SELFISHNESS OF SPORTSMEN 323 



only regretted that I had no one with me to share the 

 I pleasure, which would then have been still greater ; for, 

 ' however beautiful scenery may be, half the pleasure is 

 taken away if it has to be surveyed alone. Men are, 

 I fear, very selfish in their sports, and I have often 

 met those who care nothing for those belonging to 

 j them, but are content to spend all their money on 

 I amusements, and leave their families to shift for them- 

 selves as best they can. Their one care and object is 

 to obtain sport at all risks, no matter what it may cost 

 those for whom they should have more consideration. 

 I cannot myself understand how any real pleasure 

 can be derived by such selfish means. Of course, 

 j it is not always possible for a man to drag his family 

 ! about with him, even if he is desirous of doinof so, 

 1 and the accommodation in shooting-lodges is often 

 I but very limited, and no more than sufficient for 

 the number of guns which are necessary to do justice 

 to the shooting. Of late, however, the lairds have 

 been somewhat more liberal in providing increased 

 accommodation in their lodges, so that larger parties 

 can be housed, and some of the latter can enjoy the 

 loch fishing while the rest are shooting, and ladies can 

 also form a welcome addition to a lodge party. 



I must confess to having broken the tenth Com- 



i mandment, when for the first time I looked on Sir 



\ John Fowler's house at Braemore. If I coveted the 



latter, I but wished him an even more beautiful place, 



if such were possible. 



I would have given much for the presence of some 

 of my own family to have witnessed the beauty of the 

 sunset that evening. Had I been an artist, and able 

 to paint the wonderfully beautiful scene, so vividly im- 



