198 



RECREATION. 



Irish bull, at least, is not yet extinct. 

 [Laughter.] Our forestry la'ws have en- 

 abled us to save some of these wholesome 

 and delightful retreats. 



These woods, thus set apart as the 

 sources of water supply, may be made the 

 city of refuge for the feeble remnant of 

 the mighty throng of animal life that once 

 filled this continent. We have seen the 

 buffalo so nearly exterminated that only 

 about 500 living specimens to-day may be 

 found in the whole world. Their domes- 

 tication was as practicable as that of the 

 reindeer, the horse, or the cow. The 

 buffalo was the noblest of all the wild ani- 

 mals that inhabited this continent when 

 America was discovered. 



The ages in which this wonderful crea- 

 ture was evolved into his peculiar form and 

 size are inconceivable in duration. How 

 admirably he was adapted to life on the 

 Western plains. When he had fed he trav- 

 eled with his. fellows in long lines, single 

 file, to the favorite watering place. The 

 herd did not spread abroad and trample 

 down and destroy the grass in such a jour- 

 ney, but in long and narrow trails the 

 journey was made, and when the drinking 

 place was reached and thirst was sated 

 the buffalo never defiled the pool in which 

 he drank. He was a gentleman among 

 beasts, just as the game hog is a beast 

 among gentlemen. Perhaps out of these 

 scanty remains new herds may again be 

 produced, 



We have preserved .the wild turkey, 

 which Benjamin Franklin proposed should 

 be adopted instead of the American eagle 

 as our national emblem. The turkey has 

 been saved ; the buffalo ought also to have 

 been domesticated. A few of the buffalos 

 still remain. This bill makes provision by 

 which we may have the opportunity of 

 propagating them within a portion of the 

 forest reserves. 



Public sentiment is growing in favor of 

 the conservation of our resources. It is 

 timely as to some things. It is far too late 

 as to others. 



Mr. Chairman, there are these 2 propo- 

 sitions involved in this bill : First, to al- 

 low the Bureau of Forestry in the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to take charge of that 

 extended farming of the forests which 

 only the Government can manage; second, 

 that in a moderate degree, and within the 

 desires of the people of the locality in 

 which the forests are located, game and 

 fish preserves may be established for the 

 benefit of the surrounding country. 



The bill was defeated by reason of the 

 opposition headed by Cannon of Illinois, 

 Shaffroth of Colorado, and others because 

 they feared direful results from the pro- 

 posed transfer of certain forest reserves 

 from the Interior Department to the Agri- 

 cultural Department.. 



We shall not quit here. The measure 

 will be reintroduced in the next session and 

 will no doubt then be passed. 



AUTUMN JOYS. 



ARTHUR HAZLETON. 



When evening shadows gather fast, 

 And all the sports of day are past, 

 We wend our way with dog and gun 

 Back to the farm house, one by one. 



Our gracious hostess meets us there, 

 With wellspread board of ample fare; 

 The fireplace lends its cheerful gleams, 

 And on the hob the coffee steams. 



Now to the table we draw near, 

 Where all is happiness and cheer. 

 We've tramped all day o'er dale and hill; 

 We eat and drink with hearty will. 



Then in the fireplace's softened glow 

 We sit, and talk in accents low ; 

 The dogs curl up, and soon, in dreams, 

 Are hunting by the sedgy streams. 



