76 DEER-STALKING 



the finest sport to be found in Great Britain ? ' the 

 debate might be carried on for a week, and at the end 

 of it probably every member of the society would be 

 found to hold exactly the same views as when it 

 began. (Perhaps the same may be said of other 

 subjects of discussion held in various sorts of de- 

 bating societies.) I do not, therefore, expect, nor 

 do I wish, to convert any of my readers. I hardly 

 hope to instil into the minds of ardent fox-hunters 

 or keen fishermen the love of deer-stalking which I 

 myself feel. But I do ask them to admit that in the 

 foregoing pages the advocacy of my favourite pursuit 

 is conducted with fairness that it is proper for who- 

 ever undertakes to write on any branch of sport to 

 show that he is enthusiastic on his subject, and that 

 however great may be the differences of opinion on 

 the relative merits of the hill, the moor, the river and 

 the field, all true sportsmen should unite in maintain- 

 ing the distinction between what is unworthy or 

 effeminate, low or demoralising, and that which con- 

 duces to health and manliness, to vigour of body, to 

 generosity and unselfishness. 



