88 COCKER S MANUAL. 



habitation. There is a vast deal of difference between this natural in- 

 clination and gratification and the cruel back-door work of staking, 

 baiting and ill-using creatures, entirely under our own control, and 

 tried in the balance of reason. I am sure cocking is the least cruel of 

 all sports, but I am passionately fond of fishing, lauded as one of the 

 most innocent amusements without considering the pain inflicted on 

 live baits — worms, frogs, etc. — on barbed hooks, and the play- 

 ing and torturing the fish into weakness to enable me to land 

 it. I have never got over the pang given the beautiful trout when 

 drawing the hook from its throat and gills. The same with shooting. 

 How many maimed, injured birds escape the gunner to die a lingering 

 death from hunger, mortification and dreadful wounds. The 

 glorious chase and the exciting race-course are not without their 

 drawbacks. 



All countries have merged from a state of barbarism to a state of 

 civilization, thence to a state of luxury, and then certain and mere 

 effeminacy; and there is at present an amount of mock humanitarian- 

 ism, dandyism and effeminacy disgraceful to the name of Englishman. 

 Even the sports of our fathers are denounced as horrible, coarse, vulgar, 

 whilst the amusements of those condemning them are profligate and 

 effeminate to the last degree. I accompanied a Cheshire county 

 squire to the opera the night succeeding the last Derby, and a more 

 philanthropic, kinder-hearted man does not exist, notwithstanding he 

 had attended the Derby, seen a few cocks fight, and is never so happy 

 as when following his hounds. After looking at the half nude crea- 

 tures that came on the stage for a short time, he turned, thoughtfully, 

 and leaving, said : "This, John, is a most miserable sight with all its 

 glare and glitter;" and this is one of England's fashionable amuse- 

 ments, and from the pale, sickly youth that frequent those places we 

 are to draw those who will uphold England's glory to a certain extent. 

 In country places magistrates, police, etc., keep down the rustic 

 amusements of young John Bull. The wrestleing ring, cudgeling, 

 stage, boxing, etc., must give place to tea fights, croquet, etc., till 

 England gets in danger, then put a red coat on his back, clap him on 

 the shoulder and say, "you're a fine soldier," but not of that dare- 

 devil ilk that Wellington had in the peninsular wars. 



A great change has and is still taking place in Englishmen. Some 

 men feelingly but proudly recollect a vessel named the Birkenhead, 



