A Sportsman 263 



him, which he reached out and killed. This was his 

 first blood, and excited him to a high relish for the sport, 

 and upon his next run he became the leader and 

 after that one of the best and foremost in pursuit. 



Many hare-coursing clubs exist in the State, which 

 have annual prolonged meets on the levels of the San 

 Joaquin Valley, which have prominent notice, and one 

 would imagine from these meets so extensively at- 

 tended, with the natural excitement following, that it 

 was in reality, as it is, already a State sport. 



For some years I have maintained a pack of 

 these beautiful greyhounds, which have individu- 

 alities seemingly equal to those of men. How one 

 can help loving dogs I cannot imagine. The affection 

 grows for them the more it is given opportunity, and 

 there is no animal so near and dear to man as the dog. 

 What affection he has ! How affecting his earnestness 

 and fidelity, his courage and intelligence! He cannot 

 be debarred from heaven if there is any for us to obtain ; 

 for if we are to be happy there and have our wishes 

 gratified, where will be the dogs we shall sigh for, com- 

 panions of our happiest days on earth? Where will 

 my dog Paris be ? — my lovely red setter, who at two 

 years of age took the first prize in field-working class 

 at the Baltimore show, who attached himself to me for 

 so many years and to no other ; my companion in the 

 field, in the boat for fishing, and who seemed heart- 

 broken if I did not take him in my sailboat when I 

 thought it was too rough for him. How quickly when 

 I said "Sail" would he rush for my boat and curl up 

 in it with tenacious right! How often would he go 

 overboard in the lake, when his smooth feet slipped 

 on the deck against his bracing poise, in sudden lee 



