SUGGESTIONS TO SPORTSMEN, 271 



CHAPTER X. 



SUGGESTIONS TO SPOETSME^f. 



The word "sport" has been more abused, ill-treated, 

 and misapplied than any other in our language ; of a 

 high, pure, and noble signification, it has been 

 debased to unworthy objects ; of a restricted and 

 refined significance, it has been extended to a mass 

 of improper matters; from its natural elegant appro- 

 priateness, it has been degraded to vulgar and dis- 

 honest associations. 



The miserable wretch who lives on the most con- 

 temptible passion in human nature, and with practised 

 skill cheats those who would cheat him — winning by 

 the unfair rules of games, so-called, of chance— or, with 

 less conscience, converting that chance into a certain- 

 ty, calls himself a sporting man. The individual who, 

 having trained a horse up to the finest condition of 

 activity and endurance, drives or rides him under 

 lash and spur round a course to win a sum of money, 

 although he may call himself a sportsman, is really 

 a business man. The daring backwoodsman of the 

 Far West, who follows the fleet elk or timid deer, and 

 who attacks the formidable buffalo or grizzly bear, 

 is less a sportsman than a mighty hunter; the man 

 who shoots with a view of selling his game is a 

 market-gunner ; and he who kills that he may eat is 

 a pot-hunter. 



