SPORT, AND WILD LIFE 195 



meanest form of law breaking. Men treatment of wild animals seems to 



were to go forth into the natural have been an offshoot of chivalry, 



lists, against opponents, with all their They at least have suffered by the 



wits sharpened by the need of daily change. The death of sentiment has 



watchfulness against natural enemies, shaded their lot. The unwritten laws 



The truly wild animal was at once are no longer in force. Since woman 



the charm and the boast of ancient broke with the traditions, and went 



sport. forth with man into the field, all this 



In the age neither of barbarism nor has come about. The coincidence is 



chivalry does woman seem to have singular. 



shared in the pursuit of wild creatures. Sport is healthful ; nor will any- 

 Even the ancient hunter had a rude thing said against it alter this. It 

 sense of fitness. However roughly, freshened and rippled the stagnant 

 on occasion, he may have treated his surface of country life. It led to the 

 mate, he kept her on such gentler side covert and the moor, steps which would 

 of things as was then possible. The have found less breezy and pleasant 

 birth of chivalry was the conception ways. All the love of outdoor life 

 of woman as something apart, whose is the gift of sport. The flavours were 

 virtues had nothing akin with the rude wild. The spread table was instinct 

 shock of tournament, or of the chase, with charm and gaiety, suggestion 



This may account for the absence of and incident, tale and drama. The 



true sporting instincts, now that woman spirit has on the whole been benefi- 



has taken to the field. Whether she cent. But for sport the life of the wilds 



has benefited by the change is not yet would have passed unnoted : its 



very clear. What is clear, is that she claims unacknowledged. Nor would 



has put an end to the beneficent era the comradeship with man, so good 



she inaugurated. Chivalry has passed, for both, have been in existence. Of 



Its spirit is dead. We may laugh, but all critics, I have least patience with 



possibly we shall lose. Once, man could those who have no natural care for 



do no mean thing because woman was the creatures they throw their clumsy 



by. Now he may not feel the restraint, aegis over. Save at the dinner table, 



The spell is broken, by which the where they consume them with great 



rudest ongoings " were touched, were gusto, 

 turned to finest air." The knightlier The ethics of the field leavened the 



