278 KANDOH THOUGHTS ON HUNTING. 



innocent. Field sports are both innocent and 

 manly. 



In these remarks I am far from pretending to the 

 discovery of new truths ; I am simply desirous to 

 recall public attention to such, as, sufficiently well 

 known, are at times strangely overlooked espe- 

 cially by our ascetic innovators, who would make life 

 as unjoyous as their own natures ; who would reform 

 society, by denouncing dancing as a sin the thea- 

 tre as an abomination and all amusements, however 

 innocent, as a waste of time unworthy of immortal 

 beings ! These are the men of a single idea, who, 

 placed in a valley, bring everything to the standard 

 of their own limited horizon who refuse to look 

 beyond, unless superciliously, through the medium 

 of a prejudice so inveterate, as to discolor or distort 

 whatever is graceful or beautiful in nature or art. 

 And their error, it seems to me, springs from this 

 intense self-esteem and their utter inability to get 

 beyond themselves, so as to understand the relations 

 and wants of others. They look at life from one 

 position only and refer everything to their own 

 standard. Students philosophers, it may be hav- 

 ing their time at their own disposal, to labor or 

 relax, just as it suits their humor, they cannot 

 realize the fact, that their relaxation would be none 

 to the grosser and less refined masses of society ; and 



