Fox's Earth to Mountain Tarn 



On any marsh flush a snipe, in any strip of trees 

 startle a woodcock. On the outskirts of a village 

 the house garden ran down to a stream. Fishing 

 from the bottom fence in summer, one could hook 

 a trout ; shooting from the same fence in winter, 

 one could knock over a mallard. I have seen 

 both done, perhaps been at the doing of them. 



Waste land and open water are the poor man's 

 preserve : what lights or flies there is game. 

 These are or have been narrowed, and the 

 privilege as far as possible restricted. The 

 tendency is to carry the policy further. A gossip 

 called on one of the old families, and being asked 

 the news, told how a baillie's eldest son was to be 

 married. "And pray," was the reply, "who ever 

 heard of a merchant of the town of Montrose 

 having an eldest son ! " Those who would restrict 

 the right of primogeniture are disposed to deny 

 the use of a gun, or at least of a place where a 

 gun may be used. 



The policy may be unwise. The gun has its 

 uses. It keeps light and atmosphere round bare 

 lives, leads into open places, forms tastes which 

 are at least not impure, makes better citizens and 

 better soldiers. It lessens the temptation to 

 poach. It spends the barbarous, if you will the 

 savage instincts, which might seek other outlets. 



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