion, a play, as it were an oft'-shoot 

 of our nature. In France the Avord is chasser, to drive 

 away, — not a term of love, but making out game to be an in- 

 truder. But in fact the Frenchman's inferiority is great : — 

 no resolute following of the object with quiet and skill, and 

 a firm determination to get at it, enjoying meanwhile the 

 free air of the hill side, the open scenery, the charms of 

 dell or glade ; but all noise and bluster, talking of what he 

 has done or wiU do, now singing some hoarse refrain, now 

 bawling to the dogs, or diverging to rest, or light the 

 eternal pipe. But to say no more than a sportsman icith 

 his eternal pipe I can the two exist together ? Their shouting 

 to the dogs is a continued annoyance, enough to rouse the 

 game even out of the game-bag. Of course birds and 

 beasts have eyes and ears, and just take the hint and make 

 themselves scarce, and the draw or hesitating point ends 

 only in show^ing that they are gone. When I discovered 

 this and avoided shouting with them, I soon found the 

 advantages in my own more contented state of mind, the 

 improved working of my dogs, and the better condition of 

 •my game-bag. Your true Frenchman has slight relish for 



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