6 SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



to myself or come under my immediate notice 

 in this and other countries. Begging my readers 

 to divest themselves entirely of the idea that I aim 

 at any kind of eloquence, fine language, or literary 

 art, and begging their kind patience and indul- 

 gence toward any of my shortcomings, I will take 

 them to the haunts of birds, beasts, and fishes, 

 in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and the 

 sunny Italy. 



