From Fox's Earth 



Philistines, who have dwelt too much behind 

 blinds. 



For out-of-door life there must be out-of-door 

 interest. A country walk is too placid, too un- 

 eventful, and is apt to shorten back to the distaff. 

 Something is needed that will take to wild places 

 at unwonted hours. The charm of environment 

 is vivified by the chase. Emotion ebbs and flows 

 with the changing fortunes of the drama. It may 

 even be a ruder way of taking one out of one's 

 self or one's own kind, and awakening an interest 

 in the world of wild creatures. Anything is 

 better and kinder than indifference. 



A delight alike in the wit of pursuer and pur- 

 sued, a readiness to rejoice alike with the dog in 

 its capture and the otter in its escape, are all 

 healthy enough, and not necessarily the monopoly 

 of one sex. It has been said that when a woman 

 does not shrink from pain she learns to love it, 

 and ceasing to be tender becomes cruel. She 

 lacks that perfect balance which makes the indul- 

 gence in sport safe. 



Surely a little leaning to the otter is feminine, 

 and might tend to counteract man's leaning to the 

 dog, which is not sportsmanlike. The love of a 

 bloodless close is surely a higher type than that 

 which thinks it a barren day on which was no 

 kill. I should be sorry indeed if any woman 

 struck the otter with a stick or looked on without 

 a glance of protest. A huntsman's main duty is 



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