A BALLAD OF THE FUTURE. 



25 



substitute I myself have found in the 

 camera, which fully satisfies my hunter's 

 instinct. Far more skill and resource are 

 required to photograph a wild creature than 

 to shoot it, and the picture, when secured, 

 is, ordinarily, of far greater value than a 

 few mouthfuls of flesh. As I recall suc- 

 cessful shots at fowl from the gunning- 

 stand, I would give much to have the pic- 

 tures now to inspire me, in exchange for 

 fleeting memories. Would it not be wise 

 policy to interest our boys in Nature-study, 

 and the camera as applied to it, and dis- 

 courage shooting at living things? Real 

 acquaintance with a harmless and beautiful 

 wild creature, I can testify, makes one less 

 and less disposed to take its life. Hence 

 I most cordially commend to my fellow 

 sportsmen and bird lovers this noble instru- 

 ment. An expensive outfit is unnecessary. 

 In case my own experience may be of any 

 encouragement, let me say that all my pic- 

 tures in this book were taken with an ordi- 

 nary 4 by 5 focusing camera, rapid rectil- 



inear lens, and bellows of 12 inches draw, 

 that cost me less than $20. I consider the 4 

 by 5 size just right for field work. Equipped 

 with such a camera and any good make of 

 rapid plates, with a little careful study and 

 practice of photographic method, following 

 out some such plans afield as are described 

 in this and other volumes, joined with real 

 love for the birds and nature, there is no 

 reason why anyone may not succeed better 

 than I have done." 



The book contains over 100 illustrations, 

 all from photographs, and a man might 

 profitably spend a whole day studying these 

 alone. It will be impossible for any bird 

 lover to look at even half a dozen of the 

 pictures without wanting to read the text, 

 and learn how it was possible for a photog- 

 rapher to get near enough to the birds to 

 make the pictures. Mr. Job has placed all 

 bird lovers under lasting obligations to him, 

 by giving to the world this delightful vol- 

 ume, and I trust it may have the large sale 

 it so greatly merits. 



A BALLAD OF THE FUTURE. 



A. L. VERMILYA. 



How dear to my heart are the old fashioned But the sportsmen got after the dropsical 

 stories rooters, 

 Of game hogs who roamed o'er the earth And hustled and harried each bristle- 

 long ago ; backed scamp. 



Tis said that those swine once partook of Also came Recreation — may it flourish for- 



the glories ever — 



Which fond Mother Nature so loves to And swatted the porkers with language 



bestow. succinct ; 



They ground-raked the quails, they slew all It lammed them and jammed them, with 



the rabbits, tireless endeavor, 



They made of the wildwood a desolate Till the whole swinish lot soon became 



waste ; 

 Yes ; they killed all the game, and so hog- 

 gish their habits, 

 They left for the sportsmen not even a 

 taste. 



Chorus. 



The bristle-backed game hog. 

 The slab-sided game hog, 

 The ill mannered game hog, 

 Extinct long ago. 



O, those game hogs they proved to be cow- 

 ardly scooters 

 When the L. A. S. forces marched into 

 their camp, 



quite extinct. 



That's the reason I like to hear stories that 

 tell of 

 The low minded hogs and their mean, sel- 

 fish ways ; 

 But I sigh as I think what a perfectly hell 

 of 

 A time sportsmen must have had back in 

 those days. 

 And it really does give me much quiet en- 

 joyment 

 To think how those rooters must work 

 where they dwell ; 

 For Satan has given them steady em] 

 ment 

 At constantly piling on brimstone in hell. 



